This Chinese Pork Char Siu, or barbecued is fragrant and flavorful thanks to a five spice marinade. After being roasted the surface of the pork takes on a deep reddish brown glaze without the artificial colors found in most commercial char-siu marinades.
Course Entree
Cuisine Chinese
Level Intermediate
Main Ingredient Pork
Diet Dairy-Free
Prep Time 5 minutesminutes
Cook Time 1 hourhour
Total Time 2 daysdays1 hourhour5 minutesminutes
Servings 2servings
Ingredients
700gramsskinless pork belly
for marinade
½teaspoonfive spice powder
2tablespoonsmaltose(or honey)
2tablespoonsShaoxing wine
1tablespoonhoisin sauce
1tablespoonThai sweet chili sauce
1tablespoonChinese dark soy sauce
1tablespoonkiwi(pureed)
2teaspoonsoyster sauce
2clovesgarlic(grated)
Instructions
Mix the ingredients for the marinade together in a Ziploc bag. The maltose is a little tough to incorporate but it's okay if there are some lumps as these will eventually dissolve, just make sure there are no big clumps.
If your pork belly has skin, use a sharp knife to remove it. Add the pork belly to the marinade and push out as much air as possible so the meat is completely surrounded by marinade. Let it sit in the fridge for at least 2 days, flipping the bag over every to ensure it's evenly marinated.
To roast your char siu, preheat the oven to 275 degrees F and move the rack to the upper middle position. Set an elevated wire rack on a rimmed baking sheet and lay the marinated pork belly on the rack, saving the marinade for later. Put the pan in the oven and let it roast for 1 hour or until the meat reaches an internal temperature of 160 degrees F. Remove the pan from the oven, then move the oven rack to the top position and turn the heat up to "broil".
Baste the pork with the reserved marinade, then broil it until dark and glossy with the edges just slightly charred. Flip the meat over and baste again, allowing the second side to color and char as well.
Slice your finished char siu and serve with rice or noodles.