Chinese lobster noodles with XO sauce is a premium Asian dish usually served in fancy restaurants. Want to learn how to make it at home? Let’s do it!
Table of Contents
- Why You’ll Love Chinese Lobster Noodles and XO Sauce
- How to make Chinese Lobster Noodles and XO Sauce in 6 steps
- Pro Tips For The Perfect Chinese Lobster Noodle with XO Sauce
- Chinese Lobster Noodles with XO Sauce Recipe
Why You’ll Love Chinese Lobster Noodles and XO Sauce
The delicious combination of Chinese Lobster Noodles with XO Sauce is amazing.
It’s quite a luxury dish from fresh lobster and the famous XO sauce, an incredibly flavorful condiment in Chinese cuisine.
XO sauce is super versatile.
It has the sweetness from dry seafood, the spiciness from garlic, onion, and chili, and a fantastic aroma. It can be incorporated into dishes such as rice, noodles, stir-fried veggies, meats, and seafood.
Lobster is one of the best seafood choices in the market, which help elevate any noodle dish to a very high level with the best quality.
Created by the renowned National Master Chef John Zhang, this trusted recipe allows you to recreate this culinary masterpiece in your home.
With his 30 years+ of experience and meticulous attention to detail, Chef John has crafted a recipe that guarantees exceptional results every time.
By following his expert guidance, you can unlock the secrets behind this exquisite dish and impress your family and friends with your culinary prowess.
How to make Chinese Lobster Noodles and XO Sauce in 6 steps
The recipe for Chinese lobster noodles and XO sauce below was created by a famous Chinese Master Chef – Mr. John Zhang. This phenomenal recipe will help the noodles absorb all the flavors, and the lobster keeps its juicy tenderness.
Gather ingredients
Asian food, in general, often contains many ingredients.
For this Chinese Lobster Noodles with XO Sauce recipe, you will need to buy the freshest ingredients possible to achieve a restaurant-quality dish.
The list includes lobster, noodles, XO sauce, vegetables of choice, and some common Chinese condiments and seasonings. Also, make sure to measure everything at the right ratio.
Prepare the Lobster
This is a tricky part, and you need to take note.
After buying a fresh lobster, you must know how to prepare it properly.
Cut the lobster’s head in half lengthwise, then turn the lobster around, and cut the rest of the lobster sharply in half. Remove the gray intestinal vein on the back.
Sprinkle a few pinches of cornstarch to lightly coat all the meat.
Then you will cook the lobster in a hot wok with oil.
Make the Noodles
Select your favorite type of noodles: chow mein, yee mein, or other Chinese noodles.
I personally recommend yee mein, a type of flat Cantonese egg noodles made from wheat flour, because it’s soft and quickly absorbs all the flavors from the XO sauce and other seasonings after cooking.
Simply follow the instructions on the packaging to boil the noodle to al dente, which means the noodles are cooked so as to be still firm when bitten.
Prepare the Chinese XO sauce
Chinese XO sauce is pretty much always available in any Asian grocery store.
However, if you fancy a homemade version, we have just a perfect XO sauce recipe for you to make at home, or you can buy Chef John’s XO sauce on Amazon in this affiliate link.
Cook Lobster Noodles with XO sauce
Stir-fry the noodle with lobster in a hot wok over medium-high heat for about one to two minutes.
Then, mix in the XO sauce and toss well until combined.
Add extra veggies or other toppings (optional), and cook for three more minutes before turning off the heat.
Plate up and Serve
The last step is to transfer the Chinese lobster noodle with XO sauce to a nice platter. Add some colorful garnishment, and serve hot immediately.
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Pro Tips For The Perfect Chinese Lobster Noodle with XO Sauce
Use Fresh ingredients
The best Chinese lobster noodle with XO sauce calls for the freshest and highest quality ingredients, especially for lobster. It’s the soul of the whole dish, and you want to make sure it tastes as perfect as possible.
Do Not Overcook the Lobster
A common mistake many people have made is that they cook the lobster for too long as they think it’s hard to cook with such a thick layer of shell.
