Name: XO sauce
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 70 min
Ingredients: 25 gm dried scallops; 75 gm dried prawns; 250 ml (1 cup) vegetable oil, or just enough to cover all the ingredients; 75 gm garlic (about 20 cloves), finely chopped; 75 gm red shallots (about 6), finely chopped; 50 gm jamón or prosciutto, finely shredded; 25 gm fresh long red chillies (about 6), seeded and finely chopped; 15 gm dried long red chillies, seeded, soaked and finely chopped; 7 gm dried birdseye chillies, finely chopped; 5 gm roasted shrimp paste (belacan; see note); 2 tbsp dried shrimp roe, crumbled (see note; optional); 15 gm sugar, or to taste

Some Chinese gourmands call it the emperor of sauces, others the king. Chefs and restaurateurs jealously guard its recipe, and top-drawer Chinese restaurants proudly offer this classy condiment to their valued clients. XO sauce, to the ever-food-conscious Chinese, raises much comment in any Chinese restaurant worth its salt. Considering it’s consumed mostly as a condiment, dip or appetiser, and can cost some hundreds of dollars to prepare, this must be one of the most luxurious food indulgences in the world. It stands head and shoulders above the rest of Chinese sauces not only because of its expense but also because it represents the continued evolution of Chinese cuisine, based on a very sound knowledge of ingredients.

So what is XO sauce? Named after XO Cognac to symbolise wealth, status and exclusivity, this savoury, glossy relish is made essentially from fresh and dried chillies, shallots, garlic, top-quality dried scallops (conpoy), dried shrimps and Yunnan or Jinhua ham; these last three ingredients are especially appreciated for their intensity and complex flavour.

Dried scallops, depending on their quality, can cost up to $300 per kilogram. When buying, ask for the stash held behind the counter at Chinese grocers – that’s where you’ll find all the good stuff. Yunnan and Jinhua ham are also costly – they’re akin to jamón and prosciutto, and these are good substitutes as Chinese ham is difficult to find in Australia.

These ingredients, along with shallots, ginger and garlic, are cooked over medium heat for up to an hour and a half, resulting in a multi-layered and robust paste with an intriguing nose. The diner first tastes the chilli, then the amalgam of seafood, before the ham takes over, releasing intense, complex and glorious flavours that burst in the mouth. It’s extremely moreish, spicy, salty and sweet; if you’re a chilli-lover, you’ll find it near impossible to say no to XO sauce.

XO’s culinary history, although relatively short, is shrouded in secrecy and mystery. The general consensus seems to be that it first appeared in the early ’80s, somewhere in the top-end seafood restaurants of Hong Kong. Spring Moon, the Chinese restaurant at The Peninsula, is often credited with its invention, while others believe the seafood restaurants in Kowloon’s Tsim Sha Tsui district are more likely to have been reponsible for its creation.

Irrespective of its birthplace, there’s no denying this rich sauce’s ability to add that extra something special to many a dish. It’s delicious with prawn dumplings such as har gau, or a plate of stir-fried scallops, or braised Cantonese egg noodles (yi meen) with prawns, or as a topping on beancurd. It’s also excellent tossed through steamed mussels as we have done here. Although it’s possible to buy XO in a jar, it really doesn’t compare. As labour-intensive – and expensive – as it is, you won’t fail to be impressed by this king of sauces.

Ingredients

25 gm dried scallops

75 gm dried prawns

250 ml (1 cup) vegetable oil, or just enough to cover all the ingredients

75 gm garlic (about 20 cloves), finely chopped

75 gm red shallots (about 6), finely chopped

50 gm jamón or prosciutto, finely shredded

25 gm fresh long red chillies (about 6), seeded and finely chopped

15 gm dried long red chillies, seeded, soaked and finely chopped

7 gm dried birdseye chillies, finely chopped

5 gm roasted shrimp paste (belacan; see note)

2 tbsp dried shrimp roe, crumbled (see note; optional)

15 gm sugar, or to taste

Method

1.Soak dried scallops and dried prawns separately in 125ml hot water each until plump (preferably overnight).

2.Drain scallops (reserve soaking water), tear them into fine shreds, pat dry on absorbent paper and set aside. Drain prawns (reserve water), chop them finely and set aside.

3.Heat half the oil in a wok or large saucepan over medium-high heat, add scallops and deep-fry until very crisp (1-2 minutes; cover with lid as they may spit). Drain well, reserve oil. Wipe out wok with absorbent paper, add reserved oil and remaining oil and return to medium heat.

4.Add garlic, shallots and dried prawns and stir continuously until golden brown (4-5 minutes).

5.Add jamón, fresh chilli and dried chilli, fry for a few seconds (be careful, it may burn easily), then add shrimp paste, fried scallops and reserved scallop and prawn water and stir continuously for a few more seconds.

6.Add remaining ingredients and a pinch of salt and stir occasionally until fragrant and water has completely evaporated (20-30 minutes). Remove from heat, strain (reserve oil), transfer solids to a sterile jar, then pour in enough reserved oil to cover. Makes about 2 cups. XO sauce will keep refrigerated in a sealed container for 1 month.

This recipe makes about 500gm. You’ll need to begin this recipe a day ahead.
To roast shrimp paste, wrap in aluminium foil and roast at 200C until fragrant (4-5 minutes).
Dried shrimp roe is available from Asian grocers.
Notes

Tony Tan

Styling by Emma Knowles

Ingredients

Method

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