Best 5 Authentic Chinese Bbq Pork Recipes

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The culinary art of authentic Chinese barbecue pork is a time-honored tradition that has been passed down through generations, captivating taste buds worldwide with its mouthwatering flavors and distinct aroma. This delectable dish, often referred to as "Char Siu," is a symphony of sweet, tangy, and savory sensations, carefully crafted using select cuts of pork and a blend of aromatic spices. The history of Chinese barbecue pork dates back centuries, with its roots in the bustling streets of Cantonese cuisine, where skilled chefs perfected the art of roasting succulent pork over charcoal fires. Today, this beloved dish has become a cornerstone of Chinese cuisine, enjoyed by people of all cultures and backgrounds. Whether you're a seasoned cook or a novice in the kitchen, this article will guide you through the essential steps to create an authentic Chinese barbecue pork dish that will transport your taste buds to the vibrant streets of China.

Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!

CHAR SIU (CHINESE BBQ PORK)



Char Siu (Chinese BBQ Pork) image

"Char siu" literally means "fork roast" - "char" being "fork" (both noun and verb) and "siu" being "roast" - after the traditional cooking method for the dish: long strips of seasoned boneless pork are skewered with long forks and placed in a covered oven or over a fire. This is best cooked over charcoal, but it's important to cook with indirect heat.

Provided by David&Andrea

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     Asian     Chinese

Time 3h40m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 9

2 pork tenderloins
½ cup soy sauce
⅓ cup honey
⅓ cup ketchup
⅓ cup brown sugar
¼ cup Chinese rice wine
2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
½ teaspoon red food coloring
1 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder

Steps:

  • Cut pork with the grain into strips 1 1/2- to 2-inches long; put into a large resealable plastic bag.
  • Stir soy sauce, honey, ketchup, brown sugar, rice wine, hoisin sauce, red food coloring or red bean curd (see Cook's Note), and Chinese five-spice powder together in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook and stir until just combined and slightly warm, 2 to 3 minutes. Pour the marinade into the bag with the pork, squeeze air from the bag, and seal. Turn bag a few times to coat all pork pieces in marinade.
  • Marinate pork in refrigerator, 2 hours to overnight.
  • Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate.
  • Remove pork from marinade and shake to remove excess liquid. Discard remaining marinade.
  • Cook pork on preheated grill for 20 minutes. Put a small container of water onto the grill and continue cooking, turning the pork regularly, until cooked through, about 1 hour. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 145 degrees F (63 degrees C).

Nutrition Facts : Calories 482.9 calories, Carbohydrate 53.5 g, Cholesterol 126.7 mg, Fat 8.9 g, Fiber 0.6 g, Protein 43.8 g, SaturatedFat 3.1 g, Sodium 2249.8 mg, Sugar 48.3 g

CHINESE BARBEQUE PORK (CHAR SIU)



Chinese Barbeque Pork (Char Siu) image

In addition to its impressive high-gloss appearance and savory taste, this Chinese barbeque pork is quite easy to make at home--even without a fancy ceramic grill.

Provided by Chef John

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     Asian     Chinese

Time 5h10m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 14

⅔ cup soy sauce
½ cup honey
½ cup Chinese rice wine (or sake or dry sherry)
⅓ cup hoisin sauce
⅓ cup ketchup
⅓ cup brown sugar
4 cloves garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
⅛ teaspoon pink curing salt
1 (3 pound) boneless pork butt (shoulder)
1 teaspoon red food coloring, or as desired
1 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste

Steps:

  • Place soy sauce, honey, rice wine, hoisin sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, garlic, five-spice powder, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and curing salt in a saucepan. Bring to a boil on high heat; reduce heat to medium-high. Cook for 1 minute. Remove from heat. Cool to room temperature.
  • Cut pork roast in half lengthwise. Cut each half again lengthwise forming 4 long, thick pieces of pork.
  • Transfer cooled sauce to a large mixing bowl. Stir in red food coloring. Place pork sections into sauce and coat each piece. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 4 to 12 hours.
  • Preheat grill for medium heat, 275 to 300 degrees F (135 to 150 degrees C) and lightly oil the grate. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Remove sections of pork from marinade and let excess drip off. Place on prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle with kosher salt to taste.
  • Transfer pork sections to grate over indirect heat on prepared grill. Cover and cook about 45 minutes. Brush with marinade; turn. Continue cooking until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center reads 185 and 190 degrees F, about 1 hour and 15 minutes more. Do not use any more marinade on cooked meat until after you boil it.
  • Place leftover marinade in saucepan; bring to a boil; let simmer 1 minutes. Remove from heat. Now you can use it to brush over the cooked pork.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 512.9 calories, Carbohydrate 49.1 g, Cholesterol 89.8 mg, Fat 21.9 g, Fiber 0.8 g, Protein 26 g, SaturatedFat 7.9 g, Sodium 2421.1 mg, Sugar 42.5 g

