Char Siu Pork – Chinese BBQ Pork

Last Updated on January 29, 2021 by Chef Mireille

Char Siu Pork is a classic Chinese dish that you can eat on its own or add to your fried rice, lo mein and more. If at no other time, you must make it for Chinese New Year!

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Do you eat Chinese take out? Even in these challenging times, Chinese take out is still super popular here in NYC. You can almost call it comfort food – NYC Style!

Have you ever wondered how the heck do you make those strips of sweet red pork that is in your fried rice and lo meain?

Well I am here to show you how they get that smoky, sweet flavor and bright color into the pork. It’s really not rocket science. The color comes from food coloring. No exotic ingredient – just your basic red food coloring.

The most difficult part of this recipe is gathering all of the ingredients. Depending how large your local Asian market is, you may have to order one or two of the ingredients online.

Most Chinese even often purchase Char Siu. Very few people make it at home themselves. Everything tastes better when made at home, so you’ll do better than the Chinese even if you follow this delicious recipe.

One of the main reasons many purchase it is that it is traditionally made on a barbecue/grill. Here in NYC and in many places, having access to a grill would make it challenging.

That is why this oven method of Char Siu Pork is so easy, almost anyone can make at home – as long as you have an oven. More people have an oven than have a grill so I know you will love this accessibility of this recipe!

Celebrate Chinese New Year with a traditional recipe!

Although the best way to make char siu is on a grill, if you don’t have one, this is the best alternative.

Char Siu Pork Ideas

There are many ways you can utilize Char Siu Pork. So don’t worry if you think this is a huge amount.

First of all, it freezes well so you can definitely use this as a make ahead recipe and defrost as needed. However there are still many uses to Chinese BBQ Pork

• Fried Rice
• Lo Mein/ Noodle Stir Fry
• Soup
• Dumplings
• Bao
• Vegetable Stir Fry
• …and more

What are some other ideas you think Char Siu would go great in?

Here are some other recipes you might want to include on your menu! Not only in China, but Chinese New Year is celebrated throughout Southeast Asia. So you can try some of these both Chinese and Malay Recipes for your holiday menu.

Chinese New Year Recipes

• Orange Chicken
• Chicken & Mushrooms in Black Bean Sauce
• Hong Kong Noodle Soup
• Nian Gao – Coconut Sticky Rice Cake
• Scallion Pancakes
• Hetaosu – Walnut Cookies
• Puteri Ayu – Steamed Pandan Cakes
• Kuih Dadar – Coconut Stuffed Pandan Crepes
• Chicken Curry Puffs

What kind of pork should you use?

Pork Shoulder/Butt/Picnic Ham is the pork you should purchase.

As you can see from the different look of some of the images, I have made it a variety of ways – using bone in pork shoulder as well as boneless picnic ham.

The flavor in the bone in pork shoulder is definitely superior. However, if your local market only has the boneless, you can use that as well.

Methodology

Depending which pork I am using, there is a slight difference in how I prepare the meat.

When using the bone in pork shoulder, make slits in the meat and insert the sliced garlic cloves.

When using the boneless pork, it is not thick enough, so then just include the sliced garlic in the marinade. However, still make some slits in the meat to ensure the flavor of the marinade gets in to the meat well.

Now, it’s time to check the pantry and make sure you have all the ingredients ready!

Like the saying goes, the secret’s in the sauce. So all you need are these Char Siu Sauce Ingredients and the pork!

Ingredients

• pork butt/pork shoulder
• barley malt syrup
• honey
• hoisin sauce
• soy sauce
• Shaoxing cooking wine
• black vinegar
• garlic
• 5 spice powder
• ground white pepper
•  sesame oil
• red food coloring
• salt

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How to make Char Siu Pork

• Put together the marinade ingredients.
• Reserve half of the marinade.
• Add meat to the rest of the marinade. Coat well and refrigerate overnight.

• Remove the meat from the marinade.
• Place on a baking tray. (use aluminum foil for less clean up afterwards)
• Baste frequently with the reserved sauce.

• After you take the meat out of the oven, it is VERY IMPORTANT you let it rest for 15 minutes before slicing.
• You want the muscles to relax so that the meat can retain its juicyness.

Now you can slice it, after you have let the meat rest,

Now it’s ready to add to all of your Chinese recipes!

If you would like to learn more about the history, traditions and symbolism of the Lunar Festival (Chinese New Year), check out this Chinese New Year post which includes a Chinese New Year Infographic you can print.

Now whose up for making homemade Char Siu for the Chinese New Year?

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