Hey BBQ lovers! Today, we’re exploring Cantonese cuisine with the juicy BBQ Char Siu recipe that’s going to make your taste buds dance. Char Siu is that glossy, red, sweet, and savory pork you often see hanging in the windows of Chinese BBQ restaurants. It’s a dish that’s packed with flavor and it’s surprisingly simple to make at home. Let’s get started. 

What is Char Siu? 

Char Siu means “fork roast” and pronounced as “cha siu.” It is prepared in the traditional Cantonese way of skewering pork shoulders or pork belly using long forks and grilling them over fire. The signature red color and glossy finish come from the marinade, which is a blend of honey, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, and a few other ingredients. 

Ingredients You’ll Need 

For this BBQ Char Siu recipe, you’ll need the following ingredients: 

• 2 pounds of pork meat 

• 3 tablespoons of honey 

• 2 tablespoons of hoisin sauce 

• 2 tablespoons of soy sauce 

• 1 tablespoon of dark soy sauce 

• 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce 

• 2 tablespoons of Chinese rice wine  

• 1 teaspoon of five-spice powder 

• 1 teaspoon of garlic powder 

• 1 teaspoon of ginger powder 

• 2 tablespoons of sugar 

• A few drops of red food coloring (optional, for that classic look) 

Preparing the Marinade 

The marinade is the heart of this dish. It’s what gives the BBQ Char Siu its incredible flavor and beautiful color. Here’s how to make it: 

1. Combine the Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix the honey, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, dark soy sauce, oyster sauce, Chinese rice wine, five-spice powder, garlic powder, ginger powder, and sugar. Mix it until the sugar disappears.
2. Add Food Coloring: To make it look red, put a few drops of red color in the sauce. This step is optional, but it does give the BBQ Char Siu its signature look.

Marinating the Pork 

Now that your marinade is ready, it’s time to marinate the pork. 

1. Cut the Pork: Cut the pork shoulder or belly into long strips, about 2 inches wide. This helps the marinade penetrate the meat better and makes it easier to cook.
2. Marinate: Place the pork strips in a large zip-top bag or a shallow dish. Pour the sauce all over the pork. Put the pork in the fridge for at least 4 hours, or better yet overnight. 

Cooking the BBQ Char Siu 

There are a few ways to cook BBQ Char Siu, but the most common methods are roasting in the oven or grilling on a BBQ. Let’s look at both. 

Oven Method 

• Start by preheating the oven to 375 degrees. Get aluminum foil ready to line up a baking sheet.  

• Wrap the marinated pork using the baking sheet and place a wire rack on top of it before placing it in the oven. 

• Roast the pork for about 25-30 mins. 

• While the pork is roasting, take the remaining marinade and heat it in a small saucepan until it thickens slightly. After 25-30 minutes of roasting, brush this glaze over the pork and roast for another 10-15 minutes, or until the pork is cooked through and caramelized on the outside. 

• Before you slice the pork, let it rest for 10 minutes 

BBQ Method 

• Start by reheating your grill before you get started. 

• On a charcoal grill, go for indirect cooking. As for gas grills, you can create an indirect heating zone by turning off one burner. 

• Place the marinated pork strips on the cooler side of the grill (indirect heat) and cook for about 20-25 minutes, turning occasionally. 

• Begin direct heating after brushing remaining marinade. Cook the pork for a few more minutes, flipping it over and adding more sauce. Keep doing this until the pork is brown and cooked all the way through. 

• It’s time to rest the pork for 10 minutes 

Serving Suggestions 

BBQ Char Siu can be served with a wide variety of dishes. Here are some ideas. 

With Rice: Serve sliced Char Siu over a bed of steamed white rice for a simple and delicious meal. 

In Noodles: Add it to a bowl of noodles, either in a soup or stir-fried. 

In Bao: Slice the Char Siu thinly and stuff it into steamed buns (bao) with a bit of hoisin sauce and pickled vegetables. 

As a Snack: BBQ Char Siu is also great on its own as a savory snack. 

Tips for the Best Char Siu 

Marinate Long Enough: Don’t skimp on marinating time. The longer the pork marinates, the deeper the flavor. 

Glaze Often: When grilling, glazing the pork frequently helps build up that beautiful, caramelized exterior. 

Use the Right Cut: Pork shoulder or belly is ideal because they have the right amount of fat to keep the meat juicy and flavorful. 

Rest the Meat: Letting the meat rest before slicing ensures that the juices redistribute, making the pork tender and moist. 

