Description
This Chinese BBQ pork Char Siu recipe features a sticky sweet glaze with a perfect balance of savory and sweet, delivering tender, juicy pork with caramelized edges. Easy to prepare and perfect for gatherings or weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs pork shoulder or pork butt, boneless
- 1 tsp Chinese five-spice powder
- 3 tbsp soy sauce (Kikkoman recommended)
- 2 tbsp hoisin sauce
- 2 tbsp honey (or maple syrup as a substitute)
- 2 tbsp Shaoxing wine or dry sherry
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- A few drops red food coloring (optional)
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1/2 tsp ground white pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the marinade: In a large bowl, whisk together soy sauce, hoisin sauce, honey, Shaoxing wine, brown sugar, minced garlic, Chinese five-spice powder, sesame oil, ground white pepper, and red food coloring if using.
- Marinate the pork: Trim excess fat and cut pork into 1.5 inch thick strips. Submerge pork in marinade, cover, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, ideally overnight.
- Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C) and position a rack in the middle.
- Prepare for roasting: Place a wire rack on a foil-lined baking sheet. Arrange pork strips on the rack, reserving the marinade.
- Roast pork for 20 minutes, turning once halfway through until edges caramelize and glaze develops.
- Baste and broil: Remove pork, brush generously with reserved marinade, switch oven to broil, and cook 5-7 minutes per side watching carefully to avoid burning.
- Rest pork for 5 minutes after cooking to retain juices.
- Slice pork thinly against the grain and serve warm with steamed rice or in bao buns.
Notes
Marinate pork overnight for best flavor. Use a wire rack to allow excess marinade to drip and achieve a caramelized finish. Watch broiler closely to avoid burning. For gluten-free, substitute tamari for soy sauce and check hoisin sauce labels. Red food coloring is optional and purely aesthetic.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 4 oz (115g) co
- Calories: 280
- Fat: 15
- Carbohydrates: 12
- Protein: 20
Keywords: Chinese BBQ pork, Char Siu, sticky sweet glaze, Chinese five-spice, hoisin sauce, pork shoulder, easy Chinese recipe, oven roasted pork