
XO sauce is an opulent ingredient in Chinese language delicacies that has change into more and more common with the rise of Asian dishes being served worldwide.
Nonetheless, not everybody can afford it as a consequence of its shortage and excessive value. Thankfully, some substitutes will help obtain an analogous taste profile. Listed here are the 17 finest substitutes for XO sauce:
1. Oyster sauce – Created from oysters, this sauce has an analogous savory taste profile to XO sauce.
2. Fish sauce – A staple in Southeast Asian delicacies, fish sauce accommodates umami flavors that may substitute XO sauce.
3. Teriyaki sauce – Its depth of taste and sweetness make it a superb substitute for XO sauce.
4. Hoisin sauce – Provides a depth of advanced and savory taste, making it a favourite amongst Asian dishes. – See Additionally Hoison Sauce in comparison with Oyster Sauce
5. Chili garlic sauce – Its pungent garlic and chili mixture offers an analogous warmth to XO sauce.
6. Soy sauce – A flexible sauce that can be utilized rather than XO sauce, particularly in rice dishes. See another makes use of for Soy Sauce.
7. Scorching sauces – A mixture of flavors that may present the wanted kick in your dish.
8. Mild soy sauce – Its savory and umami flavors make it a superb substitute for XO sauce.
9. Darkish soy sauce – A key ingredient in lots of Chinese language dishes, darkish soy sauce offers a wealthy, deep taste near that of XO sauce.
10. Sauces made with peanut oil – Peanut oil is usually utilized in XO sauce, thus its sauce can work instead.
11. Chili crisp – This mix of components, together with chili oil and Sichuan peppercorns, is just like XO sauce.
12. Sesame oil – Its nutty and complicated taste profile make it a superb addition to dishes.
13. Bitter sauce – Made with vinegar, sugar, and soy sauce, this sauce is a wonderful substitute for XO sauce.
14. Spicy seafood sauce – With a mixture of fish sauce, chili peppers, and garlic, this sauce can substitute XO sauce.
15. Chili flakes – The dried chili flakes can add an analogous warmth to your dish just like the one in XO sauce.
16. Pepper flakes – Much like chili flakes, pepper flakes will add spice to your dish.
17. A selfmade garlic combination – This substitute requires mixing garlic cloves with dry sherry, then cooking it in a pan with vegetable oil. The combination is then saved in an hermetic container for not less than two weeks earlier than use. This selfmade various is the closest substitute to XO sauce.
You will discover varied recipes on-line to create an alternative choice to XO sauce. Search for components with related flavors and textures and experiment with completely different mixtures till you discover the proper substitute. Utilizing any of the substitutes above can obtain an analogous taste profile with out breaking the financial institution.
Substitutes | Utilization | Taste Profile |
---|---|---|
Oyster Sauce | Use in a 1:1 ratio | Savory, just like XO sauce |
Fish Sauce | Use in a 1:1 ratio | Umami, staple in Southeast Asian delicacies |
Teriyaki Sauce | Use in a 1:1 ratio | Candy, depth of taste |
Hoisin Sauce | Use in a 1:1 ratio | Complicated, savory, common in Asian dishes |
Chili Garlic Sauce | Use in a 1:1 ratio | Pungent, spicy, related warmth to XO sauce |
Soy Sauce | Use in a 1:1 ratio | Versatile, good for rice dishes |
Scorching Sauces | Use in a 1:1 ratio | Mixture of flavors, provides a kick |
Mild Soy Sauce | Use in a 1:1 ratio | Savory, umami flavors |
Darkish Soy Sauce | Use in a 1:1 ratio | Wealthy, deep taste, widespread in Chinese language dishes |
Sauces made with Peanut Oil | Use in a 1:1 ratio | Much like XO sauce as a consequence of peanut oil |
Chili Crisp | Use in a 1:1 ratio | Mix of chili oil and Sichuan peppercorns |
Sesame Oil | Use in a 1:1 ratio | Nutty, advanced taste |
Bitter Sauce | Use in a 1:1 ratio | Made with vinegar, sugar, and soy sauce |
Spicy Seafood Sauce | Use in a 1:1 ratio | Mixture of fish sauce, chili peppers, and garlic |
Chili Flakes | Use to style | Provides warmth, just like XO sauce |
Pepper Flakes | Use to style | Provides spice |
Home made Garlic Combination | Use in a 1:1 ratio | Closest selfmade substitute to XO sauce |
Please notice that the utilization and taste profiles can fluctuate based mostly on the particular model or recipe used.
