Char Siu: A Flavorful Chinese BBQ Pork Recipe

This mouthwatering Chinese BBQ pork recipe offers a perfect balance of sweet and salty flavors. Coated in a savory mixture of honey, rice wine, and brown sugar, this dish will quickly become a family favorite. Discover the simple steps to prepare this char siu at home, and find tips on how to serve, store, and freeze it for later enjoyment.

Ingredients for Char Siu

This Chinese BBQ dish gets its irresistible sweet and savory flavor from a special mix of pantry staples. The marinade is built on soy sauce, honey, ketchup, and brown sugar, with hoisin sauce and red bean curd bringing an extra layer of richness.

Pork tenderloin is the star of this 5-star recipe. For the best results, opt for two 1 lb. tenderloins, though pork loin or pork chops can be substituted if needed.

Steps to Make Char Siu

The full recipe with detailed instructions is below, but here’s a preview of what to expect as you prepare this top-rated dish:

Start by warming the marinade ingredients in a saucepan. Then, slice the pork into strips and place them in a large plastic bag. Pour the marinade into the bag and let it chill in the refrigerator for at least two hours.

Once marinated, grill the pork tenderloin over a charcoal fire to develop a deep, smoky flavor. Baste the meat while it cooks, and use a thermometer to check for doneness at 145°F. The result is perfectly tender meat glazed with a mouthwatering aroma.

Recipes Using Char Siu

Char Siu can be enjoyed on its own, served over rice, or paired with crisp, vibrant vegetables for a perfect balance. Try it stuffed into steamed buns, mixed into pork fried rice, or as a flavorful topping for

wasabi-infused nachos.

Storing Char Siu

To store leftover char siu, place it in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to three days. When ready to enjoy again, simply wrap the pork in foil and heat in a 350°F oven until fully warmed.

Can Char Siu Be Frozen?

Yes, you can freeze char siu for up to a month if stored properly. Seal the leftover pork strips in a freezer bag, press out the air, and thaw in the fridge when you're ready to savor it again.

Dinogo Community Tips & Praise

"The marinade is amazing!" says home cook PG. "I've made it twice now. I used part of the second batch for BBQ pork fried rice. Next time, I'll try pork shoulder since the tenderloin was a bit too lean for our liking."

"I absolutely loved this marinade," shares reviewer Saveur. "The only tweak I made was adding a splash of rice wine vinegar to balance the sweetness. My husband grilled it perfectly. Definitely a keeper!"

"I followed the recipe exactly, and it turned out just like the char siu from my favorite Chinese restaurant," says Tanya. "I used a copper crisper basket over a pot of water in the oven at 350°F for 40 minutes, and it came out beautifully charred."

Editorial contributions by Rai Mincey

Ingredients

Marinade Ingredients:

• ½ cup soy sauce

• ⅓ cup honey

• ⅓ cup ketchup

• ⅓ cup brown sugar

• ¼ cup Chinese rice wine

• 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce

• 2 tablespoons red bean curd (Optional)

• 1 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder (Optional)

Pork Cuts:

• 2 (1 pound) pork tenderloins

Instructions

Prepare all the necessary ingredients.

Pour the warm marinade into the bag with the pork. Seal the bag, squeeze out the air, and gently shake the bag to coat the pork evenly. Let it marinate in the refrigerator for 2 hours to overnight.

Grill the pork over indirect heat, turning it frequently and basting as needed, until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part reads at least 145°F (63°C), about 30 minutes or longer.

Serve the dish hot and enjoy every bite!

Cooking Tips

Editor's Note:

The nutritional information for this recipe includes the full amount of marinade ingredients, though the actual amount consumed will vary based on how much marinade is used.

Nutrition Information (per serving)