Food Network
XO sauce originated in Hong Kong in the 1980s and is usually credited to Spring Moon restaurant at the Peninsula Hotel. Although the sauce was named after the “XO” (extra old) designation for expensive, aged Cognacs, it doesn’t contain any of its namesake alcohol. The “XO” reflects the luxurious nature of this umami-rich sauce, made with top-quality and expensive ingredients, such as dried scallops, dried shrimp and premium Jinhua ham. You can source dried scallops and shrimp online or at local Chinese markets. Jinhua ham is not available in the United States, but you can use other Chinese-style cured hams; American country hams such as Smithfield ham or Virginia ham make good substitutes. This recipe streamlines some of the process: the ingredients are fried in stages (instead of fried individually then removed from the oil), and a food processor replaces a lot of the knife work. However, the end result is still a satisfyingly salty, sweet, and complex sauce with a little bit of heat. Serve it on fried rice, stir-fried noodles, sauteed vegetables, seafood, chicken, even plain rice—any time you want to add some depth and complexity to a dish. It tastes delicious on just about anything!
