Char siu (叉烧), or Chinese barbecue pork, is a type of Cantonese roast meat. Char siu is its Cantonese name, while in Mandarin it is known as cha shao. The literal translation is "fork roast" referring to the traditional method of cooking this dish: seasoning pork strips and roasting them over a fire or in a covered oven. Some consider this recipe "Chinese restaurant-style pork."
My husband is a passionate carnivore and enjoys cooking pork, so this char siu recipe is more his than mine (note that while char siu is traditionally grilled, this is a recipe for the oven). He loves the marinade and the juicy, tender pork. According to him, while you could use different cuts of pork to make char siu, it’s ideal to use boneless pork shoulder.
This pork recipe isn’t difficult to make but it does require time and patience; a slower, longer cook time makes the meat juicy, which results in fantastic caramelization. Perfect! Thebarbecue porkis marinated and brushed with a Chinese barbecue sauce, then roasted until a deep, restaurant-quality flavor is reached. My husband recommends serving char siu with rice or noodles.
Note: Traditional char siu gets its authentic red color from an ingredient called fermented red bean curds, which can be hard to find. If the color is important to you, you can use red food coloring. I personally don’t ever add any; it doesn’t impact the flavor, so I’m not worried about it. You could serve it for dinner with this homemade char siu sauce.
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Cuisine: Chinese
Prep Time: 10 minutes plus 1 to 2 days to marinate
Cook Time: 1 1/2 hours
Total Time: 1 1/2 hours plus marinating time
Serves 6
Ingredients
Pork
- 1 pork shoulder (2 to 3 pounds)
- 2 tablespoons honey
Marinade
Helpful Products
Recipe Notes
- If you have leftovers, use the pork shoulder in pork fried rice or add it to stir fry.
Here's how to make it:
- Combine all the marinade ingredients in a plastic zipper food storage bag or shallow bowl. Add the pork and marinate 24 to 48 hours, or 3 hours minimum.
- Remove the pork from the marinade and put onto a foil-lined baking sheet. (Save the marinade!) Roast in a preheated 325-degree F oven for about 30 minutes.
- While the pork cooks, pour the reserved marinade into a saucepan. Add the 2 tablespoons of honey. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat and cook until it reaches a syrup consistency, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Remove the pork from the oven and brush it on both sideswith the marinade. Cook another 30 minutes. Remove the pork again and brush it all over with the marinade. Continue to cook about 20 minutes. (If the pork is getting to dark, cover it with foil.) Brush the pork one more time and cook for about 10 more minutes or until caramelized and sticky. (Meat should be fork-tender.) Allow the pork to rest for 10 minutes before serving. Drizzle with any remaining marinade.
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FAQs
What are the best cuts of pork for char siu? My dad uses pork butt, also known as "Boston butt” or "pork shoulder,” and this seems to be among the most popular cuts for char siu. It's ideal to use more fatty cuts, so some other options would be the pork neck end or pork belly.
Is char siu pork the same as BBQ pork? ›
Sticky, crimson red Char Siu Pork – just like you get from the Chinese Barbecue meat shops! Also called Chinese BBQ Pork, it's finger licking good and you're going to be shocked how easy it is to make the Char Siu sauce that's used to marinade the pork.
What is char siu sauce made of? ›
Still, there's a fairly common base set of ingredients including hoisin, honey, soy sauce, sherry, and Chinese five spice powder that imparts the ubiquitous flavor and glossy sheen to Char Siu.
What does Siu mean in Chinese food? ›
Char siu literally means "fork roasted" (siu being burn/roast and cha being fork, both noun and verb) after the traditional cooking method for the dish: long strips of seasoned boneless pork are skewered with long forks and placed in a covered oven or over a fire.
What is a good side dish for char siu? ›
One of my favorite things about char siu is how well it tastes in a variety of dishes. Some of our favorite serving suggestions are: Garlic Noodles or Chow Mein – either sliced and served on top or chopped and tossed together. In fried rice – diced and tossed into the rice over high heat for an amazing flavor!