What’s an XO Sauce substitute?
XO sauce is an opulent ingredient that’s typically utilized in Chinese language delicacies so as to add a savory and spicy taste to varied dishes.
Nonetheless, it could not at all times be available or reasonably priced for everybody. Fortunately, loads of options can present an analogous depth of taste and warmth to your dish.
This text will discover varied substitutes for XO sauce that can be utilized in a variety of Asian and different delicacies dishes.
Prime 17 Subsites For XO Sauce as Researched Asian Eating places and Meals Halls All through Asia
Teriyaki Sauce
Teriyaki sauce is a well-liked Japanese sauce that has gained worldwide recognition for its versatility and taste. It’s a darkish, sticky sauce that mixes soy sauce, sugar, and different components corresponding to mirin, sake, and ginger.
The flavour of teriyaki sauce is a fancy mix of salty, candy, and savory flavors that create a depth of taste that’s unmatched by another sauce. The umami taste that teriyaki sauce possesses comes from the soy sauce, which is created from fermented soybeans and offers this sauce its distinct style.
When in comparison with xo sauce, teriyaki sauce has a extra syrupy consistency and a sweeter style. However, XO sauce has a salty taste and a barely spicy kick, making it excellent for including to rice dishes, noodle dishes, and savory dishes like stir-fries.
Teriyaki sauce is an excellent substitute for xo sauce as a result of it’s available in most grocery shops and is usually utilized in Asian dishes. It may be used as a dipping sauce for grilled meats and greens, a marinade for seafood, or a glaze for roasted meats.
To make teriyaki sauce, mix one cup of soy sauce, one cup of brown sugar, one tablespoon of freshly grated ginger, and two cloves of minced garlic in a saucepan over medium-high warmth. Convey the combination to a boil, then scale back the warmth to medium-low and let it simmer till it thickens, stirring often.
Teriyaki sauce could be saved in an hermetic container and can maintain for a number of weeks within the fridge. General, teriyaki sauce is a wonderful various to xo sauce that gives an analogous depth of taste and can be utilized in all kinds of dishes.
Candy and Bitter Sauce
Candy and bitter sauce is a well-liked sauce utilized in Chinese language delicacies. It’s a versatile sauce that can be utilized as a dipping sauce, a glaze, or a marinade. The mixture of candy and bitter flavors makes it an ideal addition to varied dishes, together with meat, greens, and rice.
This sauce’s candy and bitter taste comes from the mix of sugar and vinegar. The sugar provides sweetness to the sauce, whereas the vinegar offers a tangy and bitter style. Moreover, the sauce often accommodates different components like pineapple juice, ketchup, soy sauce, and ginger, including taste depth.
In comparison with XO Sauce, candy and bitter sauce has a sweeter style because of the added sugar, which makes it a great selection for individuals who favor milder flavors.
To retailer the sauce, it’s important to maintain it in an hermetic container and refrigerate it. This can maintain it contemporary for future use.
In conclusion, candy and bitter sauce is a good sauce to have in your condiment arsenal.
It offers a candy and tangy style that goes nicely with varied dishes and is simple to make.
Candy Chili Sauce
Candy chili sauce is a well-liked candy and spicy condiment that has change into a staple in lots of kitchens across the globe. It’s a versatile sauce that can be utilized as a dipping sauce, marinade, or glaze.
