Chinese Barbeque Pork (Char Siu)

With its impressive high-gloss appearance and savory taste, Chef John's Chinese barbeque pork is easy to make at home--even without a fancy ceramic grill.

• Preparation Time: 10 mins
• Cooking Time: 2 hr
• Total Time: 2 hr 10 mins
• Calories: 513 Calories

Ingredients

• 4 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
• 1 (3 pound) boneless pork butt (shoulder)
• 0.5 cup honey
• 0.5 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 0.33333334326744 cup brown sugar
• 0.25 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 0.66666668653488 cup soy sauce
• 0.33333334326744 cup ketchup
• 0.33333334326744 cup hoisin sauce
• 0.5 cup Chinese rice wine (or sake or dry sherry)
• 0.125 teaspoon pink curing salt
• 1 teaspoon red food coloring, or as desired

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

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.

Step 2

Cut pork roast in half lengthwise. Cut each half again lengthwise forming 4 long, thick pieces of pork.

Step 3

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.

Step 4

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.

Step 5

Remove sections of pork from marinade and let excess drip off. Place on prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle with kosher salt to taste.

Step 6

Transfer pork sections to grate over indirect heat on the prepared grill. Cover and cook for about 45 minutes. Brush with marinade; turn. Continue cooking until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center reads at least 145 degrees F (63 degrees C), about 1 hour and 15 minutes more. Do not use any more marinade on cooked meat until after you boil it.

Step 7

Place leftover marinade in a saucepan; bring to a boil; let simmer for 1 minute. Remove from heat. Now you can use it to brush over the cooked pork.