Delicious Char Siu (Chinese BBQ Pork)

Char siu, a traditional Han Chinese dish in Guangdong Province, belongs to Cantonese cuisine and is a type of roasted meat. It evolved from "inserting roast" where pork is skewered and roasted over fire. Its name, "char siu," derives from this method, with the meat typically appearing red and having a slightly sweet flavor. Good char siu is characterized by its tender and juicy texture, vibrant color, and bold aroma. It is best when the meat has a balanced ratio of fat and lean, often referred to as "half-fat, half-lean."

6 Reviews
6 Comments
POSTED:30/06/2024
Level:Medium
Yield:1-2 servings
Total:50 min
(includes chilling time)
Active:5 min

Char siu is tender and juicy with a rich soy sauce flavor, making it enjoyable whether served simply as a cold appetizer—fresh and crispy without being greasy—or paired with noodles, pleasing both adults and children alike. Here are some tips and considerations for making delicious char siu:


1.What is Char siu?

Char siu, also known as Chinese barbecue pork, is a cooked meat product prepared by marinating specially selected cuts of pork or poultry with a marinade typically consisting of soy sauce, salt, sugar, and sometimes wine. The meat is skewered with a special fork and roasted over an open flame, traditionally using electric or charcoal grilling methods. Char siu is characterized by its reddish color, lean cuts, and slight sweetness imparted by the marinade.


2.What kind of meat to choose for char siu?

The key to making delicious char siu lies in choosing the right meat. When selecting meat, avoid cuts that are too lean or too fatty. Meat with a good balance of lean and fat is ideal. Pork tenderloin (also known as pork shoulder or pork butt), located in the center of the shoulder blade, is often considered the best cut due to its marbling. Pork belly and pork collar are also good options after pork tenderloin.


3.Do you have to use an oven to make char siu?

If you don't have an oven at home, you can use a rice cooker instead. Place the marinated meat pieces into the rice cooker, pour in enough marinade to cover half of the meat, cover with the lid, and press the cook button to braise. After the rice cooker switches off, open the lid, flip the meat pieces, and press the cook button again to braise. Two rounds of braising should be sufficient. Remove the meat, let it cool, and then slice it for serving.


4.How to achieve a vibrant red color for char siu?

①Use red yeast rice powder: Add a suitable amount of red yeast rice powder during the marinating process. This not only enhances the red color of the char siu but also imparts a unique aroma and flavor.

②Adjust the marinade sauce:Use specific sauces for marinating, such as honey glaze char siu sauce, hoisin sauce, or seafood sauce. These sauces contain natural pigments that can enhance the reddish color of char siu.

③Adding honey and maltose:During the baking process, brushing on honey and maltose can create a glossy surface on the char siu while enhancing its red color brightness.

④Control baking temperature and time:Proper baking temperature and duration can induce caramelization on the surface of char siu, resulting in its characteristic red appearance. Typically, higher temperatures and longer baking times contribute to achieving this effect.


Today, I'm going to share a char siu recipe with everyone. Follow this method, and I guarantee the char siu will be so delicious that you'll want to lick your fingers!

INGREDIENTS

MAIN INGREDIENTS

  • 750g pork tenderloin

SEASONINGS

  • 20g seafood sauce
  • 10g soy sauce
  • 4 slices ginger
  • 60g char siu sauce
  • 35g honey
  • 5g sushi soy sauce

DIRECTIONS

STEP 1

Wash the whole pork tenderloin thoroughly and pat it dry.

Instruction to wash and dry a pork tenderloin.

STEP 2

Prepare the marinade sauce and ginger slices, and get ready to marinate the pork.

Prepare marinade sauce & ginger slices, then marinate pork.

STEP 3

Mix the marinade thoroughly and spread it evenly over the pork. After coating, use a toothpick to poke many holes in the meat to allow it to absorb the marinade fully.

Tip:

The longer you marinate, the more flavorful the char siu will be. It's recommended to marinate ahead of time or overnight for best results.

Spread marinade on pork, poke holes for absorption. Marinate longer for better flavor.

STEP 4

Before preparing to roast the meat, pour the honey.

Tip: Pour honey on meat before roasting for added flavor.

STEP 5

Carefully brush the entire piece of meat with honey.

Brush meat with honey for flavorful glaze.

STEP 6

Line the bottom tray of the oven with aluminum foil to make cleanup easier.

Use aluminum foil in oven tray for easy cleanup.

STEP 7

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius (about 400 degrees Fahrenheit) with the fan setting on. Place the honey-coated pork tenderloin on the middle rack of the oven. Roast for approximately 25 minutes, then flip the meat and roast for additional time. You can brush on honey 1-2 more times during the process.

Tips:

①During roasting, avoid setting the temperature too high to prevent the exterior from burning while the interior remains undercooked. It's recommended to maintain the temperature around 200 degrees Celsius (about 400 degrees Fahrenheit).

②Before roasting, make sure to squeeze out excess marinade to prevent it from overflowing during baking, which can affect the texture.

Preheat oven to 200°C, roast pork tenderloin coated in honey, flipping midway, brushing more honey. Tips for optimal roasting results included.

STEP 8

After baking, you can take it out. The char siu will have a bright red color and look very beautiful.

Tip:

If you want to eat the char siu right away, let it cool slightly before using a sharp knife to slice it. Slice evenly to maintain the integrity and appearance of the meat.

Tip for slicing freshly baked char siu: let it cool slightly before using a sharp knife to slice evenly for best appearance.

Recipe analyzer

  • Recipes: Delicious Char Siu (Chinese BBQ Pork)
  • Main Ingredients:1
  • Servings per recipe:1
  • Servings size:750 g
Nutritional Summary of Recipe
Amount per 750 g= 1 serving(s)
  • Energy (calories):1073 kcal
    49%
  • Protein:196.28 g
    359%
  • Fat:26.33 g Why gray?
    54%
  • Carbohydrates:0 g
    0%
Calorie breakdown
  • Protein: 78%
    838 kcal
  • Fat: 22%
    237 kcal
  • Carbohydrates: 0%
    0 kcal
The chart shows the percentage of calories intake (energy) coming from the respective macronutrients (fats, protein and carbohydrates).
Omega 6 : Omega 3
1:1
20:1
32:1
Both fatty acids are essential, but nowadays the majority of western diets include excessive amounts of Omega 6 acid.

The ratio shows whether the proportion of both fatty acids in your diet is optimal. Red color means too much of Omega 6 or too little of Omega 3. The data are rounded off and approximate.

6 REVIEWS

Review
Your rating:
FlavorFablesFanaticSeptember 28, 2024

I love how easy this recipe is. The honey glaze makes the pork tenderloin taste amazing!
CulinaryQuestSeptember 16, 2024

This char siu recipe is fantastic! The pork turns out beautifully glazed and flavorful.
FlavorFusionFeastSeptember 12, 2024

How long should I marinate the pork tenderloin for the best flavor?
reply:
December 31, 1969
For optimal flavor, marinate the pork tenderloin overnight or at least 4 hours. The longer you marinate, the more flavorful the char siu will be.
ElizabethJuly 23, 2024

Thanks for sharing this recipe, it worked on my first try and was really tasty!
AnnaJuly 03, 2024

For this barbecue pork recipe, the texture of the meat should be tender and juicy, the meat should be firm but not faggy and hard, and it should be chewy in the mouth.
JunJuly 03, 2024

This BBQ pork goes well with, for example, vegetables, rice or noodles
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