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CHAR SIU CHINESE BBQ PORK
5 from 93 votes

CHAR SIU CHINESE BBQ PORK

Char Siu Chinese BBQ Pork is made by marinating pork loin country-style ribs in a sweet-savory mixture of hoisin sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar, five-spice powder, and garlic powder, then baking and brushing with honey water for a glossy finish. The pork is optionally soaked in a baking soda solution prior to marinating, which tenderizes the meat. The result is a juicy, tender, flavorful barbecue pork with a caramelized exterior.

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Additional Time
1 d
Total Time
40 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 162 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Chinese

Ingredients

  • 2.5 pounds pork loin country style ribs You can use pork shoulder or butt if you like more fat, boneless
Marinated sauce:
  • ½ cup hoisin sauce
  • ½ cup soy sauce
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon five spice powder
  • ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 tablespoons water
Brushing:
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • ½ tablespoon water

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. The secret tender and juicy homemade char siu like the restaurants is to soak the 2.5 pounds of pork into the 6 cups of water with 3 tablespoons of baked baking soda (mix it well) for 5 hours. Then, rinse it 3 times and use a paper towel to dry them. (You can skip this step if you don't want to do it this way.)
  2. In a mixing bowl, put ½ cup of hoisin sauce, ½ cup of soy sauce, ¼ cup of brown sugar, ¼ teaspoon of five spices, ⅛ teaspoon of garlic powder and 2 tablespoons of water and mix it well.
  3. Put the pork in a container and pour the marinade sauce over.   
  4. Let it marinate and refrigerate overnight. (After 6-8 hours, flip the other side if possible.)
  5. Preheated oven for 375 F. Then, put foil over a cookie sheet and the rack on top of the cookie sheet. Next, lay the marinated pork on the rack. And, bake the pork for 10 minutes. Then, flip the other side and bake for another 10 minutes. (The cooking time is for boneless country style pork loin because they are already cut and smaller in size. If you use other parts of pork, you may need to cut them into smaller strips or adjust the baking time.)  
  6. In a small container, add honey and water and mix well. After that, brush the baked pork with honey water and broil it 2-3 minutes until it's a little brown. Then, flip the other side, brush honey water and broil for another 2-3 minutes.
  7. After the pork is done, cover the pork with a foil and wait for 5-10 minutes. Then, slice the BBQ pork.

Notes

  • For a more tender result, soak pork in water with baking soda for 5 hours, rinse thoroughly, and dry before marinating.
  • Marinate pork overnight, flipping halfway through (after 6-8 hours) to ensure even flavor penetration.
  • Baking at 375°F for 10 minutes per side is based on boneless country-style pork loin; adjust times if using other pork cuts.
  • Brushing pork with honey-water and broiling briefly browns and caramelizes the glaze for authentic texture and color.
  • If grilling, maintain medium heat, flip and baste with marinade occasionally for 35-45 minutes, finishing with honey-water glaze.
  • Rest cooked pork covered with foil for 5-10 minutes before slicing to retain juices and tenderness.

Nutrition Information

Calories 162kcal (8%) Carbohydrates 35g (12%) Protein 4g (8%) Fat 1g (2%) Saturated Fat 1g (5%) Cholesterol 1mg (0%) Sodium 2180mg (91%) Potassium 126mg (3%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 28g (56%) Vitamin A 2IU (0%) Vitamin C 1mg (1%) Calcium 30mg (3%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4 Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 162

% Daily Value*

Calories 162kcal 8%
Carbohydrates 35g 12%
Protein 4g 8%
Fat 1g 2%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Cholesterol 1mg 0%
Sodium 2180mg 91%
Potassium 126mg 3%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 28g 56%
Vitamin A 2IU 0%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 30mg 3%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.