In fact, if you choose to boil the lobster, you should only boil the lobster for no more than 10 minutes to keep it tender and juicy. The time varies based on how big and heavy the lobster is.
If you follow Chef John’s recipe, stir fry the lobster within 2 minutes only, and remember to put a coat of cornstarch on the lobster meat.
Choose A Good XO Sauce
In the market nowadays, there are a lot of different XO sauce brands from everywhere. I recommend you go for a popular one that you’ve tried before so you know exactly what it tastes like.
One of the best ways is to make your own homemade XO sauce. It’s not very hard; you can manage and personalize what you put inside.
If you opt to buy something delicious at a reasonable price, check out my favorite XO sauce from Master Chef John here.
Pay Attention to Seasonings
Besides the XO sauce, you may need to add more flavors to the Chinese lobster noodles with extra oyster sauce, soy sauce, or salt and pepper. Make sure to give it a taste test and adjust it to suit your preference. Be careful with the measurement because the lobster is already slightly salty.
Cook the Noodle until Al Dente
When you cook the noodles, do not take too long because they will break when you mix them with the lobster and the XO sauce. The right texture should be al dente, not too soft or hard. That’s perfect for your to move on to the stir-fry process later.
After cooking, you should rinse the noodle under cold water, then drizzle a few drops of oil to prevent sticking.
Manage Cooking Temperature
The Chinese lobster noodles with oyster sauce is always cooked over medium-high heat throughout the stir-frying process.
Do not turn it too high; you don’t want to overcook or burn your noodles.
What is Yee Mein made of?
Yee Mein or yi mein is a type of wide, flat, and a little wavy noodle made from wheat flour. Yi mein has a light golden brown color and a slightly chewy texture.
What is a substitute for yi mein noodles?
Yi mein is the only popular option for the Chinese lobster noodle with XO sauce recipe. Please feel free to replace it with other noodles such as rice noodles, chow mein, soba, ramen, udon, and so on.
Chinese Lobster Noodles with XO Sauce Recipe
Lobster Noodles with XO sauce is a harmonious blend of succulent lobster, perfectly cooked noodles, and the rich umami flavors of XO sauce. It is a dish that combines elegance and simplicity, making it an ideal choice for both casual dinners and special occasions.
Chinese Lobster Noodles with XO Sauce Recipe
The recipe for Chinese lobster noodles and XO sauce below will help the noodles absorb all the flavors, and the lobster keeps its juicy tenderness. This recipe was created by the National Master Chef with more than 30 years of experience - Chef John Zhang.
Ingredients
- 1 (~7 oz.) Whole Lobster
- 5 oz. Yi Mein Noodles (or any other noodles)
- 1.5 tbsp XO Sauce
- 1 pinch Corn Starch
- 2 tsp. Garlic, Sliced
- 2 tsp. Ginger, Sliced
- 2 tsp. Green Onion, Diced In 2-inch Pieces
- 1 tbsp. White Wine
- 3 cups Chicken Broth
- 1 pinch Salt
- 1 pinch White Pepper
Instructions
- Cut the lobster's head in half lengthwise. Turn the lobster around, and cut the rest of the lobster sharply in half. Remove the gray intestinal vein on the back.
- Sprinkle a few pinches of cornstarch to lightly coat all the meat.
- In a large wok, heat the oil with medium-high heat.
- Place the lobster with meat side up in the wok.
- Add Shaoxing wine to the wok and let the wine burn out thoroughly.
- Flip the lobster over and cook for 1~2 minutes. Transfer the lobster to a large bowl and set aside.
- Heat the wok high and add peanut oil, stir-fry garlic, ginger, and green onions for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Drain and add back to the wok.
- Add White Wine, Chicken Broth, and lobster in the same wok, and bring to a boil. Add salt, white pepper, and mix well.
- Add the noodles to the wok and cook for 1-2 minutes (al dente). Drizzle sesame oil over the top.
- Remove from heat and serve. Enjoy!
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