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Easy Char Siu (Chinese BBQ pork)

Easy Char Siu (Chinese BBQ pork)
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Easy Char Siu (Chinese BBQ pork) is a classic Chinese dish featuring tender, juicy pork slices marinated in a sweet, savory, and smoky sauce. This homemade recipe delivers restaurant-quality flavor using simple pantry ingredients, an easy baking method, and no special equipment. Perfect for rice bowls, noodles, or enjoying on its own with customizable sweetness and spice levels.

Ingredients

Scale

Meat

  • 2 pounds pork shoulder or pork loin, well-marbled

Marinade

  • 3 tablespoons hoisin sauce
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce (use gluten-free for gluten-free version)
  • 2 teaspoons Chinese five-spice powder
  • 2 tablespoons honey or maltose
  • 2 tablespoons Shaoxing wine or dry sherry
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon red food coloring (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Marinade: In a bowl, combine hoisin sauce, soy sauce, Chinese five-spice powder, honey, Shaoxing wine, minced garlic, and optional red food coloring. Whisk the ingredients thoroughly until the mixture is smooth and aromatic.
  2. Marinate the Pork: Slice the pork into long strips about 1 inch thick. Place them in a zip-top bag or bowl, pour the marinade over, ensuring each piece is well coated. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight to let flavors deeply penetrate.
  3. Preheat and Prepare for Cooking: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a baking tray with foil and place a wire rack on top to allow even cooking and fat drainage.
  4. Roast the Pork: Arrange marinated pork strips on the rack, reserving the leftover marinade. Roast for 25 minutes, flipping halfway through and basting with reserved marinade to build that glossy, sticky glaze.
  5. Optional Broil for Caramelization: For extra caramelized edges, broil the pork for 2-3 minutes after roasting, keeping a close eye to prevent burning. This step enhances that irresistible charred flavor.
  6. Rest and Slice: Remove the pork from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes. Slice into thin pieces against the grain, ready to serve or store.

Notes

  • Use well-marbled pork for juiciness and flavor.
  • Marinate overnight for deeper flavor penetration.
  • Reserve some marinade for basting during roasting to get a sticky glaze.
  • Allow the pork to rest after cooking to redistribute juices evenly.
  • Adjust sweetness by varying the amount of honey or substitute sweeteners to taste.
  • Red food coloring is optional and does not affect flavor.
  • To make gluten-free, use gluten-free soy sauce.
  • You can grill the pork using indirect heat and baste frequently for smoky flavor.

Nutrition

Keywords: Char Siu, Chinese BBQ pork, BBQ pork, Chinese cuisine, hoisin sauce, five-spice, easy Chinese recipe

Find it online: https://mealsbylina.com/easy-char-siu-chinese-bbq-pork/