Chinese Barbecue Pork (Char Siu Pork)

A delicious and simple recipe with step-by-step photos for Chinese Barbecue Pork (Char Siu Pork) which you can make at home with everyday pantry ingredients in just 10 minutes!

char siu pork on metal tray with bok choy and knife and fork

Char Siu Pork

One thing I miss about living in Australia is being able to visit the local Chinatown, whether it be for a traditional Dim Sum breakfast, a browse through the colourful aisles of the Vietnamese grocer, or a visit to the Chinese bakery for their light and fluffy cakes.

Something I deeply miss are the restaurants where you can buy one of the Chinese roast ducks on display, as well as their crispy pork belly, or the ever popular Chinese barbecue pork (also known as char siu pork).

There is no Chinatown in Zurich. In fact, the Asian population here is very scant, but we are lucky to have a few amazing Chinese and Vietnamese grocers, as well as a growing number of south-east Asian restaurants.

char siu pork sliced on metal tray with green vegetables and cutlery

That said, I still miss being able to pop into Chinatown to pick up something for a quick dinner. I miss being able to rely on good Chinese takeaway food, and I miss, quite simply, good Chinese takeaway food.

I have always felt that moving to Switzerland made me a better cook. In the absence of being able to buy many food items which I used to enjoy back in Australia, I have had to slowly learn how to recreate most of those dishes at home. Chinese barbecue pork, or char siu pork, is one of those dishes.

And like so many other things which I have re-created at home, making your own Chinese barbecue pork is incredibly easy, and the results are so delicious that this will become a regular dish in your home!

slices of chinese barbecue pork on metal tray with vegetables

What is Char Siu Sauce?

A char siu sauce is a mix of various Asian pantry ingredients, including soy sauce, oyster sauce, honey, and Chinese five-spice powder. I like to add grated fresh ginger to my marinade for a bit of warm heat.

The Chinese barbecue pork that you find in most Chinese restaurants often has a tinge of red in the meat, either from using red fermented tofu in the marinade, or from red food colouring.

Red fermented tofu can be tricky to find, depending on where you live, so my recipe below uses ingredients which are more readily available in most mainstream supermarkets, thus saving you a trip to a specialist Asian grocery store.

Although, if you have easy access to the latter, I highly recommend buying your Asian pantry ingredients there as the brands which they stock are more authentic in taste.

What Cut of Meat to Use for Char Siu Pork

The cut of meat I like to use for Chinese barbecue pork is pork tenderloin, simply because it is easy for the children to eat, and also because we love the succulence and tenderness of the cut.

How to Make Char Siu Pork

This char siu pork recipe is so easy that I frequently make this for dinner during the busy week.

Step 1

Simply mix together all of the ingredients for the marinade in a small bowl.

white bowl with marinade for char siu pork with grated ginger on the side

Step 2

Place the pork tenderloin pieces in a large zip-lock freezer bag, and pour over the marinade. I generally prefer to marinate meat in zip-lock freezer bags as it ensures that the meat will be evenly coated.

For this char siu recipe, it is best the marinate the meat overnight for maximum flavour. But I have made this recipe several times in a pinch, and even one hour of marinating will still give good results.

plastic bag with pork tenderloin and marinade for char siu pork

Step 3

To cook the char siu pork, I like to roast it in the oven over a pan of boiling water. The water helps to create steam in the oven, which helps to keep the pork moist while it is roasting.

To do this, simply place a wire rack over a roasting tray, and half fill the tray with boiling water.

But if you don’t have a wire rack to use like in the photos below, you can also simply roast the meat directly on the tray. In which case, you should first line the tray with aluminium foil to allow for easier cleaning later (the sugars in the marinade will burn easily).

metal roasting tray with wire rack on top

Step 4

The meat should sit on the wire rack above the tray, and it should not be in contact with the water below.

raw chinese barbecue pork on wire rack over roasting tray

Step 5

Pour the reserved marinade into a small saucepan, together with 2 tablespoons of honey. Simmer the sauce for a few minutes until it is thick and syrupy.

small saucepan with char siu sauce with white silicon brush

Step 6

Use the sauce to baste the pork every 10 minutes or so. I like to apply a thick layer of sauce each time to give extra flavour, and to help with the caramelisation.

chinese barbecue pork on wire rack over roasting tray with saucepan of sauce

Step 7

Once you have roasted the pork for about 30 minutes (and you should have basted the pork about 3 times during this period), turn the oven onto broil (or grill).