Print

Char Siu Recipe

Char Siu means "fork roast" and pronounced as "cha siu." It is prepared in the traditional Cantonese way of skewering pork shoulders or pork belly using long forks and grilling them over fire. The signature red color and glossy finish come from the marinade, which is a blend of honey, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, and a few other ingredients. 

Course Pork

Cuisine Chinese

Keyword Char Siu

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 50 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour

Servings 8 servings

Calories 275kcal

Ingredients

• 2 pounds of pork meat
• 3 tablespoons of honey
• 2 tablespoons of hoisin sauce
• 2 tablespoons of soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon of dark soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce
• 2 tablespoons of Chinese rice wine
• 1 teaspoon of five-spice powder
• 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon of ginger powder
• 2 tablespoons of sugar
• A few drops of red food coloring optional, for that classic look

Instructions

• The marinade is the heart of this dish. It's what gives the BBQ Char Siu its incredible flavor and beautiful color. Here's how to make it:
• Combine the Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix the honey, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, dark soy sauce, oyster sauce, Chinese rice wine, five-spice powder, garlic powder, ginger powder, and sugar. Mix it until the sugar disappears.
• Add Food Coloring: To make it look red, put a few drops of red color in the sauce. This step is optional, but it does give the BBQ Char Siu its signature look.
• Marinating the Pork
• Now that your marinade is ready, it's time to marinate the pork.
• Cut the Pork: Cut the pork shoulder or belly into long strips, about 2 inches wide. This helps the marinade penetrate the meat better and makes it easier to cook.
• Marinate: Place the pork strips in a large zip-top bag or a shallow dish. Pour the sauce all over the pork. Put the pork in the fridge for at least 4 hours, or better yet overnight.
• Cooking the BBQ Char Siu
• There are a few ways to cook BBQ Char Siu, but the most common methods are roasting in the oven or grilling on a BBQ. Let's look at both.
• Oven Method
• Start by preheating the oven to 375 degrees. Get aluminum foil ready to line up a baking sheet.
• Wrap the marinated pork using the baking sheet and place a wire rack on top of it before placing it in the oven.
• Roast the pork for about 25-30 mins.
• While the pork is roasting, take the remaining marinade and heat it in a small saucepan until it thickens slightly. After 25-30 minutes of roasting, brush this glaze over the pork and roast for another 10-15 minutes, or until the pork is cooked through and caramelized on the outside.
• Before you slice the pork, let it rest for 10 minutes
• BBQ Method
• Start by reheating your grill before you get started.
• On a charcoal grill, go for indirect cooking. As for gas grills, you can create an indirect heating zone by turning off one burner.
• Place the marinated pork strips on the cooler side of the grill (indirect heat) and cook for about 20-25 minutes, turning occasionally.
• Begin direct heating after brushing remaining marinade. Cook the pork for a few more minutes, flipping it over and adding more sauce. Keep doing this until the pork is brown and cooked all the way through.
• It's time to rest the pork for 10 minutes

Notes

Serving Suggestions 

BBQ Char Siu can be served with a wide variety of dishes. Here are some ideas. 

With Rice: Serve sliced Char Siu over a bed of steamed white rice for a simple and delicious meal. 

In Noodles: Add it to a bowl of noodles, either in a soup or stir-fried. 

In Bao: Slice the Char Siu thinly and stuff it into steamed buns (bao) with a bit of hoisin sauce and pickled vegetables. 

As a Snack: BBQ Char Siu is also great on its own as a savory snack. 

Tips for the Best Char Siu 

Marinate Long Enough: Don’t skimp on marinating time. The longer the pork marinates, the deeper the flavor. 

Glaze Often: When grilling, glazing the pork frequently helps build up that beautiful, caramelized exterior. 

Use the Right Cut: Pork shoulder or belly is ideal because they have the right amount of fat to keep the meat juicy and flavorful. 

Rest the Meat: Letting the meat rest before slicing ensures that the juices redistribute, making the pork tender and moist. 

Final Thoughts 

Making BBQ Char Siu at home is a rewarding experience. It’s a dish that’s sure to impress your family and friends with its rich, complex flavors and stunning appearance. Whether you choose to roast it in the oven or grill it on the BBQ, the result will be delicious. 

Give this recipe a try and take a culinary trip to Cantonese cuisine. Enjoy the process, savor the flavors, and most importantly, have fun cooking. If you have any questions or want to share your Char Siu creations, leave a comment below. Happy cooking. 

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