Cha Siu Food

CHAR SIU (CHINESE BBQ PORK)

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).

CHAR SIU (CHINESE BBQ PORK)

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!

CHAR SIU

Steps:

• Place the pork shoulder in a resealable plastic bag. Whisk together the sugar, cooking wine, hoisin sauce, light soy sauce, peanut butter, red bean curd sauce, ginger, five-spice powder, dark soy sauce, red bean curd, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon white pepper in a medium bowl until combined. Strain 1/2 cup of the marinade into a bowl and stir in the honey. Cover the glaze and refrigerate.
• Meanwhile, pour the remaining marinade into the bag with the pork and "massage" the meat until it's completely coated. Seal the bag, pressing out as much of the air as possible, and refrigerate for 24 hours.
• Remove the pork from the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature, about 1 hour.
• When the pork is almost ready, preheat the oven to 300 degrees F with a rack in the center position. Line a rimmed baking sheet with 2 layers of aluminum foil and top with a wire rack. Generously spray the rack with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
• Lay the pork slices on the prepared baking sheet with at least 1 inch between each slice, then pour 1/3 cup cold water into the baking sheet. Bake, rotating halfway, until the thickest part of the pork registers 145 degrees F on a meat (or instant-read) thermometer, about 55 minutes.
• Remove the pork from the oven and preheat the broiler on high until super hot.
• Flip the pork slices over and broil until the surface is dry, about 7 minutes. Brush the top of the slices with about half of the refrigerated glaze. Broil until the glaze is caramelized and bubbling, about 9 minutes. Flip the pork slices over again and brush the top with the remaining glaze. Broil until the glaze is caramelized and bubbling, about 9 minutes. Let rest for about 10 minutes. Cut into pieces, as desired.

CHAR SIU SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in a small bowl.

CANTONESE CHAR SIU

Steps:

• First, make the marinade. Whisk the hoisin sauce, red bean curd (along with the sauce from the can), the soy sauces, rice wine, garlic and 3 tbsp honey together. Tip half into a large bowl with the pork, reserving the rest of the marinade for basting later. Season the pork, toss to coat and chill for 5 hrs to marinate.
• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Transfer the pork to a roasting tin and roast for 30 mins.
• Meanwhile, mix the remaining marinade with the rest of the honey. Brush over the pork every 10 mins, so it's evenly coloured. Serve with the rice and pak choi, and the spring onions scattered over.

CHINESE BARBEQUE PORK (CHAR SIU)

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.

CHAR SIU PORK

Steps:

• Quarter the pork lengthwise into strips about 6 inches long and 1 1/2 inches thick. If there are odd-size pieces, they should be of the same thickness.
• To make the marinade, in a large bowl, whisk together the garlic, sugar, five-spice powder, hoisin sauce, honey, rice wine, light and dark soy sauces, and sesame oil. Set aside 1/3 of the marinade, cover, and refrigerate to later baste the meat. Add the pork to the remainder and use a spatula or tongs to coat evenly. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 6 to 8 hours, or even overnight, turning the pork 2 or 3 times.
• Remove the pork and reserved marinade from the refrigerator 45 minutes before cooking. Position a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat to 475°F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and place a flat roasting rack on the baking sheet. Put the pork on the rack, spacing the pieces 1 inch apart to promote heat circulation. Discard the used marinade, wash and dry the bowl, and put the reserved marinade in it.
• Roast, basting with the marinade every 10 minutes, for 30 to 35 minutes. To baste, use tongs to pick up each piece and roll it in the marinade before returning it to the rack, turning the pork over each time. The pork is done when it looks glazed, is slightly charred, and, most important, registers about 145°F on an instant-read meat thermometer. Remove from the oven.
• Let the meat rest for 10 minutes to finish cooking and seal in the juices before using. Or, let it cool completely, wrap tightly, and freeze for up to 3 months.

SLOW COOKER CHAR SIU (CHINESE BARBECUED PORK)

Steps:

• Combine first 8 ingredients in a small bowl, stirring well with a whisk. Place in a large zip-top plastic bag. Add pork to bag and seal. Marinate in refrigerator at least 2 hours, turning occasionally.
• Place pork and marinade in a crock pot. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.
• Remove pork from slow cooker using a slotted spoon. Place on a cutting board or work surface. Cover with aluminum foil and keep warm.
• Add broth to sauce in slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 30 minutes or until sauce thickens. Shred pork with 2 forks and serve with sauce.

CHAR SIU (BBQ PORK)

Steps:

• Put the pork in a roasting tin, tip over all the marinade ingredients and massage it in with your fingers (or use a spoon) to coat the pork. Cover and chill overnight.
• Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Cover the tin with foil and cook the pork for 31/2 hrs, basting every hour. Increase the oven temperature to 180C/160C/gas 4, remove the foil, baste the pork and continue to cook for 45 mins until it is beginning to caramelise around the edges.
• Remove the pork from the tin and set aside to rest for 20 mins. Meanwhile, spoon away any fat from the tin and transfer the sauce to a small pan. Slice the pork - it will fall apart as you cut into it - then return to the tin. Warm the sauce in the pan, then pour over the meat and toss everything together. Spoon into the hot buns with the Pickled carrot & mooli, spring onions and a dollop of wasabi mayonnaise.

CHAR SIU

Steps:

• To make the marinade, stir the soy sauce, hoisin sauce, ketchup, oyster sauce, 1/4 cup of the honey, the sugar, sherry, ginger, five-spice powder and food coloring if using together in a large bowl. Set aside.
• Cut the pork into strips 6 inches long and 3 inches wide. Place the strips flat in a shallow baking dish. Pour the marinade over the pork strips and refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.
• When ready to roast the pork, position one rack to the lowest part of the oven and another rack about 5 inches above it. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Drain the pork; place the marinade in a small saucepan. Bring to a rolling boil. Remove from the heat and stir in the remaining 1/4 cup honey.
• Place a shallow roasting pan on the bottom rack of the oven and fill the pan about three-quarters full with water. Carefully place the pork strips on the oven rack above the roasting pan so all sides of the pork strips are exposed to heat and all are over the pan to catch drips.
• Roast the pork for 30 minutes. Baste the pork strips with the honey mixture and roast for 15 minutes and baste again. Roast until the pork strips are crisp and golden brown, about 10 minutes longer.
• Remove the pork from the oven and let cool. To serve, slice the strips across into 1/2-inch strips and smother with reserved sauce.