Char Siu (Cantonese BBQ Pork)

About This Recipe

Char siu (叉燒, literally 'fork roast') is one of the most iconic preparations in Cantonese cuisine. Pork neck (collar) or shoulder is marinated in a mixture of hoisin, soy, oyster sauce, honey, five-spice, rose wine (mei kwai lu chiew) and red food colouring (traditional) or red fermented tofu (authentic), then roasted over high heat with frequent glazing until the surface develops a deep, lacquered, caramelised crust. The result is extraordinarily versatile: eaten sliced over rice with char siu sauce and a fried egg, stuffed into steamed or baked bao buns, tossed through fried rice or noodles. Char siu is available ready-made in Cantonese roast shops but homemade with good pork neck is in a different class entirely.

Ingredients

Serves 6

• 1 kgpork neck or shoulder, cut into thick strips (5 cm wide)
• 3 tbsphoisin sauce
• 2 tbspsoy sauce
• 2 tbspoyster sauce
• 3 tbsphoney
• 2 tbspShaoxing rice wine
• 0.5 tspfive-spice powder
• 2 clovesgarlic, minced
• 1 tbspsesame oil
• 1 tbspsugar
• 0.5 tspred food colouring (optional, traditional)

Instructions

1. 1

   Make marinade

   Combine all marinade ingredients. Reserve 3 tablespoons for glazing.

2. 2

   Marinate

   Coat pork strips generously in the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for at least 6 hours or overnight.

3. 3

   Roast

   Preheat oven to 220°C (430°F). Place pork strips on a wire rack over a foil-lined tray. Roast for 15 minutes.

4. 4

   Glaze and continue

   Remove from oven. Brush with reserved marinade (mixed with 1 tbsp extra honey). Return and roast for 10 minutes. Repeat glazing 2–3 more times, every 5–8 minutes, until deeply caramelised.

5. 5

   Rest and serve

   Rest for 5 minutes before slicing. Serve over steamed rice with a drizzle of juices from the pan.

Variations

• •

  Char siu bao: use char siu as filling for steamed or baked buns.

• •

  Char siu fried rice: dice leftover char siu and stir-fry with day-old rice, egg and vegetables.

Storage

Keeps in the fridge for 4 days. Reheat in a 180°C oven for 10 minutes. Freezes well.

Frequently Asked Questions