CHINESE BARBECUED PORK



Chinese Barbecued Pork image

I got this recipe from Cooking Class Chinese Cookbook. This recipe tastes exactly like the pork in Chinese restaurants. My family loved it. I used it in my recipe for Recipe#186806. The meat was so tender and juicy. I baked mine for 45 minutes and didn't baste it at all, I was busy cooking other Chinese food.

Provided by Mainely Debbie

Categories     Pork

Time 55m

Yield 2 Pork Loins, 8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 8

1/4 cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons dry red wine
1 tablespoon brown sugar, Packed
1 tablespoon honey
2 teaspoons red food coloring
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 garlic clove, Minced
2 (12 ounce) whole pork tenderloin

Steps:

  • Preheat Oven To 350.
  • Combine soy sauce, wine, sugar, honey, food coloring, cinnamon and garlic in a large bowl.
  • Add meat to marinade making sure it is coated with marinade.
  • Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour, overnight is better turning meat occasionally.
  • Place meat on a wire rack over a baking pan along with marinade.
  • Bake 45 minutes turning and basting frequently with marinade.
  • Let meat rest for 15 minutes before slicing.

CHAR SIU (CHINESE BBQ PORK)



Char Siu (Chinese BBQ Pork) image

Char siu, or Chinese BBQ Pork, is a delicious Cantonese roast meat. Make authentic Chinatown char siu at home with our restaurant-quality recipe!

Provided by Bill

Categories     Pork

Time 1h

Number Of Ingredients 14

3 pounds boneless pork shoulder/pork butt ((select a piece with some good fat on it))
¼ cup granulated white sugar
2 teaspoons salt
½ teaspoon five spice powder
¼ teaspoon white pepper
½ teaspoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon Shaoxing rice wine
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
2 teaspoons molasses
1/8 teaspoon red food coloring ((optional))
3 cloves finely minced garlic
2 tablespoons maltose or honey
1 tablespoon hot water

Steps:

  • Cut the pork into long strips or chunks about 2 to 3 inches thick. Don't trim any excess fat, as it will render off and add flavor.
  • Combine the sugar, salt, five spice powder, white pepper, sesame oil, wine, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, molasses, food coloring (if using), and garlic in a bowl to make the marinade (i.e. the BBQ sauce).
  • Reserve about 2 tablespoons of marinade and set it aside. Rub the pork with the rest of the marinade in a large bowl or baking dish. Cover and refrigerate overnight, or at least 8 hours. Cover and store the reserved marinade in the fridge as well.
  • Preheat your oven to 'bake' at 475 F (246 C) with a rack positioned in the upper third of the oven. (If you only have a convection oven, keep in mind the oven not only heats more quickly, your char siu will roast faster than what we have described here). It's amazing how oven temperatures can vary-from model to model, in different spots in the oven, and in how ovens pre-heat and maintain heat. Using an oven thermometer to double-check the actual oven temperature is a great safeguard to monitor your food (I say double-check because even oven thermostat calibrations vary and can sometimes be incorrect). Regardless, be sure to check your char siu every 10 minutes, reducing or increasing the temperature as needed.
  • Line a sheet pan with foil and place a metal rack on top. Using the metal rack keeps the pork off of the pan and allows it to roast more evenly, like it does in commercial ovens described above. Place the pork on the rack, leaving as much space as possible between pieces. Pour 1 ½ cups water into the pan below the rack. This prevents any drippings from burning or smoking.
  • Transfer the pork to your preheated oven. Roast for 25 minutes, keeping the oven setting at 475 F for the first 10 minutes of roasting, and then reduce your oven temperature to 375 F (190 C). After 25 minutes, flip the pork. If the bottom of the pan is dry, add another cup of water. Turn the pan 180 degrees to ensure even roasting. Roast another 15 minutes. Throughout the roasting time, check your char siu often (every 10 minutes) and reduce the oven temperature if it looks like it is burning!
  • Meanwhile, combine the reserved marinade with the maltose or honey (maltose is very viscous--you can heat it up in the microwave to make it easier to work with) and 1 tablespoon hot water. This will be the sauce you'll use for basting the pork.
  • After 40 minutes of total roasting time, baste the pork, flip it, and baste the other side as well. Roast for a final 10 minutes.
  • By now, the pork has cooked for 50 minutes total. It should be cooked through and caramelized on top. If it's not caramelized to your liking, you can turn the broiler on for a couple minutes to crisp the outside and add some color/flavor. Be sure not to walk away during this process, since the sweet char siu BBQ sauce can burn if left unattended. You can also use a meat thermometer to check if the internal temperature of the pork has reached 160 degrees F. (Update: USDA recommends that pork should be cooked to 145 degrees F with a 3 minute resting time)
  • Remove from the oven and baste with the last bit of reserved BBQ sauce. Let the meat rest for 10 minutes before slicing, and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 274 kcal, Carbohydrate 14 g, Protein 39 g, Fat 6 g, SaturatedFat 2 g, Cholesterol 102 mg, Sodium 832 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 12 g, ServingSize 1 serving

