I’m always looking for new recipes and methods of cooking protein. A big fan of Asian cuisine, I knew I had to make this Chinese BBQ Pork recipe. Also known as Char Siu, this delicious dish has amazing sweet and savory notes unlike any BBQ food you’ve tasted before. The meat is tender and perfect with any side dish.
Start with the marinade.
Chinese BBQ Pork is definitely not something you can throw on the grill last minute and be guaranteed full flavor. It is a waiting game, one that needs time and patience.
For the protein, I went with a boneless pork shoulder roast. It’s tender and fatty giving it a lot more flavor than a pork loin or tenderloin. But any of the cuts will do. It’s just a matter of preference.
Start with slicing the shoulder into long thick strips. This will allow the marinade to penetrate more of the meat getting a well rounded flavor throughout the cut.
For the marinade, in a mixing bowl add Chinese five spice, oyster sauce, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, aji mirin, honey, brown sugar, sea salt and red food dye. Mix the ingredients together and pour 3/4 of the marinade over the pork strips. Make sure to coat all around not leaving an inch dry. Place in the fridge and let if soak up all those wonderful asian flavors for 24 hours.
For the left over 1/4 marinade, mix in some honey and maltose and place it in the fridge. I will be honest, maltose is probably one of the most hard ingredient I have ever worked with. It’s very thick and sticky, but worth it once you taste the final product.
Time to grill the Chinese BBQ Pork.
The next day, preheat the grill to 375 degrees and set for dual zone cooking. This means there is a direct heat option as well as indirect heat. Place the marinated Chinese BBQ Pork on the direct side of the grill first to get a nice sear on all sides. Flip every minute to get an even cook. Next, transfer the pork to the indirect side and grill until the internal temperature reaches 150 degrees.
While the pork is on the grill, remove the remaining marinade from the fridge, lightly heat it up in the microwave and whisk together. Brush the bbq glaze over the grilling pork and continue cooking allowing the coating to caramelize.
Once the Chinese BBQ pork reaches 180 degrees, remove it off the grill and let it rest for 10 minutes.
Printer friendly recipe and video below:
Chinese BBQ Pork
Ingredients
- 4 lbs Pork shoulder
- 6 tbsp Brown sugar
- 5 tbsp Oyster sauce
- 4 tbsp Chinese five spice
- 4 tbsp Hoisin sauce
- 4 tbsp Honey
- 4 tbsp Soy sauce
- 3 tbsp Aji Mirin or rice vinegar
- 2 tsp Sesame oil
- 2 tsp Sea salt
- 6 drops Red food dye
- 4 tbsp Honey
- 6 tbsp Maltose
Instructions
- Slice the pork shoulder into long thick strips.
- For the marinade, in a mixing bowl add Chinese five spice, oyster sauce, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, honey, brown sugar, sea salt and red food dye. Mix the ingredients together.
- Pour 3/4 of the marinade over the pork strips. Make sure to coat all around not leaving an inch dry. Place in the fridge to marinade for 24 hours.
- For the left over 1/4 marinade, add some and honey and maltose and mix together are set in the fridge.
- The next day, preheat the grill to 375 degrees and set for dual zone cooking.
- Place the marinated Chinese BBQ Pork on the direct side of the grill first to get a nice sear on all sides. Flip every minute to get an even cook. Next, transfer the pork to the indirect side and grill until the internal temperature reaches 150 degrees.
- Brush the bbq glaze over the grilling pork and continue cooking allowing the coating to caramelize.
- Remove the pork off the grill and 180 degrees internal and rest for 10 minutes.
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