Air Fryer Char Siu
User Reviews
5
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Prep Time
25 mins
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Total Time
25 mins
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Servings
8
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Calories
283 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
Chinese
Air Fryer Char Siu
Description
Air Fryer Char Siu involves cutting pork shoulder into thick strips with fat intact and marinating it in a sauce made from sugar, salt, five spice powder, white pepper, sesame oil, Shaoxing wine, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, molasses, garlic, and optional food coloring. The pork is marinated for at least 8 hours or overnight to absorb the flavors fully.
Before cooking, the pork is brought closer to room temperature. Hot water is added to the air fryer basket to create steam and help keep the meat moist during cooking. The pork pieces are then arranged on the rack above and cooked to develop the signature sticky glaze and tender texture associated with char siu, using the air fryer’s heat and circulating air.
The marinade balances sweet, savory, and aromatic notes characteristic of Chinese BBQ pork, and the air fryer provides a controlled environment for cooking without needing an outdoor grill or traditional oven methods. The recipe's note remarks that prep time excludes the marinating period, emphasizing the need for advance preparation.
Ingredients
- 3 pounds pork shoulder select a piece with some good fat on it, or pork butt, boneless
- ¼ cup sugar granulated white
- 2 teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon five spice powder
- ¼ teaspoon white pepper
- ½ teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
- 2 teaspoons molasses
- 1/8 teaspoon red food coloring (optional)
- 3 cloves garlic finely minced
- ¼ cup water plus 1 tablespoon/15 ml, hot
- 2 tablespoons maltose (or honey)
Instructions
- Cut the pork into strips or chunks about 2 to 3 inches thick. Keep them as large as possible while still being able to fit 2-3 pieces comfortably in your air fryer (ours were about 9-10 ounces each). Don’t trim any excess fat.
- Combine the sugar, salt, five spice powder, white pepper, sesame oil, wine, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, molasses, food coloring (if using), and garlic in a bowl to make the BBQ sauce/marinade. Reserve about 2 tablespoons of marinade in a small bowl or container, cover, and refrigerate. Rub the pork with the rest of the marinade in a large bowl or baking dish. Cover and refrigerate overnight, or at least 8 hours.
- Take the char siu out of the fridge and leave it on the counter for about 2 hours, or until it gets close to room temperature.
- Add ¼ cup of hot water to the air fryer basket, with the rack on top. Place the pork on the rack in the basket so the pieces are not touching.
- Air fryers usually have to warm up before placing food inside, but for this recipe, just insert the basket, set the temperature to 375°F, and turn it on. If your air fryer has a notification to place the food, just leave it alone, and it will continue to cook at the set temperature. All that said, air fryers do vary, so you may have to adjust the cooking time.
- The recommended cooking time for 9 to 10 ounce pieces is a total of 15 to 18 minutes. You can use 3 cooking intervals for 5 to 6 minutes each, but if you reduce the size to 6 to 7 ounces, you may only need 3 minutes for the last interval for a total of 13 to 15 minutes. Combine the reserved marinade with the remaining 1 tablespoon hot water and the maltose. At each 5-6 min interval, brush the pork lightly with the reserved marinade mixture, flip, and brush the other side. Then reset the timer at the same temperature, 375°F. If the water has evaporated, add more hot water (make sure it’s HOT, or it’ll cool down the air fryer).
- Slice, serve, and enjoy!
Notes
- Marinate the pork for at least 8 hours or overnight for full flavor penetration.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 8Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 283 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 283kcal | 14% |
| Carbohydrates | 13g | 4% |
| Protein | 32g | 64% |
| Fat | 10g | 15% |
| Saturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Trans Fat | 0.1g | 5% |
| Cholesterol | 102mg | 34% |
| Sodium | 798mg | 33% |
| Potassium | 623mg | 13% |
| Fiber | 0.2g | 1% |
| Sugar | 12g | 24% |
| Vitamin A | 1IU | 0% |
| Vitamin C | 0.5mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 34mg | 3% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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