Position the meat as close as possible to the grill, and let it caramelise until it is lovely and golden brown. Baste generously every 3 to 5 minutes, and watch the meat carefully so that it doesn’t burn.

char siu pork on wire rack over metal roasting tray

What to Serve with Char Siu Pork

My family love this Chinese barbecue pork served simply with steamed Jasmine rice and some steamed Chinese greens on the side (pak choi or Chinese broccoli work really well here).

At other times, we love to fill steamed bao buns with slices of Chinese barbecue pork with some quick pickled carrots and quick pickled cucumbers. Please see my recipe for Sticky Pork Bao Buns for full details.

Any leftover Chinese barbecue pork is also delicious in Steamed BBQ Pork Buns (Char Siu Bao). Please see my recipe for Steamed BBQ Pork Buns for more details.

To make your own homemade bao buns, please see my easy recipe for bao buns with step-by-step photos.

Steamed Bao Buns

More Chinese Recipes

If you love Chinese food, you might also enjoy the following Chinese recipes:

Chinese Almond Cookies

Chinese Chicken and Corn Soup

Chinese Hot and Sour Soup

Chinese Turnip Cake

Sweet and Sour Chicken

sliced char siu pork on metal roasting tray with blue napkin
Print

Chinese Barbecue Pork (Char Siu Pork)

chinese barbecue pork char siu pork

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.9 from 42 reviews

  • Marinating Time: 30 mins
  • Author: eatlittlebird.com
  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Cook Time: 40 mins
  • Total Time: 50 mins
  • Yield: Serves 4
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: Asian

A delicious and simple recipe for Chinese Barbecue Pork (Char Siu Pork) which you can make at home with everyday pantry ingredients in just 10 minutes!

Ingredients

For the marinade

For the Chinese Barbecue Pork

  • 2 tablespoons runny honey (extra for the glaze)
  • 2 pieces of pork tenderloin, approx 1 lb (500 g) each

Instructions

  1. Place all of the ingredients for the marinade into a bowl and whisk to combine.
  2. Place the pork into a large ziplock freezer bag and pour the marinade inside. Make sure the pork is well-coated in the marinade.
  3. Place the bag into the fridge and leave it to marinate for at least 2-3 hours, or overnight.
  4. When you are ready to roast the pork, take it out of the fridge and let it come to room temperature in the marinade (this will take about 30 minutes).
  5. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C) (without fan).
  6. Place a wire rack over a large roasting tray and half fill the tray with boiling water. The rack needs to be high enough so that, when the meat is sitting on top of the rack, the meat should not touch the water. The water helps to create a steam in the oven to cook the pork and to keep it moist.
  7. Place the pork on the wire rack.
  8. Do not discard the marinade in the freezer bag.
  9. Roast the pork for about 30 minutes, basting every 10 minutes or so with the reserved marinade (see next step).
  10. Meanwhile, pour the reserved marinade into a small saucepan and add the extra 2 tablespoons of honey. Bring the sauce to a boil and simmer gently for a few minutes until the sauce is thick and syrupy. Use this sauce to baste the pork.
  11. After 30 minutes, turn the oven to grill (or broil) mode on high heat. If possible, place the tray as high as possible in the oven under the grill. Baste the pork generously every 3-5 minutes, making sure that it is browning nicely and doesn’t burn. Once the pork has caramelised nicely, remove the tray from the oven.
  12. Let the pork rest for about 10 minutes before slicing.

Kitchen Notes

COOKING WITH PORK
The size and thickness of pork tenderloin can vary greatly, so you may need to adjust your cooking times accordingly.

COOKING MEAT PERFECTLY
The best way to check if the meat is perfectly cooked is to use a digital meat thermometer. Simply insert the needle into the thickest part of the meat, and the temperature should read between 145-160°F (60-70°C) for well-cooked pork.

WIRE RACK
If you don’t have a wire rack, simply roast the pork directly on the roasting tray, but line it with aluminium foil for easier cleaning later.

MAKE-AHEAD TIPS
You can marinate the meat ahead of time and keep it in the fridge for up to 2-3 days.

