Pippies with XO sauce

• servings: 4 servings
• active time: 30 minutes
• total time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Ingredients

1 kg pippies, rinsed

3 tsp cornflour mixed with 100 ml water

coriander leaves, to serve

50 g dried scallops, soaked overnight in 200 ml water

60 g dried shrimp, soaked overnight in 200 ml water

440 ml canola oil

100 g Jinhua ham or jamón, diced

150 g garlic cloves, thinly sliced

150 g red Asian shallots, thinly sliced

50 g long red chilli, chopped

40 g dried red chilli, chopped

30 g caster sugar

10 g shrimp paste

60 ml XO cognac

Directions

For the XO sauce, drain the scallops and reserve the soaking water. Drain the shrimp and discard the soaking water.Heat the oil in a heavy–based saucepan or wok to 180°C. Add the drained scallops and shrimp and cook until golden. Remove with a slotted spoon and place in a bowl. Add the jamón and cook until golden, then remove with a slotted spoon and add to the bowl with the scallops and shrimp.Add the garlic, shallots, fresh and dried chillies to the oil and fry until golden, then remove with a slotted spoon and add to the scallops and shrimp.Add all the fried ingredients, the reserved scallop soaking water and the sugar to the pan of frying oil and simmer for 3–4 minutes or until the water has evaporated. Stir in the shrimp paste and cook for 7–8 minutes, stirring continuously until thick and caramelised. Add the XO cognac, simmer for 15–20 seconds, then remove from the heat.  Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil. Add the pippies and cook just until the pippies have opened. Drain and discard any unopened pippies.Heat a large wok over high heat. Add 3–4 tablespoons XO sauce and cook until sizzling. Add the pippies and 375 ml (1½ cups) water and bring to the boil. Add the cornflour mixture and toss until thickened. Transfer to a serving platter, scatter with coriander leaves and serve immediately.Note• If you prefer the texture of the XO sauce a bit jammier in texture, then place in a food processor and give it a quick blitz. This recipe makes more XO sauce than you need for this recipe, but the remainder will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 6 weeks.Photography by Adam Liaw.Want more from The Cook Up?• Stream free here at .• Get the show recipes, articles and more.