Sliced pork shoulder with a bright red glaze served with steamed white rice and stir-fried vegetables on a rectangular plate.

Cantonese Style Char Siu Pork Shoulder

Name: Cantonese Style Char Siu Pork Shoulder
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 70 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Cantonese
Ingredients: pork shoulder, 2 lbs.; hoisin sauce, 1/2 cup; soy sauce, 1/4 cup; honey, 1/4 cup; Chinese five-spice powder, 1 tbsp.; rice wine vinegar, 2 tbsp.; garlic cloves, 2 minced; ginger, 1-inch piece peeled and grated; salt, 1/4 tsp; black pepper, 1/4 tsp; vegetable oil, 1 tbsp.

Category Main Course

Prep 10 minutes

Cook 60 minutes

Style Cantonese

Technique Marinating

Diet Friendly Gluten-Free

Daily Recipe: May 17, 2023

Char siu pork is a Cantonese classic made with succulent pieces of pork shoulder that are marinated overnight and then cooked to perfection. The sweet and savory glaze gives the meat its distinctive red color and a rich flavor. The key ingredients in this recipe are pork shoulder and the marinade that includes hoisin sauce, soy sauce, honey, and Chinese five-spice powder.

Ingredients (for 4)

Pork shoulder - 2 lbs.
Hoisin sauce - 1/2 cup
Soy sauce - 1/4 cup
Honey - 1/4 cup
Chinese five-spice powder - 1 tbsp.
Rice wine vinegar - 2 tbsp.
Garlic cloves - 2 - minced
Ginger - 1-inch piece - peeled and grated
Salt - 1/4 tsp
Black pepper - 1/4 tsp
Vegetable oil - 1 tbsp.

Preparation

Step 1 - 🍯🧄🐖

Combine hoisin sauce, soy sauce, honey, Chinese five-spice powder, rice wine vinegar, garlic, and ginger in a bowl. Stir well to create the marinade mixture.
Step 2 - 🥡🐖❄️

Cut the pork shoulder into 1-inch thick slices. Place the pork slices into a large ziplock bag and pour the marinade over them. Seal the bag, making sure all meat is coated with the marinade mixture. Place in the refrigerator to marinate for at least 6 hours or overnight.
Step 3 - 🥘🐖💨

Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a pan or baking tray with aluminum foil. Remove pork from the bag and arrange on the prepared tray. Reserve leftover marinade. Bake pork for 30 minutes and flip. Brush them with the leftover marinade and bake for an additional 30 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 145°F (63°C).
Step 4 - ⏰🐖🍽️

Let pork rest for 5-10 minutes. Thinly slice pork, arrange onto a serving plate, and brush the remaining marinade over the top.
Step 5 - 🌿🍚🥦

Garnish with sliced green onions or sesame seeds. Serve alongside steamed rice and stir-fried vegetables.

Additional

Traditionally, char siu pork is cooked over a charcoal fire which imparts a smoky flavor to the meat. To get a similar result, you can cook the pork on a grill or smoker instead of baking it. Leftover pork can be used to make char siu bao, a type of steamed bun filled with the delicious pork and served as dim sum.