OVEN TEMPERATURES
All recipes on this website state temperatures for a regular oven (i.e. a conventional oven without fan). If you have a convection oven with a fan, please consult the manufacturer’s handbook on how to adjust the temperature and baking time accordingly.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 4
  • Calories: 337
  • Sugar: 31.9g
  • Sodium: 543.3mg
  • Fat: 10.8g
  • Carbohydrates: 36.2g
  • Fiber: 0.6g
  • Protein: 24.9g
  • Cholesterol: 74.1mg

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment below and share your photos by tagging @eatlittlebird on Instagram and using #eatlittlebird

Update

This post was originally published on 23 March 2017. It has been updated with new photos and more comprehensive recipe notes.

#eatlittlebird

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117 comments

  1. Gillian Thompson 23 March 2017

    If you can’t get to Chinatown then bring Chinatown to you – your Charsiu Pork looks amazing.

    Reply
  2. This pork looks so juicy and flavorful! Yum!






    Reply
    • Eat, Little Bird 23 March 2017

      Thanks, Sarah! That’s what I love about using tenderloin – the meat is always so lovely and succulent 🙂

      Reply
  3. A wonderful way to cook pork, the chinese flavours are amazing. A great recipe to be able to make this at home.






    Reply
    • Eat, Little Bird 23 March 2017

      Thanks, Helen 🙂 Indeed, it’s great to be able to make this at home, especially since it is relatively easy to make and always a family favourite.

      Reply
  4. Brandi Crawford 23 March 2017

    WOW! This looks fabulous and soooooo juicy!

    Reply
    • Eat, Little Bird 23 March 2017

      Thanks, Brandi! It’s definitely a family favourite, and the children probably love it so much because the meat is so juicy and tender 🙂

      Reply
  5. Christine 23 March 2017

    My husband has been talking about trying to make this at home. Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply
  6. Eloise 24 March 2017

    Hi Thanh, I love your blog! I am wondering, are your recipes based on using a fan forced or convectional oven? Thanking you.

    Reply
    • Eat, Little Bird 24 March 2017

      Thanks, Eloise!! I almost always use the oven in regular mode, i.e. as a conventional oven. I only recently learnt how to use the fan settings (i.e. convection oven) – something Mimi Thorisson showed me at her workshop 🙂 So for my recipes, you can assume that it is a regular oven with NO fan.

      Reply
  7. KR 24 March 2017

    Mmm.. II am waiting for Summer and grill and chill 🙂 Amazing and mouthwatering photos. Thank you for sharing!






    Reply
  8. The-FoodTrotter 5 April 2017

    This tenderloin is gorgeously glazed and cooked to perfection! I’m litteraly drooling! I need to try it as soon as I can 🙂






    Reply
  9. Leo Tat 20 April 2017

    My first impression when I saw your photo is that your pork dish looks so much like Char Siu 叉燒. And it actually is lol. Char Siu is popular in Cantonese restaurants, but for home cooking, we only make it once or twice a year.

    Reply
    • Eat, Little Bird 22 April 2017

      My mother is part-Chinese and she made this quite often when I was growing up. Well, more than once or twice a year 😉 But I agree that it is a special dish, but as it is relatively easy to make, I like to make it when we have guests.

      Reply
  10. Helen Powell 21 April 2017

    I made this for my family in Easter Sunday. It is absolutely delicious and has become a favorite. Very simple to make and quick to cook. Couldn’t get any better than that






    Reply
    • Eat, Little Bird 22 April 2017

      Thanks, Helen! I’m so happy to hear that your family enjoyed this dish 🙂 And how wonderful that you made it for Easter Sunday. I love that the recipe works for both special occasions and everyday cooking. Thanks for leaving your feedback 🙂

      Reply
  11. Buffy Shaw 10 December 2017

    This looks so amazing I am making it this year as an alternative to Turkey for Christmas!






    Reply
  12. Cherie Byrne 28 January 2018

    delicious! I’ve made it twice in 3 weeks already. Thank you






    Reply
    • Eat, Little Bird 30 January 2018

      Oh that’s great to hear!! So glad you have enjoyed this recipe – it’s one of my all time favourites 🙂

      Reply
  13. Billy williams 13 February 2018

    Just made this and it was the best char Sui I’ve made. I’ll be making it again and again and again!!!!!

