Char Siu | Diethood

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

Take pleasure in char siu bao with tender home made bao buns sprinkled with crunchy herbs. You’ll by no means need to get takeout once more!

Once I made bao buns lately, I knew I wished to knock the meal out of the park. Candy and sticky char siu pork was the plain alternative (it’s one in all my restaurant favorites, in spite of everything). This recipe got here out SO GOOD, and simply have 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 undoubtedly on the menu for our subsequent date night time at dwelling.

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.
• Additional juicy. The mix of a flavor-packed marinade and the proper cooking methodology makes this the final word home made char siu! Each chunk is juicy, wrapped in a candy and sticky Chinese language-style sauce.
• Tremendous simple! I’m all a few good takeout fakeout recipe, and this char siu is among the easiest methods to recreate a restaurant favourite. Simply marinate, roast, and luxuriate in! It’s a two-day course of due to a prolonged soak in that scrumptious marinade, nevertheless it’s completely value it.

Elements You’ll Want

Char siu sauce has a definite Asian taste due to hoisin sauce, sesame oil, and Chinese language five-spice powder. And the fantastic 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 listing with the total recipe particulars.

• Sugar – I like to make use of a mix of brown sugar and honey for a deeper, extra caramelized taste. You should utilize solely brown sugar, or granulated sugar if wanted.
• Hoisin Sauce – Hoisin sauce is a darkish and sticky Asian condiment made out of fermented soybeans, just 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 may verify your native Asian grocery store.
• Soy Sauce – You too can 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 need to use toasted sesame oil for one more 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 provide 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 will 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.

Methods to Make Char Siu

Should you’ve ever made roasted pork tenderloin, you can also make char siu! Even if you happen to haven’t, the steps are tremendous simple. 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 may serve it with rice or a stir-fry. See additional within the publish for ideas.

Straightforward Char Siu Bao

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

• Put together the pork. Roast your pork after which relaxation and slice it as directed.
• Steam the buns. I wish to hold 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 rooster chow mein, spicy Szechuan rooster, or vegetarian kung pao tofu.

I really 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 coated 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