CHINESE BARBECUED PORK



Chinese Barbecued Pork image

Provided by Su Mei Yu

Categories     Wine     Marinate     Backyard BBQ     Dinner     Pork Tenderloin     Summer     Grill/Barbecue     Anise     Cinnamon     Sesame     Soy Sauce     Dairy Free     Peanut Free     Tree Nut Free

Yield Makes 8 skewers

Number Of Ingredients 13

1/2 cup sugar
1 star anise
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 cup Chinese rice wine (Shaoxing) or dry vermouth
One 6-ounce can pineapple juice
1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon sesame oil
2 pounds pork tenderloin, sliced lengthwise into 1 1/2-inch-wide strips
8 metal skewers
Vegetable oil spray

Steps:

  • 1. In a large zippered plastic bag, combine the sugar, star anise, cinnamon, pepper, salt, wine, pineapple juice, soy sauces, and sesame oil. Seal the bag and shake to mix. Add the pork, seal and toss the bag back and forth to coat the pork slices. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or, for best results, overnight.
  • 2. Soak a handful of mesquite chips or cinnamon sticks in a bowl of water. Heat the grill.
  • 3. While waiting for the grill to get hot, remove the pork from the refrigerator. Thread 4 to 5 pieces of pork onto each skewer. Repeat with the remaining pork. Transfer the remaining marinade to a bowl and set aside.
  • 4. Rake the hot coals into a mound on one side of the grill. Spray the pork generously with vegetable oil and lay the skewers on the rack directly over the hot coals. Sear the meat for a minute or two. Baste with the marinade and turn the skewers over. Repeat once or twice, or until the outside is slightly charred. Baste with the marinade and move the skewers to the empty side of the grill.
  • 5. Sprinkle the soaked mesquite or cinnamon sticks over the charcoal. Cover the grill and grill-smoke. Be sure to open the air vents in the top of the grill cover. Uncover the grill and baste the meat every 3 minutes, until the pork is cooked through, 11 to 12 minutes in all.
  • 6. Cool for 5 minutes before removing the pork from the skewers. Slice into thin bite-sized pieces and serve.

Tips:

  • Choose the right cut of pork: Pork shoulder, also known as pork butt, is the best cut for BBQ pork as it has a good balance of fat and meat, resulting in tender and juicy meat.
  • Marinate the pork: Marinating the pork in a flavorful mixture of soy sauce, honey, hoisin sauce, Chinese five-spice powder, and other spices helps to tenderize the meat and infuse it with flavor.
  • Use a quality BBQ sauce: A good BBQ sauce is essential for achieving the perfect balance of sweet, savory, and smoky flavors. Look for a sauce that is thick and flavorful, with a good balance of sweet and savory ingredients.
  • Cook the pork slowly and low: Slow cooking allows the pork to cook evenly and develop a tender and fall-apart texture. Cook the pork over indirect heat at a temperature of around 225-250°F (107-121°C) for several hours, or until the pork is cooked through.
  • Baste the pork regularly: Basting the pork with the BBQ sauce during cooking helps to keep it moist and flavorful. Baste the pork every 30-45 minutes or so, using a brush to apply the sauce evenly.

Conclusion:

Authentic Chinese BBQ pork is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed as an appetizer, main course, or snack. With its tender and juicy texture, smoky flavor, and sweet and savory glaze, it's a popular choice for gatherings and celebrations. By following the tips and steps outlined in this recipe, you can easily make authentic Chinese BBQ pork at home and impress your friends and family with your culinary skills.

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