    Reply
  14. Andy Pope 14 March 2018

    Made this recipe last night and wow never cook anything Chinese before so a real beginner here all was spot on will be doing it again many times thank you for sharing. I had with sweet broccoli snap peas and rice

    Reply
  15. Andy Pope 14 March 2018

    Forgot to put stars on 5 outta 5






    Reply
    • Eat, Little Bird 16 March 2018

      Thanks so much for your feedback! So glad to hear that you enjoyed this recipe 🙂

      Reply
  16. Donna 17 March 2018

    This is amazing, taste beautiful. Would definitely recommend it






    Reply
  17. Julia 16 April 2018

    I️ just drooled!!! This looks heaven! I want some! YUM!






    Reply
  18. John Markos 6 June 2018

    It looks delicious. It try it.

    Reply
  19. Maureen 31 July 2018

    Just took it out of the oven and it looks and smells great. Do you use the leftover marinade as a sauce on rice (since it has been boiled and simmered a while)? If not, what would you recommend?

    Reply
    • Eat, Little Bird 20 September 2018

      Yes, you could definitely use the leftover marinade as a sauce on the rice or vegetables, but only if you have simmered it beforehand and used it as a glaze as per the recipe. As the marinade has been used for raw meat, you need to simmer the sauce to cook off any raw meat that might be in the marinade. I think having some extra sauce to drizzle on the rice is a must 😉

      Reply
  20. Sylvain 12 August 2018

    Wow, just found this recipe! I will adapt it to BBQ since I don’t use oven during summer.

    Reply
    • Eat, Little Bird 24 August 2018

      Hello,
      I know what you mean about not using the oven during summer – way too hot! I’ve made this a few times using the BBQ too and the results are delicious. You just have to be careful about the glaze catching as it can burn easily. Good luck!

      Reply
  21. Christina 24 September 2018

    Hey! Do you have any suggestions for how to cook the pork if I don’t have a roasting rack?

    Reply
    • Eat, Little Bird 26 September 2018

      If you don’t have a roasting rack, you could place the meat directly on a roasting tray and baste it every so often as per the recipe. Cooking the pork on a roasting rack over a tray of water helps to keep the meat tender because the water creates steam in the oven. However, if you roast the meat instead by cooking it directly on a roasting tray, so long as you don’t over-cook the meat, it should still taste great 🙂 You could also cook the meat on a barbecue!

      Reply
  22. Colleen Lines 18 December 2018

    Wow! This is the best recipe for Char-siu. I prepared it as directed and it is super moist and oh, so flavorful. I sliced it and arranged on a tray with hot mustard for dipping as an Hors D’oeuvres. The guests all raved about how wonderful it was. Not one slice was left!






    Reply
    • Eat, Little Bird 18 December 2018

      That’s so wonderful to hear! I’m so glad you and your guests enjoyed this recipe 🙂

      Reply
  23. Shannon 4 February 2019

    Tried this recipe a few nights ago – amazing!! I didn’t have a wire rack so I roasted it in the pan lined with aluminum foil as suggested. It was easily the best pork I’ve ever had. I would just suggest making a little more marinade – I ran out while basting. Can’t wait to make this again!






    Reply
    • Eat, Little Bird 6 February 2019

      Hi Shannon,
      Oh that’s great to hear! So glad you enjoyed this recipe. If you have extra marinade for the glaze, that also makes a lovely sauce when served with rice 🙂

      Reply
  24. Mimi 5 February 2019

    This is so lovely! My mother used to make this. I remember the rack in the roasting pan. Such wonderful ingredients. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Eat, Little Bird 6 February 2019

      Hi Mimi! Yes, the ingredients are fairly simple and make for a really delicious dish 🙂

      Reply
  25. Kitty Koniali 5 February 2019

    Beautiful photos and presentation as always…this sounds like one of the recipes I will enjoy: it has all of my fave ingredients. Thank you!

    Reply
  26. Justin 19 March 2019

    I just made this char siu pork did the quick 3 hour marinade and it was spectacular! I will be trying it again with a 24 hr marinade to try the enhanced flavour version… so good definitely reminds me of the authentic china town vendors I love. Thanks a bunch!






    Reply
    • Eat, Little Bird 21 March 2019

      Hi Justin,
      Great to hear that you enjoyed this recipe! Marinating the meat overnight will definitely give a bit more flavour, but sometimes it’s just nice to get a head start the night before so you have less to do on the day of serving. Thanks for popping by!

      Reply
  27. Pattie F 22 March 2019

    Excellent! Just like in a restaurant. I will broil/ grill it a little longer next time to really get a nice char on it. I will also make a little extra sauce because that was really delicious. One recipe that really came out great!

