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Xá Xíu sauce not only enhances the visual appeal of dishes with its beautiful brown color but also brings a harmonious blend of salty and sweet, creating a rich and flavorful experience. The process of making Xá Xíu sauce is simple and not overly complicated. Let's step into the kitchen with Mytour and discover the method.
1. Xá Xíu Sauce – Chinese BBQ Sauce
Xá Xíu sauce, also known as Char Siu sauce, is a slightly thick Chinese barbecue sauce. It has a sweet and savory taste that complements the five-spice powder. This sauce is commonly used to marinate or grill meat, adding flavor to dishes like noodles and stir-fries. The dish is often enjoyed with hot rice or steamed white buns.
Image: Collected
2. Traditional Xá Xíu Sauce Recipe
Traditional Xá Xíu sauce often uses malt extract or honey to create a gentle sweetness, avoiding the harshness of using regular sugar. Alongside that is hoisin sauce, a type of sauce made from soybeans, garlic, chili, vinegar, sugar, and five-spice powder. As a result, Xá Xíu sauce brings a perfect flavor profile, making the dish doubly enticing.
Prepare the Ingredients
- Honey (or maltose/malt extract): 4 tablespoons
- Hoisin sauce: 3 tablespoons
- Five-spice powder: 1 tablespoon
- Thieu Hung cooking wine: 3 tablespoons
- Soy sauce: 4 tablespoons (choose a mild variety, not too strong)
- Sesame oil: 3 tablespoons
- Minced garlic: 5 cloves
Hoisin Sauce (Image: Collected)
Mytour suggests:
- How to make Xá Xíu pork using an air fryer
Processing Steps
- Prepare a large bowl and combine all the prepped ingredients in it
- Stir thoroughly until all the ingredients blend into a homogeneous sauce mixture
- Use this sauce to marinate the meat and create a delicious Xá Xíu dish on the same day
- If you want to preserve the sauce for future use, heat the mixture in a pot until boiling, then let it cool and transfer it to a glass jar. Store it in the fridge for lasting freshness.
Finished Product
The traditional Xá Xíu sauce recipe results in a thick, dark brown, and fragrant sauce with enticing aromas of five-spice powder. The harmonious sweet and salty taste enhances the flavor when marinating and cooking without the need for additional seasoning.
Image: Curated
3. Vegan Xá Xíu Sauce Recipe
The plant-based recipe eliminates honey, replacing it with agave syrup, a natural sweetener derived from the juice of a cactus species originating from Mexico.
Prepare the Ingredients
- ½ cup filtered water
- ½ cup agave syrup
- 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon five-spice powder
- 1 bulb of garlic
- ½ tablespoon cornstarch
Image: Curated
Processing Steps
- Put all the ingredients in a blender and blend until a smooth mixture is achieved.
- Pour the mixture into a pan and simmer over medium heat. Stir continuously for about 5 minutes until the mixture begins to thicken.
- Once the sauce thickens, turn off the heat and let it cool completely at room temperature.
- Transfer to a glass jar and store in the fridge for freshness.
- The Xá Xíu sauce will last for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator.
- Whenever you cook, simply take out the sauce, marinate the meat, and then grill or roast for a delicious dish.
Image: Curated
Here are two recipes for making Xá Xíu sauce, one traditional and one vegan. We hope these sauce recipes inspire you to create delicious dishes.
Explore more:
- How to make Pesto sauce
- How to make Thai sauce
