China

Char Siu

Name: Char Siu
Cuisine: China
Ingredients: 800 g Pork neck; 3 tbsp Hoisin sauce; 2 tbsp Soy sauce; 3 tbsp Honey; 2 tbsp Shaoxing wine; 1 tsp Five-spice powder; some of each Garlic & ginger

Cantonese honey pork with a lacquer-red glaze

“Char siu” literally means “skewered over fire” – the marinated pork was originally roasted on hooks over embers. Today it succeeds in the oven with the same glossy, sweet-savoury crust.

Its typical reddish colour and shine come from hoisin, honey and fermented red bean. Char siu crowns rice, noodle soups and steamed buns (bao) all over southern China.

Servings4

Time1.25 hrs

LevelMedium

Ingredients

Pork neck800 g
Hoisin sauce3 tbsp
Soy sauce2 tbsp
Honey3 tbsp
Shaoxing wine2 tbsp
Five-spice powder1 tsp
Garlic & gingersome of each

★ = available authentic in the Asia Boutique

Preparation

Mix all ingredients (except honey) into a marinade, add the pork in strips, marinate overnight.
Bake at 180 °C for 40–50 min, basting with marinade several times.
Stir in the honey and glaze for the last 10 min until the edges caramelise.
Rest briefly, then slice.
Serve with rice or in a noodle soup.

Make it original

Hoisin, Shaoxing wine and five-spice give char siu its character. Available in the Asia Boutique.

Discover char siu ingredients