Condiments · Food pairing guide
What goes with XO Sauce?
XO sauce is a concentrated, textured relish rather than a smooth sauce. The version used here combines dried scallop and shrimp, cured ham, fried alliums and chilli in oil. Each jar contains a different ratio of solids and fat. Squid-based, mussel-based, vegetarian and meat-free versions exist, but their aroma, saltiness and ingredient declarations cannot be inferred from the name alone.
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Pairing principles
What pairs well with XO Sauce?
Scallops, egg and rice noodles give XO a relatively mild surface on which its detailed savour remains clear. Green vegetables add sweetness, moisture and a bitter edge; cream or tofu can spread its intensity through a softer matrix. Consider both oil and solids: a spoonful drawn only from the top of the jar produces a different bite from one packed with seafood.
Food pairing ideas for XO Sauce
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