Chinese Roast Pork Recipe

The Easiest Way to Make This Iconic Chinese Dish That Everybody Loves!

Chinese roast pork recipe (aka Char Siu 叉燒) is a very popular Chinese dish. The traditional cooking method requires a lot of time and patience. Why? It is supposed to roast it by the fire.

Total Time: 1 Hour 22 Minutes - 1 Hour 25 Minutes
Prep Time: 2-5 Minutes  
Inactive Cook Time: 1 Hour 20 Minutes
Serving: 4-6

Believe it or not, Chinese rarely makes this recipe at home. For decades, majority of Chinese households prefer to purchase from the mom-and-pop stores which specialize in cooked Chinese roast pork and roast pork belly. We call these stores as 燒臘店 cured meat stores. They also sell Chinese roast chickens, ducks, braised pork hocks and more. When I first moved to US, it took me some time to figure out how to make it at home instead of driving to the nearest Chinese store, which was an hour of drive away from home then, to buy it.

The first few years was just using bone-in pork chops to cook because it has always been the preferred cut of meat of my husband. But it always felt that something was missing. In my opinion, the meat is too dry and tough for Chinese roast pork. Not until I started to use southern style boneless ribs that I realized, “This is more like it.” Best of all, I have a teenager at home now that appreciates and enjoys it together with me.

This recipe is made for beginners and busy families like many others dishes I shared in EZ-DinnerIdeas.com. So, we are using some store-bought help instead of having all different Chinese seasonings and condiments to make its marinade.

TIPS & TRICKS

Served in Room Temperature

As mentioned earlier, most Chinese prefer to buy Char Siu (Chinese roast pork) from the store instead of making it at home. As a result, Char Siu is always served in room temperature. It mostly relies on the heat from the steamed rice or a bowl of noodles to warm it up.

This piece of info may sound so insignificant. But it is going to affect you how you are going to serve all dishes related to this Chinese roast pork recipe, including those dishes that you are going to make with its leftovers.

Char Siu Sauce

This is the brand that I use a lot not only limited to Char Siu Sauce, but also some other Chinese condiments. (No, this is not my sponsor. I do recommend products that I love with good quality to my followers.)

I use the Char Siu sauce from the jar. This is the brand I highly recommend. Beware that different brand tastes slightly different. You will need to adjust.

Before taking out any sauce for marinating the meat, use a spoon and take a little bit to do a taste test. Imagine how it is going to taste once it is incorporated with the meat. Remember that the flavor will be more intense when it gets on the meat. Adjust the flavor by adding more salt, sugar and/or water when it is time to make the sauce that you are going to glaze the meat with.

I cannot emphasize enough that Char Siu sauce is NOT the same as Hoisin sauce. Some ingredients may be the same in both sauces. But they are different for sure.

Pairing with the Ginger Scallion Dressing

Ginger scallion dressing is always a go-to dipping sauce for many Chinese dishes. This goes very well with this Chinese Roast Pork Recipe, too.

Had you ever sat on the same table with Chinese people and enjoyed Chinese roast pork together with them before? If you had, did you pay attention what else do they pair with other than steamed white rice?

Yes, that's it. The ginger scallion dressing. People like me go crazy with it. The more, the better. It is optional when you serve this Chinese roast pork recipe. Interested? Check out this recipe here to make it your own. 

Make It A Full-Blown Chinese Meal

There are plenty of side dishes and even soup that you can pair this Chinese roast pork recipe with. Here are a few that they would go well together:

• Chinese Vegetables Stir-Fry
• Chinese Corn Egg Drop Soup
• Chinese Pickles
• Perfectly Steamed White Rice
• Simply Sauteed Broccoli

What to do with the Leftovers?

Fried rice is a perfect way to use up all Chinese roast pork leftover.

I highly doubt that there will be leftover from this delicious Chinese roast pork recipe. But things happen. Or, you may add about extra half a pound of meat in the mix to purposefully have some leftovers for the next delicious easy dinner idea.

Of course, Chinese roast pork leftover can make the famous roast pork fried rice. Want to have a change?  You can try Char Siu Lo Mein by signing up my monthly newsletter to get this exclusive recipe.

Chinese Roast Pork Recipe and Instructions

Ingredients
3lbs Southern Style Boneless Pork Ribs
1 jar (8.5oz) Chinese Barbecue Sauce (divided)
3 tbsp Water
1 pinch of each of Salt and White Pepper

Instructions

1. In a big mixing bowl, combine 3 tbsp Chinese Barbecue sauce (aka Char Siu Sauce) with the same amount of water with a pinch of salt and white pepper.
2. Add in meat and massage to coat with marinade well. Let the meat sit in the fridge overnight for the best result.
3. Cover a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. (Learn how to line a baking pan with foil)
4. Transfer the pan into the oven and preheat both the oven and the pan at 400F.
5. Single layer the meat on the preheated baking sheet. Allow room in between each piece and roast for 30 minutes (or 15 minutes in convection oven).
6. Turn meat over and roast for another 30 minutes (or 15 minutes in convection oven).
7. While waiting, transfer marinade and the rest of the jar of barbecue sauce into a medium sauce pan. Use the jar as your measuring unit and fill it up with water. Cover the jar with its lid, shake and rinse out all the remaining sauce inside the jar and transfer it into the sauce pan as well.
8. Once the glaze is warmed, adjust the seasoning to your liking.
9. Brush the glaze on top of meat and roast for 10 minutes (or 5 minutes in convection oven)
10. Turn meat over and brush more glaze on the other side of the meat and roast for another 10 minutes (or 5 minutes in convection oven).
11. Let it rest in room temperature for 10 minutes and slice it up. Serve it with steamed white rice along with Chinese ginger scallion dressing (optional).

Chinese Roast Pork Recipe Steps with Photos

The marbling of boneless pork ribs is perfect for this Chinese roast pork recipe.

Marinade looks very little. But a little bit goes a long way.

Marinate the meat and leave it in the fridge overnight.

Single layer meat on a foil lined baking sheet.

It looks like this after 30 minutes in the oven.

Turn meat over and roast for another 30 minutes.

Brush glaze on and roast for the last 10 minutes.

So thankful for the foil to keep you from the heavy duty cleaning after dinner.

Chinese roast pork is ready for cut into slices and enjoy.

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