The sauce originated in Thailand and is extensively utilized in Southeast Asian delicacies.
The flavour of this sauce is an ideal stability of sweetness and spiciness. It’s made utilizing a mixture of sugar, vinegar, garlic, purple chili peppers, and generally fish sauce.
The sugar provides sweetness, the vinegar offers the tangy taste, and garlic provides depth to the sauce. The purple chili peppers give the sauce a gentle to medium warmth, making it appropriate for individuals who love a little bit of spice of their meals.
In comparison with XO Sauce, candy chili sauce is milder by way of warmth. It has a robust sweetness and tangy taste, making it a great selection for individuals who favor a milder and sweeter style.

To retailer the sauce, it’s important to maintain it in an hermetic container and refrigerate it. This can maintain it contemporary for a number of months. Candy chili sauce goes nicely with quite a lot of dishes, together with rice dishes, noodle dishes, and even dipping sauces for snacks. Its advanced taste and flexibility make it a superb substitute for Xo Sauce in Asian dishes.
Hoisin Sauce
Hoisin sauce is a well-liked sauce in Chinese language delicacies that has been loved for hundreds of years.
Its versatility is unmatched and can be utilized as a dipping sauce, marinade, or ingredient in stir-fries and different Asian dishes. This sauce is a staple in lots of households and eating places.
The flavour of hoisin sauce is advanced and wealthy. It has a candy and salty style with a touch of umami taste. The sweetness comes from the usage of sugar or maltose, whereas the saltiness is because of the addition of fermented soybeans, vinegar, and salt. The umami taste makes use of soy sauce, garlic, and chili peppers. This mix of flavors provides hoisin sauce a singular and irresistible style.
In comparison with XO Sauce, hoisin sauce is sweeter and fewer savory. It has a milder taste that fits those that favor a much less intense style. However, XO sauce has a extra savory taste and a medium stage of warmth that provides depth to the dishes.
Oyster Sauce
Oyster sauce is a well-liked and versatile condiment in Chinese language delicacies. It’s made by simmering oysters in soy sauce after which including sugar and spices.
The sauce has a savory, umami taste that enhances the style of any dish it’s added to. It’s extensively used as a marinade, stir-fry sauce, and dipping sauce.
The flavour of oyster sauce is wealthy and complicated. It has a salty and barely candy style with a touch of umami taste that comes from oysters.
The aroma can also be a attribute characteristic of the sauce, offering an intense and appetizing scent that provides depth to any dish.
When in comparison with XO sauce, oyster sauce is much less intense and has a milder taste. It’s much less spicy and has a savory style appropriate for individuals who favor a much less intense taste. XO sauce, in distinction, has the next stage of warmth and a extra advanced, savory taste that brings depth to dishes.
To make use of oyster sauce, one can add it on to a dish throughout cooking or use it as a dipping sauce. It pairs nicely with seafood, poultry, beef, and greens. One can even use it as a marinade for meats and as a stir-fry sauce.
The sauce could be refrigerated for as much as a month.
Chili garlic sauce
Chili garlic sauce is a well-liked condiment in Chinese language delicacies and has now change into more and more common worldwide. It’s a versatile sauce that can be utilized in quite a lot of dishes. This sauce is created from contemporary chili peppers, garlic, and vinegar, which supplies it a tangy and spicy style.
The flavour of chili garlic sauce is spicy and tangy, with a notable garlic style. The sauce can vary from gentle to extraordinarily scorching, relying on the kind and amount of chili peppers used to make it. It’s vibrant shade and pungent aroma make it a superb addition to many dishes, together with noodle dishes, savory dishes, and vegetable stir-fries.
When in comparison with XO sauce, chili garlic sauce has much less depth of taste and is usually spicier. It lacks the advanced taste profile that XO sauce is thought for, nevertheless it makes up for it with its fiery warmth and tanginess.