    Reply
    • Eat, Little Bird 30 March 2019

      Hi Pattie,
      So glad to hear that you enjoyed this recipe! I also like to have a nice char on the pork too 🙂 Thanks for leaving your feedback!

      Reply
  28. Jessica 8 April 2019

    What else can i say, except wow oh wow! This was so good. Couldn’t find my wire racks so roasted on aluminum foil. Made it with plain white rice and drizzled the extra marinade on the rice and my goodness…. making it again this week!






    Reply
    • Eat, Little Bird 8 April 2019

      Hi Jessica,
      I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed this recipe! It’s a favourite with my friends and family too 🙂

      Reply
  29. Rona 14 June 2019

    I make Chinese roast pork frequently with bottled lee kum kee rib or char sui sauce and Ah-So sauce but today I used your recipe and added a little Ah-so sauce to the marinade for the red coloring…cant wait to taste it. Note: leftovers good for making lo mein or fried rice or even as a side for this dish.






    Reply
    • Eat, Little Bird 19 July 2019

      Hi Rona,
      I hope you enjoyed this recipe for char siu pork! I always love when we have leftovers of this dish 🙂

      Reply
  30. melody 2 September 2019

    Loved this recipe!






    Reply
  31. Heleen 13 September 2019

    This was amazing! So glad I found it on Pinterest






    Reply
  32. cassie w 15 October 2019

    I’ve made this twice. It is a wonderful jumping off point. The second time, I added a tablespoon of rice vinegar to balance the sweetness. I only roasted for 25 minutes, and started the basting/broiling process 5 minutes earlier to ensure deep caramelization without overcooking. This is one of my go-to pork recipes now! Thanks for sharing it with us!






    Reply
    • Eat, Little Bird 21 October 2019

      So glad you enjoyed this recipe! I always enjoy reading people’s variations to the recipe, and this sounds great!

      Reply
  33. Amy 22 November 2019

    Fantastic recipe!!! I’ve made this recipe twice and my family say it is their favorite dish now. The second time I added Sriracha to the marinade. I highly recommend it! A very useful recipe to have.






    Reply
  34. Victoria 22 November 2019

    Can I cook this ahead then reheat?

    Reply
    • Eat, Little Bird 25 November 2019

      Hi Victoria,
      The meat will be a little drier when you reheat it, but that is what I do with leftovers, and it still tastes great. However, this pork is best when it is served the day it is cooked. Hope this helps!

      Reply
  35. Georgina 12 January 2020

    Best recipe!






    Reply
  36. Amy 20 January 2020

    We just made this as well as your bao buns for dinner tonight and served with quick pickled cucumbers and carrots plus cilantro and green onion. It was fabulous and will go into our rotation for special weekend dinners. The pork was easy! The bao took some time but for a lazy weekend at home they were a fun project. Thanks!






    Reply
    • Eat, Little Bird 21 January 2020

      Hi Amy,
      So glad you enjoyed these recipes! The bao buns go perfectly with the bbq pork, so I’m so glad you made everything together. Thanks for popping by!

      Reply
  37. Cyprian 21 January 2020

    Made this dish twice and both times I followed it to a T and both times were a bust. The pork didn’t turn out the way that it should be. Not sure what I’m doing wrong. Couldn’t get the marinade syrupy it was still pretty watered down. I added more honey but didn’t work. I’ll give it a try a 3rd time.






    Reply
  38. Tara 12 February 2020

    Absolutely delicious and so easy to make. I also made the little Bao Buns and they were amazing! We lived in Hong Kong for year so it’s like a trip down memory lane.

    Reply
    • Eat, Little Bird 28 February 2020

      Hi Tara,
      So glad you enjoyed both recipes! I can’t wait to make the bao buns and char siu pork again myself. Thanks for popping by!

      Reply
  39. Carl Smith 13 February 2020

    Great recipe! I would recommend turning the pork over at the very end for a few minutes. I have made this recipe a few times and each I found the center at 150° and the very bottom (only about a 1/4 inch at the thickest part) temping at 135°






    Reply
    • Eat, Little Bird 28 February 2020

      Hi Carl,
      Thanks for your feedback! Glad you enjoyed this recipe 🙂

      Reply
  40. Doug 30 April 2020

    Can the pork be frozen (uncooked) in the marinade? I’ve got some marinating in the fridge right now and I think it may be too much for one dinner. I was considering freezing half of it for another time. Thx

    Reply
    • Eat, Little Bird 30 April 2020

      Hi Doug,
      Yes, the uncooked pork can be frozen in the marinade. In fact, it will be even more flavourful upon defrosting 🙂 Enjoy your dinner!

