Char Siu | Diethood

Char siu is Chinese language BBQ pork and it’s full of taste! I make it at residence with juicy pork tenderloin coated in a candy and smoky, deep purple Char siu marinade. 

Get pleasure from char siu bao with mushy home made bao buns sprinkled with crunchy herbs. You’ll by no means wish to get takeout once more!

Once I made bao buns not too long ago, I knew I wished to knock the meal out of the park. Candy and sticky char siu pork was the plain selection (it’s one in every of my restaurant favorites, in spite of everything). This recipe got here out SO GOOD, and simply take a look at that shade! I marinated the pork tenderloin within the fridge for a full 48 hours earlier than roasting, and it made such a distinction. I can’t wait to make this juicy, spicy Chinese language BBQ pork once more ASAP. It’s positively on the menu for our subsequent date night time at residence.

Why I Love This Char Siu Pork Recipe

• Make forward. I go away this pork to marinate for an entire two days earlier than roasting. It lets all of the Asian-inspired flavors soak into the meat, to not point out it’s the key to that attractive purple hue! Plus, it’s the right excuse to get a head begin on this week’s dinner.
• Further juicy. The mixture of a flavor-packed marinade and the best cooking technique makes this the final word home made char siu! Each chew is juicy, wrapped in a candy and sticky Chinese language-style sauce.
• Tremendous straightforward! I’m all a couple of good takeout fakeout recipe, and this char siu is likely one of the easiest methods to recreate a restaurant favourite. Simply marinate, roast, and revel in! It’s a two-day course of because of a prolonged soak in that scrumptious marinade, but it surely’s completely value it.

Substances You’ll Want

Char siu sauce has a definite Asian taste because of hoisin sauce, sesame oil, and Chinese language five-spice powder. And the great thing about making this dish at house is that I could make my pork as gentle or as spicy as I like! 

Beneath are some fast ingredient notes. Be sure you scroll to the recipe card for a printable record with the complete recipe particulars.

• Sugar – I like to make use of a mix of brown sugar and honey for a deeper, extra caramelized taste. You need to use solely brown sugar, or granulated sugar if wanted.
• Hoisin Sauce – Hoisin sauce is a darkish and sticky Asian condiment created from fermented soybeans, much like soy sauce. It has different components within the combine, like chili, fennel, and garlic. You’ll discover it in most main grocery shops, or you’ll be able to test your native Asian grocery store.
• Soy Sauce – You may also use tamari or coconut aminos. 
• Chinese language 5 Spice – 5-spice powder is a candy, smoky mix of spices like cinnamon, anise, fennel, cloves, and Sichuan peppercorns.
• Sesame Oil – This may be common refined sesame oil, or you should use toasted sesame oil for an additional layer of taste. There’s actually no substitute for sesame oil in recipes like this one.
• Meals Coloring – Conventional char siu recipes relied on purple fermented bean curd to offer the pork its signature purple shade. These days, most eating places use purple meals coloring for a brighter purple, in order that’s what I take advantage of right here.
• Pork Tenderloin – Different good pork cuts for char siu are pork stomach, pork butt, and pork loin. I like pork tenderloin because it’s quick-cooking and tender. Pork loin will take longer to roast.

For Serving

• Bao Buns – These could be store-bought, or you can also make home made bao buns. 
• Garnishes – Thinly sliced inexperienced onions (I normally use simply the greens) and sesame seeds make a pleasant, genuine garnish.

Find out how to Make Char Siu

In the event you’ve ever made roasted pork tenderloin, you can also make char siu! Even when you haven’t, the steps are tremendous straightforward. Comply with alongside right here, and scroll to the recipe card for printable directions.

• Marinate the pork. Whisk collectively the marinade components, together with the purple meals coloring. Add this to a Ziploc bag with the pork and therapeutic massage it in. Your pork tenderloin might want to marinate within the fridge for 48 hours. 
• Prep. Quick ahead, and also you’ll take away the pork from the marinade and place it onto a roasting rack set over a baking sheet. Save the marinade to brush over the pork whereas it roasts.
• Roast. Roast the pork at 350ºF for 25 minutes, basting it with the marinade midway via. As soon as the within of the pork hits 145ºF, swap the oven to broil for a few minutes to char the highest.
• Relaxation. Take your pork tenderloin out of the oven and go away it to relaxation. I normally use this time to steam my bao buns!
• Slice and serve. Slice the char siu up skinny and serve it in bao buns (see under), or you’ll be able to serve it with rice or a stir-fry. See additional within the publish for solutions.

Straightforward Char Siu Bao

Candy and sticky char siu pork is the basic filling for char siu bao, one in every of my favourite Chinese language takeout dishes. I take advantage of home made bao buns, however you should use your favourite model from the shop, too. Right here’s learn how to make it:

• Put together the pork. Roast your pork after which relaxation and slice it as directed.
• Steam the buns. I wish to preserve a bag of frozen home made bao buns in my freezer, so I can take them out any time. Steam the buns straight from frozen, for 5-10 minutes, till they’re puffed and heat.
• Fill the bao. Fold your freshly steamed buns round slices of char siu, and sprinkle over inexperienced onions and sesame seeds for garnish.

What Is Char Siu Served With?

Once I’m not stuffing it into steamed buns, char siu goes nice with a aspect of white rice and greens, like child bok choy or broccolini. In any other case, serve it with noodles and stir-fries, like hen chow mein, spicy Szechuan hen, or vegetarian kung pao tofu.

I like making our meal a restaurant-style unfold with starters like spring rolls and crab rangoon, and a giant skillet of steak fried rice for sharing!

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

• Refrigerate. Wrap any leftover char siu pork in plastic wrap or retailer it hermetic in a Ziploc bag or container. It’ll final within the fridge for as much as 4 days.
• Reheat. I wish to reheat the pork slices in a lined skillet over medium-low warmth till they’re heat all through. It’s higher than the microwave, in my view.

Extra Chinese language Takeout Recipes