Char Siu Recipes

Char Siu, often known as Chinese barbecue pork, is a savory and popular Chinese meal. It's made using marinated and roasted or grilled pork, which is generally distinguished by a reddish-brown, somewhat sweet, and flavorful glaze. Char Siu is usually served as a main course, as a filling in buns, or sliced and utilized in a variety of Chinese dishes. Char Siu is frequently served with steamed rice as a main course or as a stuffing for Char Siu bao (barbecue pork buns). It's a delectable and classic Chinese cuisine known for its sweet, salty, and slightly smokey characteristics.

This meal is prepared differently from other BBQ foods. Moisture and convection are required for barbecued meat. It is often hung in an oven and cooked with boiling water beneath it. For this dish, we'll do nearly the same thing, but with normal kitchen utensils and equipment.

A roasting pan and a wire rack are required. A roasting pan is a large metal pan used to roast turkey and fowl. The roasting pan has a wire rack. The roasting pan is filled with hot or boiling water, and the wire rack is placed on top. The marinated pork is positioned on the wire rack so that it does not come into contact with the water. This is roasted and basted until cooked through.

Here's a basic recipe for preparing Char Siu:

Ingredients:

For the Marinade:

- 1 1/2 pounds (700g) boneless pork shoulder or pork loin, cut into long strips

- 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce

- 2 tablespoons soy sauce

- 2 tablespoons honey or maltose (for traditional sweetness and color)

- 1 tablespoon Chinese five-spice powder

- 1 tablespoon rice wine or sherry

- 1 tablespoon minced garlic

- 1 teaspoon minced ginger

- 1/2 teaspoon red food coloring (optional for the traditional red hue)

- 1/2 teaspoon salt

- 1/4 teaspoon white pepper (or black pepper)

For the Glaze (optional):

- 1 tablespoon honey or maltose

- 1 tablespoon warm water

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Marinade:

   - Combine the hoisin sauce, soy sauce, honey or maltose, Chinese five-spice powder, rice wine or sherry, chopped garlic and ginger, food coloring (if using), salt, and white pepper in a mixing bowl.

   - Mix the ingredients together until the marinade is fully combined.

2. Marinate the Pork:

   - Put the pork strips in a large resealable plastic bag or a shallow dish to marinate.

   - Pour the marinade over the pork, making sure that it is evenly coated.

   - Refrigerate the dish or seal the bag for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight, to enable the flavors to permeate.

3. Preheat the Oven:

   - Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and place a rack in the center.

4. Roast the Char Siu:

   - Allow the marinated pork to come to room temperature after removing it from the refrigerator.

   - To catch drippings, thread the marinated pork pieces onto skewers or lay them on a wire rack placed over a baking sheet.

   - Roast the pork for 20-25 minutes in a preheated oven, turning regularly and coating with more marinade.

   - Brush the pork with a combination of honey and warm water in the last 2-3 minutes of cooking to create a glossy glaze (optional).

5. Slice and Serve:

   - Remove the Char Siu from the oven after it has reached the required level of doneness (it should be slightly caramelized and have a smokey scent).

   - Allow it to rest for a few minutes before slicing it into thin slices. Enjoy!