Honey Glazed Char Siu (蜜汁叉燒)
蜜汁叉燒, or Honey Glazed Char Siu, is a popular Cantonese dish known for its sweet and savory flavors, along with a beautifully caramelized exterior. This dish involves marinating and roasting pork in a blend of honey, soy sauce, and Chinese spices, creating a delectable treat that's hard to resist. Here's a recipe to make Honey Glazed Char Siu at home.
Ingredients
For the Marinade:
- 500 g pork shoulder or pork belly
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine or dry sherry
- 1 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon ginger grated
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- A pinch of salt
For Glazing:
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon water
Instructions
Prepare the Pork:
- Cut the pork into long strips or chunks, about 2 inches thick.
Marinate the Pork:
- In a bowl, mix together honey, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, oyster sauce, Shaoxing wine, five-spice powder, minced garlic, ginger, sugar, and salt.
- Coat the pork pieces with the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight, to allow the flavors to infuse.
Preheat the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 200°C (390°F). Place a rack over a lined baking tray to catch drippings.
Roast the Pork:
- Place the marinated pork on the rack. Reserve the leftover marinade for basting.
- Roast the pork in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes.
Prepare the Glaze:
- Mix 2 tablespoons of honey with 1 tablespoon of water.
- Glaze and Continue Roasting:
- After the first 15 minutes of roasting, start basting the pork with the reserved marinade and honey glaze every 10 minutes. Continue roasting until the exterior of the pork is nicely caramelized.
Rest and Slice:
- Once done, remove the pork from the oven and let it rest for about 10 minutes. Then, slice it into thin pieces.
Serve:
- Serve the Honey Glazed Char Siu with rice, vegetables, or your choice of sides.