Easiest Char Siu (Chinese BBQ Pork) You’ll Ever Make · I’m a food blogger

My ultimate comfort food is a bowl of fluffy rice slathered in sweet soy sauce with glistening slices of Chinese bbq pork aka char siu.

It was one of our dinners growing up, just like almost all Chinese families out there, because it’s so easy. Of course back then we would just go to our favorite Chinese bbq joint and buy a pound of char siu along with some roast duck.

2020 has changed somewhat the random outings and all. We stayed close to home. We only ordered delivery a total of two times, which I’m very surprised about because I normally love delivery. Not sure why it hasn’t really been on our radar considering everyone has been ordering like crazy.

Actually, I think it goes both ways: there’s the homeowner camp (hello sourdough bakers) and the “I don’t want to cook” camp (those who know the pain of canceling their orders after 30 minutes of waiting) . Right now we are somewhere in the middle I think. To be honest, we like to make restaurant-style food at home, so we don’t miss it too much. Then again, ask me how I feel in two weeks.

This is a quick and easy char siu aka Chinese BBQ pork recipe. It’s basically the same as this here, minus the red fermented tofu because we don’t actually have any in the fridge. It lacks that hint of distinctive depth of flavor, but is still very tasty! I mean, sweet and delicious sticky roast pork?! Especially with rice? It’s comfort food at its best!

What is char siu/Chinese BBQ pork?

Char siu literally translates to fork-roasted, and that’s exactly what char siu is, normally: fork-roasted pork. The pork – usually pork butt/shoulder – is marinated in a sweet and savory BBQ sauce and then grilled. It’s sweet and salty and has just a nice bit of complexity thanks to the five spices. It’s juicy and gooey and almost perfect in a bowl of fluffy white rice.

How to make char siu at home

1. Cut the pork. You want to cut the pork into long strips at least 3 inches wide.
2. Marine. Mix honey, hoisin, soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, garlic, ginger, five spice and white pepper and rub all over the pork and leave to marinate overnight (or at least for an hour) in the fridge.
3. Roast. Allow the pork to absorb the juices and cook on a wire rack in a low oven.
4. Make a glaze. Make a quick glaze by boiling off excess marinade and a little honey.
5. Brush. Brush the pork generously with the glaze and give it a blast of heat to sear. Cut and enjoy!

What cut of pork is best for char siu?

You can use almost any part of pork for char siu, from pork loin to pork butt. In fact, when you go to a real Chinese BBQ place, they often ask you, “fei ding sau” (胖或瘦) which translates to fat or skinny. True, they usually only use pork butt in Chinese BBQ places, but even then, there will be leaner and fattier parts to the pork butt. If you want:

• a tastier, richer char siu – use the butt of the pig
• bland, lower calorie, leaner char siu – use pork tenderloin
• a weaker, cheaper char siu – use pork
• the best char siu you’ve ever eaten – use pork collar or pork neck. It’s not a regular cut, but it’s basically the shoulder that goes from the neck to the top of the hips.

What ingredients do I need?

You need some Chinese sauces, namely hoisin and soy sauce. They sell hoisin online and in most grocery stores in the Asian aisle, so you’re good to go. In addition you need honey, garlic, ginger, five spice (you can skip this if you don’t want to buy it) and a pork butt/shoulder.

Char siu ingredients

• Hoisin sauce – They sell hoisin pretty much everywhere now, from Target to your basic grocery store. It is a thick, sweet brown sauce used in marinades and as a dipping sauce. Hoisin is super aromatic: sweet and savory, savory and full of umami. It is essential for Chinese bbq dishes.
  
• Shaoxing wine – This is the secret ingredient that all your Chinese takeaways need to enjoy restaurant-style Chinese food. Shaoxing wine is rice wine, and while it’s optional for this recipe, it will be 10,000 times better if you use it. They sell it online and in Asian grocery stores.
  
• Five spices – So many char siu recipes out there are just glazed pork. But if you want a delicious char siu, don’t forget the five spices. It adds flavor.
  
• White pepper – If you don’t have white pepper, don’t sweat it, but if you do, use it here. It is more aromatic, delicate and floral. Add pepper without overdoing it.

How do you pronounce char siu?

It’s cha as in rhymes with “rah rah rah” and siu as in rhymes with “little”.

Why should I do char siu?

Char siu is a SUPER delicious juicy roast pork that you will love. It has a sweet sticky glaze that’s so good you’ll want to eat it on everything. Plus, if you miss Chinese food, this is the dish for you.

What can I serve it with?

You can have it with fluffy white rice, on a bun, with noodles, with fried rice, basically anything.

Easy Char Siu (Chinese BBQ Pork)

A delicious sweet and juicy Chinese pork recipe, aka char siu

It serves 4

Preparation Time 10 minutes min

Cooking time 1 hour hour

marinating 1 hour hour

Total time 2 hour hour 10 minutes min

• 2 tablespoon honey
• 2 tablespoon hoisin
• 1 tablespoon I am willow
• 2 SPOON Shaoxing wine optionally
• 2 carnation garlic lightly shredded
• 1 INCHES ginger slices
• 1/2 SPOON five spices optionally
• 1/4 SPOON white pepper optionally
• 2 tablespoon honey for glaze
• 1 £ pork butt/shoulder cut into strips

Nutrition facts

Easy Char Siu (Chinese BBQ Pork)

Amount per service

Calories 443
Calories from fat 226

% Daily Value*

Fat 25.1 g39%

Saturated fat 9 g56%

cholesterol 102 mg34%

Sodium 510 mg22%

potassium 473 mg14%

Carbohydrates 26.5 g9%

Fiber 0.8 g3%

Sugar 22 g24%

Protein 27.8 g56%

* Percent Daily Values ​​are based on a 2000 calorie diet.