Nam prik pao (Thai chili paste)
Nam prik pao, or Thai chili paste, is a extremely common and versatile sauce in Thai delicacies. It’s a condiment created from roasted chili peppers, garlic, shallots, shrimp paste, palm sugar, and tamarind paste. This thick, paste-like sauce provides depth and taste to varied Thai dishes, together with curries, stir-fries, and soups.
The flavour of Nam prik pao is advanced, with a stability of candy, salty, and spicy notes. It has a smoky and barely savory style with a wealthy umami taste from the shrimp paste. The sweetness comes from the palm sugar and tamarind paste, whereas the spiciness is derived from the roasted chili peppers. General, Nam prik pao is a flavorful and fragrant sauce that enhances the style of any dish it’s added to.
When in comparison with XO sauce, Nam prik pao is spicier and has a extra pronounced sweetness. Nonetheless, it lacks the seafood taste and umami depth of XO sauce. XO sauce has a extra advanced and savory taste profile in comparison with Nam prik pao.
Chili crisp
Chili crisp is a well-liked Chinese language condiment that has taken the meals world by storm. Its versatility and distinctive taste profile have made it successful amongst meals fanatics, cooks, and residential cooks alike.
Chili crisp is made by frying chili flakes, sichuan peppercorns, garlic, and different aromatics in oil till they change into golden brown. See learn how to make your personal purple pepper flakes.
This combination is then seasoned with salt, sugar, and vinegar to create a spicy and tangy sauce. Chili crisp is usually used as a dipping sauce or added to stir-fry dishes, noodle dishes, and rice dishes so as to add a burst of taste.
Chili crisp has a wealthy, daring, and complicated taste that’s each spicy and savory. Its signature warmth is derived from the chili flakes, whereas the nutty and numbing sensation comes from the sichuan peppercorns. The garlic and different aromatics add depth of taste and a barely candy undertone. General, chili crisp gives a well-balanced and savory style that’s positive to impress even essentially the most discerning palates.
When in comparison with Xo sauce, chili crisp has a extra easy and spicier taste profile. It lacks the depth of umami taste and seafood notes present in XOsauce.
Vegan XO sauce
Vegan XO sauce has been gaining recognition in recent times for its wealthy and savory taste that can be utilized to raise all kinds of dishes.
Its versatility makes it essential in any vegan pantry, particularly for individuals who get pleasure from Asian delicacies. This sauce is a implausible various for individuals who don’t eat animal merchandise however need to benefit from the umami flavors that Xo sauce offers.
The flavour of Vegan XO sauce is deeply savory with a wealthy umami style that comes from the mix of shiitake mushrooms, dried greens, and soy sauce.
The sauce additionally has a gentle warmth that comes from the addition of chili peppers and garlic. When cooked, it develops a good looking golden brown shade that provides an appetizing look to any dish.
Vegan XO sauce is a more healthy possibility with much less salt and oil content material. Vegan XO sauce could be saved in an hermetic container for as much as two weeks and can be frozen for future use.
Hoisin sauce + Smoked Ham
Hoisin sauce is a well-liked and versatile condiment that’s extensively utilized in Asian delicacies, notably in Chinese language dishes. Its advanced and savory taste is what makes it a favourite amongst meals fanatics. When combined and fermented with smoked ham, you get a singular wealthy taste that can be utilized as a substitute.
Oyster sauce + smoked prosciutto
Oyster sauce is a well-liked condiment that’s extensively utilized in Chinese language delicacies. It’s identified for its versatility and skill to raise the flavour of various dishes. Oyster sauce is created from a combination of oyster essence, soy sauce, salt, sugar, and generally cornstarch, which supplies it a thick and sticky consistency.
With regards to taste, oyster sauce has a deep, savory style that’s barely candy with a touch of saltiness. It could possibly add a fancy and salty taste to any dish it’s added to, making it a favourite for stir-fries, noodles, and soups.
