XO sauce
User Reviews
5
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Prep Time
15 mins
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Cook Time
30 mins
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Servings
40
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Calories
28 kcal
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Course
Condiments
XO sauce
Description
XO sauce combines soaked and roughly chopped dried scallops and shrimp with minced garlic, shallots, and both dried and fresh chili peppers to create a richly flavored seafood chili sauce. The ingredients are blended to a slightly coarse texture before being slowly cooked in hot vegetable oil over medium-low heat. The cooking process releases deep umami flavors from the seafood and mellows the aromatics and chili heat. The oil carries the flavors, producing a vibrant, spicy sauce laden with texture. This sauce can be used as a condiment or added to stir-fries and other dishes to boost savory taste and heat.
The preparation requires soaking dried seafood to soften it, chopping the ingredients roughly to retain some texture, and carefully heating oil before adding ingredients to avoid overflowing. Testing oil temperature using wooden chopsticks helps ensure proper frying heat. Stirring intermittently during cooking helps prevent sticking and burning. After cooking and cooling, the sauce is stored in a glass container for later use.
Ingredients
- 1.5 tablespoons salt
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 3.5 cups vegetable oil
- 3 whole garlic Medium sized
- 10 pieces shallot Small/medium sized
- ½ cup dried shrimp
- ½ cup scallop dried
- ½ cup dried chili pepper
- ¼ cup Chili pepper fresh
Instructions
- Wash and soak ½ cup of dried scallop for a couple hours until it's soft.
- Then, drain the water and blend the scallop in a chopper. Don't need to be very fine. Little chunk is ok.
- Wash and soak ½ cup of dried small shrimps for 15-30 minutes.
- After that, drain the water and blend the dried shrimp in the chopper. (The same as dried scallops don't need to be very fine.)
- Peel and wash 10 pieces of shallots (Small/medium sized).
- Put the washed shallots into the chopper and blend a little bit.
- Peel and wash 3 whole medium sized garlic.
- Then, put the garlic into the chopper and blend them until they are small pieces.
- Next, wash and soak ½ cup of dried chili pepper for 10-15 minutes.
- Put the dried chili peppers into the chopper. Blend until small pieces. Then, add ¼ cup of fresh chili peppers and chop small pieces.
- Pour 3.5 cups of vegetable oil in a pot. Use wooden chopsticks to test the oil if it is hot enough. There will be some bubbles around the chopsticks when the oil is hot enough.
- Turn the fire to medium small, add the chopped shallot into hot oil. (Put the shallot slowly in case it will overflow.) Keep stirring once a while and simmering for 3 minutes.
- After that, add the chopped garlic. Then, keep stirring once a while and simmering for 3 minutes.
- Later, add the chopped dried and fresh chili peppers.
- Next, add the chopped dried scallops and shrimps. Keep stirring and simmering for 10 minutes.
- Lastly, add 1.5 tablespoons of salt and 1 tablespoon of sugar, mix well and simmer for another 5-10 minutes.
Notes
- Soak dried scallops for a couple hours and dried shrimp for 15–30 minutes before preparation for proper softening.
- Use a chopper to roughly blend garlic, shallots, dried shrimp, scallops, and chili peppers; fine chopping is not necessary.
- Heat the oil to bubbling stage (test with wooden chopsticks) before adding ingredients to ensure proper frying.
- Use a tall pot or reduce heat to prevent overflow when adding ingredients to hot oil.
- Stir sauce occasionally during cooking to avoid burning and promote even cooking.
- Cool completely before storing XO sauce in a clean glass jar.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 40Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 28 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 28kcal | 1% |
| Carbohydrates | 1g | 0% |
| Protein | 2g | 4% |
| Fat | 2g | 3% |
| Saturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Cholesterol | 34mg | 11% |
| Sodium | 320mg | 13% |
| Potassium | 2mg | 0% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 1g | 2% |
| Vitamin A | 8IU | 0% |
| Vitamin C | 1mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 12mg | 1% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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