      Reply
  41. Mabel Tatis 3 December 2020

    Excellent recipe !

    Reply
  42. Andrew 10 December 2020

    Made again today. Fantastic recipe.
    Really simple to make.






    Reply
    • Eat, Little Bird 11 December 2020

      Hi Andrew,
      So glad you enjoyed this recipe! It is indeed an easy recipe, and it feels easier each time you make it. Happy cooking!

      Reply
  43. Sharon 17 January 2021

    This looks delicious! I can’t wait to make it. Thank you!

    Reply
  44. Suzie Q 22 January 2021

    I cooked this for my family tonight. It was absolutely delicious. I served it with egg fried rice and stir-fried broccoli and peppers. Everyone loved it. I cooked one 600g joint of meat as that was what I had. I halved all the marinade ingredients and that was actually enough to feed the 4 of us (just). Next time I will try and get 2 x 1lb joints as my son was looking for seconds! Thanks for the recipe, from a cook in Scotland.






    Reply
    • Eat, Little Bird 22 January 2021

      Hi Suzie,
      That’s wonderful to hear that you all enjoyed this recipe! I usually make the full recipe with two pieces of pork loin just in case someone is extra hungry and wants seconds or thirds 😉 Any leftover cooked meat can be tossed into a fried rice the next day. But it sounds like you had a wonderful feast with your delicious cooking!

      Reply
  45. Michael 27 January 2021

    I have made this and it is beautiful. Am I OK to cook the meat in the morning and reheat sliced with the stir fry veg in the evening.






    Reply
    • Eat, Little Bird 28 January 2021

      Hi Michael,
      Happy to hear that you have enjoyed this recipe. As with most recipes, they are often best eaten right away. However, when making this Chinese Barbecue Pork, I usually make the whole recipe or 1.5 times the recipe so that we can have leftovers.

      I have tried to reheat a whole cooked pork loin wrapped in foil in the oven, which still tasted great, but it was a little dry on reheating. But that was easily fixed by adding more sauce when serving. But for leftovers, I usually chop up the meat to use in something like a stir-fry or fried rice.

      So, if possible, I suggest you cook the meat right before serving, or make extra sauce if you plan to reheat the meat. I hope this helps!

      Reply
  46. Phil 1 February 2021

    Found this delicious recipe and your website on a google search for BBQ pork, so easy to prepare, simply cooked it on a foil lined bakin tray, then grilled on high for 5 minutes and my family polished it off – totally ! Served it with Pak Choi and steamed rice (I also made twice the sauce for a dipping sauce). The only complaint I received…. I didn’t make enough !!

    Reply
    • Eat, Little Bird 4 February 2021

      Hi Phil,
      Thanks for your lovely feedback! Great to hear that everyone enjoyed this BBQ pork. Definitely make more next time 🙂

      Reply
  47. Eric Craig 2 February 2021

    Have used the recipe countless times and it’s a huge hit every time! Highly recommend giving it a go!






    Reply
    • Eat, Little Bird 4 February 2021

      Hi Eric,
      Thanks for your great feedback and for trying this recipe! It’s a favourite in my family too 🙂

      Reply
  48. Mike Sr 5 February 2021

    This looks so delicious and as much as we love Chinese roast pork, I am going to (try) to make it. One question, early on in your description of the recipe you mention using red fermented tofu or red food coloring in the marinade to achieve the same look as you see in restaurant roasted pork yet in the recipe ingredient list and directions it is not listed. Should it be used and was inadvertently left out?

    Reply
    • Eat, Little Bird 6 February 2021

      Hi Mike,
      I came up with this recipe using more commonly available ingredients which most people can find from their local supermarket. So yes, I intentionally omitted the red fermented tofu and/or red food colouring. If you do want your meat to have that distinct red colour, you can use this recipe as is, but add either a few drops of red food colouring OR a few teaspoons of beetroot powder. I hope you will enjoy the recipe!

      Reply
  49. Yoko Williams 10 May 2021

    Can the tenderloin be cooked sous vide then seared on the stove?

