Char siu is undoubtedly one of the most beloved dishes in Chinese cuisine, particularly in Hong Kong and Southern China, and for good reasons. I mean, who can resist its sweet, savory taste and appealing reddish color? Whether you pair it with rice or noodles, char siu pork will always be a feast for the eyes and the palate.
The big question here is: is it possible to make char siu pork at home? Definitely yes! All you need is an oven and other common kitchen tools. Follow the steps in this post to cook up tasty char siu pork for your family and friends!
Let’s Learn A Little About Char Siu
Char siu (literally “fork roasted”) is a quintessential barbecued pork dish in Cantonese cuisine. The dish is known for its characteristic red color and savory-sweet taste.
The flavor comes from a mixture of five-spice powder, sweeteners (such as sugar and honey), and many other spices. Traditionally, red yeast rice is the reason for char siu’s unique color.
Char siu is best enjoyed with a starchy dish or used in stir-fries. You can easily pair it with egg noodles to create delicious dried char siu noodles. Rice and buns are also common complementary foods for this delicacy.
Apart from China, you can also find char siu in Malaysian, Thai, Vietnamese, and some other Southeast Asian countriesโ cuisines.
Kitchen Tools for Preparing Char Siu
As mentioned above, this recipe doesn’t require complicated kitchen devices such as:
Char Siu’s Ingredients
Make sure your pork is fresh, and try to gather all the spices and sauces, as they’re the backbone of your marinade.
Steps of Making Char Siu
Let’s start cooking right now with these 4 straightforward steps.
Step 1: Prepare The Ingredients
Rinse the pork and leave them to dry or pat dry with paper towels. Cut the pork collar into large strips and tenderize using the needle meat tenderizer. Not only does doing this make the meat tender, but it also helps your pork marinade better.
Next, mince the shallot and garlic.
Step 2: Marinate The Pork
Marinate the meat with the prepared spices and sauces, including powdered food coloring, pepper, five-spice powder, chicken powder, etc. Put a pair of food prep gloves on and mix the ingredients well. Marinate for at least 30 minutes so the meat has time to absorb the flavors.
Step 3: Cook Your Char Siu
Once the pork strips are well-marinated, preheat your oven for a few minutes. Brush some oil on the grill plate to prevent sticking, and arrange the pork on it. Roast the meat for 20 minutes at 350 degrees F.
After the 15-minute mark, take the pork out and brush a layer of marinade on one side. Continue roasting for 5 minutes. Then, flip the pork and roast for another 20 minutes.
Take the meat out after 15 minutes, brush it with the rest of the marinade, and roast for 5 minutes more. Although this process takes work, your meat will be juicy in the end.
Step 4: Time To Serve!
Take the perfectly cooked char siu pork out of the oven. Slice the pork strips into the preferred size. Arrange them on a dish. And that’s it. Have a great meal!
Char Siu Storing Tips
If you have any leftovers (though I doubt you do), transfer them into an airtight container and refrigerate them. The char siu will last for about 3 days this way. You can also put the pork in a freezer bag and freeze them for up to a month.
Try Char Siu Today!
Whether you’re cooking for a dinner party or a family gathering, you can’t go wrong with char siu. Given how delicious and simple to make this dish recipe is, you have every reason to try it today!
Do you like how the dish turns out? Leave a comment to let me know what you think about the recipe. I’d also appreciate it if you could share this article with fellow home cooks. Thank you for reading, and see you next time!
Char Siu Recipe
Equipment
- Oven (choose multifunction model)
- Chopping Board
- Knife
- Needle meat tenderizer
- Basting Brush
- Mixing Bowl
- Tongs
Ingredients
- 1 kilogram pork collar
- 70 grams of garlic and shallot
For the marinade:
- 0.3 teaspoon powder food coloring
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon chicken powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon soup powder
- 2 teaspoons red pepper powder
- 2 teaspoons five-spice powder
- 2 teaspoons peanut butter
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 2 teaspoons oyster sauce
- 2 teaspoons hoisin sauce
- 3 teaspoons sesame oil
- 3 teaspoons olive oil
- 5 teaspoons soy sauce
- 5 teaspoons rose dew wine
- 5 teaspoons dark soy sauce
- 100 milliliters char siu sauce
Instructions
- Rinse the pork and let dry or pat dry with paper towels. Cut the pork collar into large strips and tenderize using the needle meat tenderizer.
- Mince the shallot and garlic.
- Marinate the meat with the spices and sauces for at least 30 minutes.
- Preheat your oven for a few minutes. Brush some oil on the grill plate. Roast the meat for 20 minutes at 350 degrees F.
- After 15 minutes, take the pork out and brush a layer of marinade on one side. Continue roasting for 5 minutes. Flip and roast for 20 minutes more.
- Take the meat out after 15 minutes, brush it with the rest of the marinade, and roast for 5 minutes.
- Take the char siu out of the oven. Slice the pork strips into the preferred size.
Video
Notes
- To enjoy the dish to the fullest, pair your char siu with noodles, bread, rice, salad, tomatoes, and cucumbers.
Nutrition
Richie
Content Writer
Expertise
Home Cooking, Meal Planning, Food Styling, Food Photography, Cooking-video Maker, Beverage Evaluation Expert
Education
Saigon Culinary Arts Centre, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Vietnam Australia Vocational School (VAAC), Hanoi, Vietnam
Richie, based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, is a dynamic Content Writer with a talent for capturing the essence of culinary art.
Richie specializes in creating visually appealing and tasty content, offering a new angle on Vietnamese and other culinary traditions. With a background in graphic design and a love for food styling and photography, he expertly combines beauty with food narratives, encouraging his audience to discover the culinary world through his imaginative perspective.