Is char siu pork served hot or cold? ›
Char Siu pork is a versatile base product. It's used in other dishes, e.g. finely diced in fried rice, as filling in Char Siu Bao 叉燒包 (white steamed rolls), stir-fries, and also served plain, warm or cold, cut into thin slices alongside some vegetables on rice.
What does char siu mean in english? ›
From Cantonese 叉燒／叉烧 (caa1 siu1, “fork roast”).
What is the red stuff on Chinese pork? ›
The red hue on the pork comes from the sticky, crave-able barbecue sauce in which it's marinaded before roasting. Often, this deep crimson hue comes from a combination of Hoisin sauce, ketchup, soy sauce, and fermented red bean curd (aka fermented tofu, bean cheese, or tofu cheese).
What is the difference between Chinese and Japanese char siu? ›
Chinese Cha siu is cooked in an oven, but Japanese style is cooked in liquid. Maybe, this is because ovens aren't traditional kitchen equipment in japan. Maybe there is a different name of this dish in China, but this is what we call Chashu in Japan like you see it on Ramen shops.
What is a substitute for hoisin sauce in char siu? ›
If you're looking to get that sticky, crisp, shiny glaze on the surface of a Chinese roast, or don't have quite as much hoisin sauce as your char siu recipe calls for, substituting in a little BBQ sauce with Asian seasoning is a good option.
No they are not the same. Hoisin sauce is made from fermented soybeans mixed with garlic, chilli, sesame, Chinese spices and vinegar. Char siu sauce is a condiment made from hoisin sauce, sugar, Chinese five spice powder, Chinese cooking wine, soy sauce, garlic and often also food colouring.
What is hoisin sauce made of? ›
Ingredients. The key ingredient of hoisin sauce is fermented soybean paste. Some hoisin sauce ingredients include starches such as sweet potato, wheat and rice, and water, sugar, soybeans, sesame seeds, white distilled vinegar, salt, garlic, red chili peppers, and sometimes preservatives or coloring agents.
Does SIU mean yes? ›
As he hits the ground, Ronaldo outstretches his arms and bellows 'Siuuu', which is Spanish for 'yes', with fans often joining in to create a booming noise around the stadium.
Who invented char siu? ›
Flavors of a dynasty
Despite their contentious relationship, many of Hong Kong's most beloved dishes, including char siu, originated in China, specifically in Guangdong province during the Zhou dynasty. Char siu roughly translates as 'to fork roast,' giving insight as to its origins.
Why is char siu pork pink? ›
If it's ground pork, it might be as the result of using/adding minced ginger and the resulting interaction with pork tends to make it a slightly pink hue. If it's traditional char siu(BBQ Chinese roasted pork), it's the combination of seasonings and spices (hoisin sauce, honey, five spice powder and red food dye).
What is the best beef cut for Chinese food? ›
Most tender beef cuts, such as sirloin, tri-tip, ribeye, top loin (strip), tenderloin, shoulder center (Ranch Steak), shoulder top blade (Flat Iron) and shoulder petite tender, can be cut into strips for use in stir-fry recipes.
What is the best cut of meat for pork burnt ends? ›
Some people make this recipe using pork shoulder which I do not recommend. Pork butt or a Boston butt (same thing) is the way to go. They have better flavor and are more tender due to the fat content.
What is the best cut of meat for BBQ pork? ›
Pork butt is an ideal choice for barbecue pulled pork, but it also lends itself to braising and stewing, which tenderizes the meat and melts the fat. Use pork butt in any recipe where you're looking for fall-apart-tender meat and a rich, porky flavor, such as pulled pork, carnitas or stew.
What is the best meat for Chinese beef? ›
Some popular cuts of beef in Chinese cooking include:
- Flank Steak: This is a lean and flavorful cut that is often used in stir-fry dishes. ...
- Sirloin Steak: Sirloin is another popular choice for stir-fries. ...
- Tenderloin or Filet Mignon: These are very tender cuts and are sometimes used in higher-end Chinese dishes.
