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Easy Char Siu (Chinese BBQ Pork)
5 from 16 votes

Easy Char Siu (Chinese BBQ Pork)

This Char Siu recipe produces tender, marinated pork shoulder strips coated in a rich, sweet, and savory glaze featuring honey, soy, hoisin, five-spice, and oyster sauce. The pork is marinated up to 24 hours to absorb flavors, then roasted on a wire rack to develop a caramelized crust. The method yields a classic Chinese barbecue pork with a glossy exterior and juicy interior, suitable for slicing and serving with rice or noodles.

Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
45 mins
marinating time
12 hrs
Total Time
12 hrs 50 mins
Servings: 6
Calories: 228 kcal
Course: Main Course, Lunch, Dinner
Cuisine: Chinese

Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons honey
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 3 tablespoons hoisin sauce
  • 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar unseasoned
  • 1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons oyster sauce
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Chinese five-spice powder
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1/2 teaspoons white pepper
  • 1 1/2 pounds pork shoulder boneless, trimmed, cut along the grain into long strips; aka pork butt
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Instructions

oven instructions
    Cup of Yum
  1. Pour honey, soy sauce, hoisin, vinegar, brown sugar, oyster sauce, Chinese five spice, sesame oil, and 1/4 teaspoon white pepper into a saucepan and stir together.
  2. Simmer over medium-low heat for about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.
  3. Set aside 6 tablespoons marinade into a small bowl.
  4. Season pork shoulder strips with salt and remaining white pepper.
  5. Place seasoned pork strips in are-sealable plastic bag, pour remaining cooled marinade over pork, and shake bag around to ensure pork pieces are fully covered.
  6. Remove as much air from bag as possible, seal and refrigerate for 12 to 24 hours.
  7. Preheat oven to 425˚F. Remove pork strips from refrigerator and marinade and place onto a baking sheet covered in foil, with a wire cooling rack on top (sprayed with cooking spray), spacing pieces about 1 inch apart.
  8. Baste pork with reserved marinade.
  9. Roast pork for 15 minutes. Lower temperature to 375˚F and continue to roast for an additional 25 to 30minutes (or until the internal temperature reaches between 145˚F and 160˚F.), generously basting with marinade every 15 minutes.
  10. 1.     Once pork has reached its internal temperature, glaze once more and broil on high for 1 to 2 minutes or until pork caramelizes. Remove pork from heat, transfer to cutting board and rest for 3 to 5 minutes.
  11. Slice and serve.
air fryer instructions
  1. Marinate pork as recipe above states.
  2. Lightly grease the air fryer basket with cooking spray.
  3. Place marinated pork strips into an air fryer, 1/2 inch apart.
  4. Preheat the air fryer to 400˚F and air fry for 16 minutes, stopping every 4-5 minutes to flip and baste with remaining marinade.
  5. Transfer pork strips to a cutting board and slice. 

Notes

  • Marinate the pork strips for at least 12 hours, preferably 24 hours, to develop full flavor and tender texture.
  • Use a wire rack placed over a foil-lined baking sheet to ensure even cooking and easy cleanup.
  • Spray or brush the rack with oil to prevent the sweet marinade from sticking to it during roasting.
  • Traditional red Char Siu color can come from fermented red bean curd; this recipe omits it but you can add it by mixing with the sauce ingredients.
  • Reducing the soy sauce to 1 tablespoon and blending it with fermented bean curd creates a paste for authentic red color and flavor.

Nutrition Information

Calories 228kcal (11%) Carbohydrates 18g (6%) Protein 27g (54%) Fat 5g (8%) Saturated Fat 1g (5%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g (6%) Monounsaturated Fat 2g (10%) Trans Fat 1g (50%) Cholesterol 68mg (23%) Sodium 1137mg (47%) Potassium 483mg (10%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 16g (32%) Vitamin A 4IU (0%) Vitamin C 1mg (1%) Calcium 23mg (2%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6 Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 228

% Daily Value*

Calories 228kcal 11%
Carbohydrates 18g 6%
Protein 27g 54%
Fat 5g 8%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 2g 10%
Trans Fat 1g 50%
Cholesterol 68mg 23%
Sodium 1137mg 47%
Potassium 483mg 10%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 16g 32%
Vitamin A 4IU 0%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 23mg 2%
Iron 2mg 11%

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

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