In comparison with XO sauce, oyster sauce has a milder and easier taste profile.
Home made XO sauce
Home made XO sauce is a well-liked and versatile condiment in Chinese language delicacies. It’s a spicy seafood sauce that has gained worldwide recognition as a consequence of its advanced taste and skill to reinforce the style of any dish it’s added to.
The flavour of selfmade XO sauce is an ideal mix of spicy, salty, and savory. It’s made with a singular mixture of dried seafood, chili peppers, and different umami-inducing components. The addition of garlic cloves and dried shrimp brings a pungent and candy style to the sauce, whereas the chili peppers add a fiery kick of warmth. The result’s a sauce that’s each advanced and well-balanced in taste.
When in comparison with oyster sauce, selfmade XO sauce has a spicier and extra intense umami taste profile. Oyster sauce is milder and easier in style as it’s made solely from oyster essence. Nonetheless, whereas XO sauce is a luxurious merchandise that’s usually used sparingly, oyster sauce is reasonably priced and extra available in most grocery shops.
To make selfmade XO sauce, begin by heating up a cup of vegetable oil in a saucepan over medium-high warmth. Add the chopped garlic combination and the diced chili peppers to the saucepan and prepare dinner till golden brown. Then, stir in a tablespoon of sugar and half a cup of dry sherry and simmer for 3 minutes. Lastly, add the dried shrimp and scallops to the saucepan and prepare dinner for 5 minutes till the seafood is comfortable.
Retailer the selfmade XO sauce in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as three weeks. It’s excellent for including depth of taste to rice dishes, noodle dishes, and savory dishes. XO sauce can be used as a dipping sauce for warm pot or as a condiment to boost your favourite sandwiches.
In conclusion, selfmade XO sauce is a must have for any lover of Asian delicacies. Its spicy, savory, and umami-rich taste make it an ideal substitute for warm sauces or different savory condiments. Strive it and take your dishes to the following stage with this luxurious sauce from Zhejiang Province!
Sriracha Sauce
Sriracha sauce has change into common in recent times as a flexible condiment that may add a spicy kick to all kinds of dishes. Initially hailing from Thailand, this sauce has made its approach into kitchens and eating places worldwide, changing into a staple in lots of households.
The flavour of sriracha sauce is an ideal mix of spicy, candy, and tangy. It’s made with a singular mixture of chili peppers, vinegar, garlic, sugar, and salt. Including vinegar and sugar brings a tangy and subtly candy style to the sauce, whereas the chili peppers add a fiery kick of warmth. The result’s a sauce that’s each advanced and well-balanced in taste.
When in comparison with XO sauce, sriracha has an analogous stage of spiciness with a milder umami taste profile. XO sauce is thought for its depth and complexity of flavors, whereas sriracha is less complicated in style however nonetheless offers a punch of warmth and sweetness.
It is usually extra reasonably priced and extensively out there in most grocery shops, making it an accessible possibility for individuals who need to add spice to their dishes.
Soy Sauce + Chili Flakes
Soy sauce with chili flakes (also called chili soy sauce) is a well-liked and versatile condiment that’s extensively utilized in Asian delicacies. This sauce is made by mixing soy sauce with dried or contemporary chili flakes, making a spicy and savory taste that provides depth to any dish.
The chili flakes within the sauce convey a medium warmth stage that provides a pleasant kick to dishes, whereas the soy sauce offers a salty and savory taste. The mixture of those flavors creates a well-balanced style that may complement quite a lot of dishes.
When in comparison with XO sauce, chili soy sauce has an easier taste profile, however nonetheless provides a pleasant quantity of warmth and umami taste to dishes. XO sauce is extra advanced in taste and infrequently thought-about a luxurious merchandise.
