Char Siu (The Best Recipe)
User Reviews
4.6
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Prep Time
15 mins
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Cook Time
30 mins
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Total Time
45 mins
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Servings
3 people
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Calories
361 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
Chinese
Char Siu (The Best Recipe)
Description
The Char Siu (The Best Recipe) centers on pork belly strips marinated thoroughly in a sauce made of fermented red bean curd, maltose or honey, Shaoxing wine, soy sauces, oyster sauce, five-spice powder, and white pepper. The marinade deeply infuses the pork with savory and sweet notes. After marinating overnight, the pork is roasted at 400°F for 15 minutes per side, basted with additional sauce, then broiled briefly to create a caramelized, slightly charred skin. The finish develops a dark, almost blackened exterior which is typical and desired for Char Siu.
The texture combines a tender, juicy interior with a sticky, flavorful crust resulting from the sweet and spiced glaze. Serving the sliced pork immediately with steamed white rice and reserved sauce brings a balanced meal. The sauce can be warmed to enhance its intensity.
The recipe advises selecting pork belly with a balanced fat-to-meat ratio about 50:50 for ideal tenderness and flavor. Removing pork skin and using broiling to mimic grilling's char effect are key techniques. Cooking and broiling times are important to get that signature char without drying out the pork.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. pork belly cut into 2 long strips, skinless
- 2 tablespoons garlic finely chopped
Char Siu Sauce:
- 2 pieces fermented red bean curd Chinese
- 1 tablespoon maltose or honey
- 1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine Chinese
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce dark and thick
- 1 teaspoon five-spice powder
- 1/4 teaspoon white pepper powder
- 3 1/2 oz sugar 100 g or 8 1/2 tablespoons
Instructions
- Get a big bowl, mix all the Char Siu Sauce ingredients, add the garlic and pork belly and marinate overnight in the fridge.
- The next day, heat the oven to 400 °F (200 °C). Place the pork belly on a wire rack or in a pan lined with aluminum foil. Roast for 15 minutes.
- Removed from oven and turn the pork belly over, brush the remaining Char Siu Sauce on the pork. Continue to roast for another 15 minutes.
- Set the oven to Broil and broil each side of the pork belly for about 1 min, until each side become nicely charred. The char siu will look dark in color, it's normal.
- Slice the char siu into thin and bite-size pieces, serve immediately with steamed white rice and the remaining Char Siu Sauce. You may heat up the remaining Char Siu Sauce and bring to a simmer and set aside.
Notes
- Choose pork belly with roughly equal layers of fat and meat (about 50:50) for ideal texture and flavor.
- Remove the pork skin before marinating to allow better sauce penetration.
- Marinate the pork overnight for deeper flavor infusion.
- Use the oven's broil function or a grill to char all sides of the pork for authentic texture.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 3people
Amount Per Serving
Calories 361 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 3people | |
| Calories | 361kcal | 18% |
| Carbohydrates | 43g | 14% |
| Protein | 16g | 32% |
| Fat | 80g | 123% |
| Saturated Fat | 29g | 145% |
| Cholesterol | 109mg | 36% |
| Sodium | 661mg | 28% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 39g | 78% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.6
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