Char Siu (Chinese BBQ Pork)

Char siu (also known as Chinese BBQ pork or cha shao in Mandarin) is a delicious and flavorful roasted pork dinner that is slathered in a distinct sticky, sweet and savory barbecue sauce. It's a traditional dish that originated in Southern China and has gained popularity throughout the country. Fatty pork is marinated, roasted, and basted with a homemade Asian barbecue sauce to create its iconic caramelization and color. Serve for Chinese new year, or marinate it ahead of time and pop it into the oven on busy weeknights.

Why You’ll Love Chinese BBQ Pork (Char Siu)

• The thick Chinese BBQ glaze. Just like in Char Siu (Chinese BBQ) Chicken, the star of the recipe is the meat and the Asian barbecue sauce. Authentic char siu has an incredible depth of flavor that originated in the Canton region of Southern China. When you first take a bite of Char Siu, you will immediately feel and taste the sticky, sweet, and savory BBQ sauce loaded with classic Asian flavors. If you thought BBQ Chicken Wings were good, wait until you try Chinese BBQ.
• The slow-roasted pork. You can roast Char Siu in the oven or the air fryer. Either way, the fat will reduce over the 40-45 minutes that roasts, leaving you with a delicious, juicy and tender, slow-roasted pork belly (or shoulder) that has absorbed that delicious Chinese BBQ marinade and glaze on top.
• The marinade. Generally marinated meat it better than non-marinated meat. Marinades cause the mean to become more tender and soft, and soak into the meat making it more delicious and tastier. It's a great way to introduce moisture into the pork. For this recipe, you’ll want to take your time —three hours is sufficient but the longer you can wait, the better. Let your patience pay off.

Ingredients and Substitutions

To make this delicious Char Siu (Chinese BBQ Pork), you will need the following ingredients (full quantities in the recipe card below):

• pork - the best cuts to use fattier cuts of pork such as pork belly or pork shoulder. fattier. But, you can always substitute lean meat and still make a tasty (and slightly healthier) Chinese BBQ pork.
• hoisin sauce
• dark soy sauce
• Shaoxing rice wine - or substitute with mirin.
• honey - or substitute with granulated sugar.
• fermented red bean curd - optional, for coloring.
• sesame oil
• garlic
• five spice powder
• pepper - you can use white pepper or ground black pepper.

You will also need measuring cups and spoons and a roasting pan with a wire rack insert.

How to Make the Best Char Siu (Chinese BBQ Pork)

1. Marinate the pork. Use a paper towel to pat dry the pork belly completely before adding seasoning. In a Ziploc bag, combine pork with all the ingredients (hoisin sauce, honey, soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, red bean curd, sesame oil, garlic, five spice powder, and pepper). Press the air out of the bag and seal tightly. Press the marinate around the pork to coat and place in the fridge to marinate for at least 3 hours or overnight. The longer you let the pork marinate, the better the flavor.
2. Make the glaze. Once marinated, reserve the marinade and transfer it into a medium cooking pot or shallow saucepan. Bring it to a low simmer over low heat, until reduced in half (consistency should be similar to maple syrup). Remove from heat and set aside.
3. Roast. Arrange the marinated pork on the wire rack of a roasting pan (or place oven-safe wire rack on a large half sheet baking pan). Bake the pork in a 400F preheated oven for 20 minutes and then flip it over. Return the roasting pan back in the oven and bake for another 20 minutes, until the edges start to char. 

1. Baste. Remove the pork from the oven and brush evenly with the cooked marinade. Roast for another 5 minutes. The extra marinade adds a beautiful caramelizing glaze on the meat from the browning of sugar during baking. Baste with any remaining marinade and roast for another 5-7 minutes until nicely charred on the edges. If you prefer a crispier skin, turn the broiler on high and broil for an additional 2-3 minutes.
2. Serve. Serve warm with a bowl of steamed rice or fried rice.

How to Serve Char Siu Chinese BBQ Pork

This Chinese BBQ Pork holds its own when served with a simple bowl of steamed white rice and a garnish of green onions, but you can also enjoy it with our favorite Chinese takeout recipes at home including:

• Vegetarian Fried Rice
• Tofu and Mushroom Vegetables
• Noodles
• Spring Vegetable Stir Fry
• Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes

More Pork Recipes

• Honey Glazed Roast Pork with Vegetables
• Roasted Pork Tenderloin
• Glazed Honey Balsamic Pork Chops
• Pork Dumplings
• Mapo Tofu
• Slow Cooker Carnitas (Pulled Pork)

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