Oyster Sauce + Smoked Ham
Oyster sauce is a well-liked condiment in Chinese language delicacies that provides a savory and wealthy taste to quite a lot of dishes. Historically made by simmering oysters in soy sauce, oyster sauce has advanced over time and is now a staple ingredient in lots of Asian dishes. It’s a versatile sauce that can be utilized as a marinade, glaze, stir-fry sauce, or dipping sauce.
When paired with smoked ham, oyster sauce takes on a complete new stage of depth and complexity of taste. The smokiness of the ham enhances the umami taste of the oyster sauce, making a savory and mouth-watering style that can depart you wanting extra.
In comparison with XO sauce, oyster sauce has an easier taste profile however nonetheless offers a satisfying stage of umami and salty taste.
Dried Squid or Fish
Dried squid or fish sauce is a well-liked and versatile ingredient in lots of Asian cuisines. It’s a savory and salty condiment that provides depth of taste to dishes and can be utilized in quite a lot of methods. This sauce is usually made by fermenting dried fish or squid in salt after which extracting the liquid that varieties over time. The ensuing sauce has a robust umami taste that pairs nicely with many dishes.
When in comparison with XO sauce, dried squid or fish sauce has a extra simplistic taste profile. It lacks the complexity of XO sauce, however nonetheless offers a satisfying stage of umami and salty taste. Dried squid or fish sauce can also be much less spicy than XO sauce, making it a superb substitute for individuals who are delicate to warmth.
Black Bean Sauce + Chili
Black bean sauce and chili is a well-liked condiment in Chinese language delicacies. It’s a versatile sauce that can be utilized in quite a lot of dishes, from stir-fries to dipping sauces. Each black bean sauce and chili present a singular depth of taste and a reasonable stage of warmth that enhances a variety of savory dishes.
The black bean sauce on this condiment is created from fermented black beans, which supplies it a fancy and salty taste. Mixed with the warmth of chili, this sauce offers an ideal stability of flavors that’s distinctive to Chinese language delicacies. It additionally creates a savory and umami-rich style that’s extremely wanted in Asian dishes.
In comparison with XO sauce, black bean sauce and chili gives a extra reasonable stage of warmth, making it an ideal substitute for individuals who favor a milder taste. It additionally has a wealthy and savory taste profile that’s much less advanced than XO sauce however nonetheless offers a satisfying depth of taste.
Incorporating black bean sauce and chili into your cooking is simple. It pairs nicely with quite a lot of meats, greens, and noodle dishes, and is ideal for including some additional warmth and depth of taste to your favourite savory dishes. It can be used as a dipping sauce for fried or grilled meals, including an additional layer of taste to your meal.
To make a easy stir-fry utilizing black bean sauce and chili, stir-fry your favourite greens and protein in a scorching wok with some garlic and ginger. Add just a few tablespoons of black bean sauce and chili, and proceed to stir-fry for just a few extra minutes. Serve with steamed rice, and revel in this scrumptious Chinese language condiment’s savory and spicy flavors.
Quick info about XO sauce
XO sauce is an opulent condiment originating from Zhejiang province in China. The sauce makes use of a fancy mixture of dried seafood, particularly scallops and shrimp, in addition to chili peppers, garlic, and different spices. It’s thought-about a luxurious merchandise because of the costly components concerned in its preparation. Listed here are some quick info about XO sauce that it is best to know.
Why is it so costly?
XO sauce is taken into account a luxurious sauce and is thought to be probably the most costly Chinese language delicacies.
The primary motive for its excessive price ticket lies within the course of of constructing it. XO sauce contains a number of uncommon components, corresponding to dried scallops and prawns, that are each pricey and troublesome to supply. Moreover, these components should be fastidiously ready and blended with different spices, corresponding to chili peppers, garlic, and shallots, to realize the advanced and savory taste that XO sauce is thought for. Given the ability, time, and energy required to create such a scrumptious sauce, it’s not shocking that XO sauce is usually related to wealth and sophistication. This sauce is especially common throughout Lunar New 12 months celebrations, the place it’s used to represent prosperity and luck.