Sweet, savory, and tender. The BEST char siu recipe to make at home: Pork Belly Char Siu!
Most char siu (aka Chinese BBQ pork) recipes call for pork butt or pork shoulder, but pork belly gives the tastiest results.
Another advantage of using pork belly is its uniform size. Pork butt or shoulder typically requires cutting into even pieces since they’re sold as large roasts.
The best pork belly has an even distribution of fat and meat layers, similar to the top three in the image below. The more layers, the better. You don’t want it too fatty, but a cut that’s too lean will turn out tough and dry.
Important note: Use SKINLESS pork belly. The cook time for this recipe isn’t long enough for the skin to become tender. A couple of my local Costco stores sell skinless pork belly, perfect in size for this recipe.
The redness in Chinese BBQ sauce traditionally comes from Chinese fermented red bean curd, which provides a natural color from fermented red rice. Besides color, the red bean curd imparts a complex and subtle umami flavor to the char siu. These days, most restaurants use red dye to achieve that signature vibrant red.
You can find fermented red bean curd at most Chinese grocery stores or online stores like Weee!. This is the brand I use:
Red bean curd can also be eaten mixed into congee (rice porridge) as a topping. This is my primary use for it (for the probiotics!), besides making char siu. You can also use it in most Chinese braised dishes to impart that subtle umami flavor.
Hoisin sauce is a great substitute if you can’t find red bean curd or don’t want to add another item to your pantry. Just note that if your char siu looks brownish, it’s okay! It’ll still be delicious.
Check the notes section in the recipe card for modified times and instructions.
I’m a foodie with a simple philosophy: why should amazing food be reserved for the weekends alone? I’m all about making every meal delicious because, let’s face it, we only have so many meals in our lifetime.
My mission? To take the stress out of cooking with easy-to-use meal plans so you can enjoy mouthwatering recipes any day of week. Join me on this tasty journey and let’s savor “more taste, less waste” in every bite!
I’m a foodie with a simple philosophy: why should amazing food be reserved for the weekends alone? I’m all about making every meal delicious because, let’s face it, we only have so many meals in our lifetime.
My mission? To take the stress out of cooking with easy-to-use meal plans so you can enjoy mouthwatering recipes any day of week. Join me on this tasty journey and let’s savor “more taste, less waste” in every bite!
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