    Reply
  50. Jamie Armitage 14 May 2021

    Absolutely delightful. I tried it for the first time this week with it marinating for only 3 hours. Have prepared another batch today to have on Sunday. The only thing I changed was adding rice wine






    Reply
  51. Julia 25 May 2021

    My family and I really enjoyed this recipe. Delicious served with plain rice and steamed veges. I will make more sauce next time because it was excellent drizzled on the rice.






    Reply
  52. Kathy 15 February 2022

    Instead of a roasting rack I use whole carrots sliced in half and make a rack out of that

    Reply
  53. Celine 15 April 2022

    This char siu pork recipe is a keeper! The flavors are just amazing and the pork is always tender. I’m going to try your Char Siu Bao next time!






    Reply
  54. Gabrielle 27 April 2022

    Absolutely delicious. I marinated the meat for just 30 minutes and it tasted wonderful. My family have already asked me to make this again on the weekend!






    Reply
  55. Betty Lee 4 May 2022

    Excellent recipe! The taste is very authentic and the pork is so succulent and tender. I will definitely make this again.






    Reply
  56. Jason 12 May 2022

    Hands down the best Chinese barbeque pork recipe! I made this for the family for a mid-week dinner, but I think it would be great for a larger crowd too. Can’t wait to make it again soon.






    Reply
  57. Betty 24 August 2022

    This is such a fantastic and easy recipe. I’ve lost count how many times I have made it. It turns out perfect each time!






    Reply
  58. Max 25 August 2022

    This is the best Chinese barbecue pork recipe. Turns out perfect each time. I recommend making extra sauce to drizzle over the pork and to serve with the rice. Winning recipe.






    Reply
  59. Thuy 25 August 2022

    Oh this is a very very good recipe! Very yummy and tastes just like in restaurant. My kids love it!






    Reply
  60. Johnny 27 August 2022

    Amazing recipe! The best char siu pork I have ever tasted.






    Reply
  61. Allen 27 August 2022

    Flavors were perfect. My family loved this dish.






    Reply
  62. Ruth 11 September 2022

    I’m not sure if I ever commented on this fantastic recipe or not but last night I tried something new. I cooked it on the BBQ using the 7-6-5 method and it was the best yet! I served it with grilled Bok Choy for a beautiful, light, late summer meal that will definitely make regular appearances at my house. Thank you!






    Reply
    • Eat, Little Bird 17 September 2022

      Hi Ruth,
      That’s great! It sounds delicious cooked on the BBQ!

      Reply
  63. Kelly 18 September 2022

    Made this tonight turned out perfect so tasty.






    Reply
  64. Jules 10 February 2023

    just made it tonight, it was amazing!!! put it in bao buns but plan on having the left overs with rice tomorrow 😍 I’ve actually never cooked pork before and have only ever cooked with premade asian sauces so this was way out of my comfort zone… but it turned out absolutely perfect! My partner was very impressed. Thanks so much for this recipe and for the easy to follow and descriptive steps. It helps so much!!






    Reply
    • Eat, Little Bird 3 March 2023

      Hi Jules,
      Thanks so much for your feedback! So glad you and your partner enjoyed this recipe 🙂

      Reply
  65. Heidi 28 February 2023

    What temp, per the meat, do we turn the oven on broil? Mine was at 78 degrees and I don’t feel comfortable broiling them meat until I understand the temp before the broil, after the broil, in order to rest the meat properly.

    Reply
    • Eat, Little Bird 3 March 2023

      Hi Heidi,
      After 30 minutes of roasting in the oven, the pork should be cooked through, so a meat thermometer should read 60-70°F. However, the roasting time will depend on the size and thickness of the meat. When broiling the meat, you should only need about 5 minutes or so caramelise the meat on the outside to make it nice and golden, but the timing will depend on how hot your grill is. After broiling, I recommend resting the meat for at least 10-15 minutes before carving. Hope this helps!

      Reply
  66. Skye 8 March 2023

    This is a family favorite! I have made it countless times and my family love it so much.






    Reply
  67. David Coverdale 25 March 2023

    Hi just wondering when you baste it every 10 mins is that with the reserved marainde or the water in tray

    Reply
    • Eat, Little Bird 27 March 2023

      Hi David,
      You need to baste with the reserved marinade. Hope you will enjoy this recipe!

      Reply