Chinese Barbeque Pork (Char Siu) Recipe – Asian, Chinese Special

Apart from its striking glossy finish and delicious flavor, this Chinese barbeque pork is surprisingly simple to prepare at home, no need for an elaborate ceramic grill.
  • Prep Time10 min
  • Cook Time2 hr
  • Perform Time3 hr
  • Total Time5 hr 10 min

Chinese Barbeque Pork (Char Siu) Ingredients:

  • ⅔ cup soy sauce
  • ½ cup honey
  • ½ cup Chinese rice wine (or sake or dry sherry)
  • ⅓ cup hoisin sauce
  • ⅓ cup ketchup
  • ⅓ cup brown sugar
  • 4 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 1 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • ⅛ teaspoon pink curing salt (Optional)
  • 1 (3 pound) boneless pork butt (shoulder)
  • 1 teaspoon red food coloring, or as desired (Optional)
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste

How To Make Chinese Barbeque Pork (Char Siu) :

1

Combine soy sauce, honey, rice wine, hoisin sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, crushed garlic, five-spice powder, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and curing salt in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to medium-high and cook for 1 minute. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.

2

Cut the pork roast lengthwise into halves, then cut each half lengthwise again to create 4 long pieces of pork.

3

Transfer the cooled sauce to a large mixing bowl. Stir in red food coloring. Place the pork pieces into the sauce, ensuring each piece is coated. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 4 to 12 hours.

4

Preheat the grill to medium heat (275-300 degrees F or 135-150 degrees C) and lightly oil the grate. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

5

Remove the pork pieces from the marinade, allowing excess marinade to drip off. Place them on the prepared baking sheet and sprinkle with kosher salt to taste.

6

Place the pork pieces on the grill over indirect heat. Cover and cook for approximately 45 minutes. Brush with marinade, then turn the pieces. Continue cooking until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center registers at least 145 degrees F (63 degrees C), about 1 hour and 15 minutes more. Do not reuse any marinade on cooked meat without boiling it first.

7

Pour the remaining marinade into a saucepan, bring it to a boil, and let it simmer for 1 minute. Remove from heat and use it to brush over the cooked pork.

Recipe Notes :

If using a standard kettle-shaped backyard grill, consolidate all the coals to one side and position the meat on the opposite side. For added protection, consider placing the meat in a roasting pan before placing it on the grill. Alternatively, skip the outdoor grill and roast it in the oven. However, before finishing, use the broiler to achieve the caramelization typically achieved on the grill.