Cantonese Cha Siu BBQ Pork Preparation Guide

Generated: 2026-06-13 · API: Gemini 2.5 Flash · Modes: Summary


Cantonese Cha Siu BBQ Pork Preparation Guide

Clip title: Cha Siu 叉燒 Cantonese BBQ Pork 😋 Oven Roasted + No Artificial Food Coloring! Author / channel: Sikfan Kitchen URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SW12Wg2Pvhw

Summary

The video provides a comprehensive guide for preparing authentic Cantonese BBQ Pork, known as Cha Siu, a beloved sweet and savory roasted meat dish in Cantonese cuisine. It covers the entire process from selecting the right cut of pork and preparing the marinade to the precise roasting and glazing techniques. The aim is to achieve juicy, tender pork with a beautiful vibrant red exterior and a perfectly charred finish, commonly served with rice, noodles, or in steamed buns.

The initial steps involve selecting the pork. The video recommends using 3 lbs (1.3 kg) of pork shoulder, also known as pork butt, due to its excellent balance of lean meat and fat, which is crucial for Cha Siu’s texture. Other suitable cuts like pork belly, collar, or loin are also mentioned. The pork is cut into strips and tenderized by poking holes, which aids in absorbing the rich marinade. The marinade itself is a complex blend of hoisin sauce, brown sugar, soy sauce, oyster sauce, Chinese rose wine, garlic powder, onion powder, baking soda (to further tenderize the meat), and importantly, red fermented bean curd. This fermented bean curd is highlighted as the key ingredient for achieving the dish’s distinctive vibrant red color without artificial food coloring, while also contributing a salty, creamy flavor. After thoroughly massaging the marinade into the pork, it is sealed using a DIY water displacement vacuum method and refrigerated overnight, or for at least 12 hours, to allow flavors to fully develop.

For roasting, the marinated pork is first brought to room temperature for an hour. A baking tray is prepared with foil and a wired rack, with a thin layer of water added underneath to prevent drippings from burning. The roasting schedule is meticulously outlined: an initial bake at 415°F (212°C) for 20 minutes, followed by basting with reserved marinade. The pork is then baked again for another 20 minutes before being glazed. The glaze, made from maltose (softened in the microwave), hot water, and white sugar, adds a delightful shiny finish and extra sweetness. Finally, the pork is broiled for 10 minutes, flipping halfway and glazing again, with a strong emphasis on constant monitoring to prevent burning.

Upon completion, the Cha Siu is allowed to rest for 20 minutes before slicing to ensure the juices re-absorb into the meat, yielding maximum tenderness. The video concludes by showcasing the finished product: perfectly cooked Cha Siu with a glistening, caramelized crust and succulent interior. It is presented as a delicious meal, typically enjoyed with white rice, a fried egg, and choy sum, embodying the true spirit of “Sik fan!” (Let’s Eat!). This recipe provides a detailed roadmap for anyone looking to recreate this iconic Cantonese dish at home.

Description

Cha Siu 叉燒 is a Cantonese styled bbq pork marinated in a sweet & savory sauce. Now that it’s Chinese New Year, cha siu is the perfect dish to make for the celebration! It’s roasted until it becomes tender and caramelized with delicious charred edges. The charred end pieces are always the best 😉 They’re also known for their vibrant red color. Instead of using artificial food coloring, I’ve used fermented red bean curd in this recipe. I hope you enjoy the video! If you’ve tried this recipe, please drop me a comment. I would love to hear from you! 😊💕

🛒 Ingredients: 🥩 Protein: • 3lbs (1.36kg) of pork shoulder aka pork butt - https://www.sayweee.com/en/product/Sakura-Pork-Shoulder-Butt-Frozen-1/94365?trace_id=0256c818-800d-44bf-908d-d0062b848fb6&referral_id=14510515

😋Marinade: • Hoisin sauce - 4 tbsp (80g) - https://amzn.to/4qq1u7k • Brown sugar - 1/2 cup (100g) - https://amzn.to/4nzi7uF • Soy sauce - 2 tbsp (30g) - https://amzn.to/3JoEg0t • Fermented Red Bean Curd - 1 cube (20g) and 3 tbsp of the liquid (20g) I couldn’t find a link to the one that I’ve used but this one is good too - https://amzn.to/4qgFyvj • Oyster sauce - 1 tbsp (18g) - https://www.sayweee.com/en/product/Lee-Kum-Kee-Premium-Oyster-Sauce/97790?trace_id=eb79d447-b58b-4203-ab8b-73aeab6e33d8&referral_id=14510515 • Chinese rose wine - 1 tbsp (15g) • Garlic powder - 1 tbsp (8g) - https://amzn.to/3J9kg1S • Onion powder - 1 tbsp (8g) - https://amzn.to/42SQ55D • Baking soda - 1 tsp (5g) - https://amzn.to/4ozm43o • Five spice powder - 1 tsp (2g) - https://amzn.to/4nXITxx

⭐️ Or for shortcut marinade - Lee Kum Kee’s Char Siu Sauce - https://www.sayweee.com/en/product/Lee-Kum-Kee-Char-Siu-Chinese-Barbecue-Sauce/9067?trace_id=7a779d37-8c6d-4a60-8a8a-8454b8563283&referral_id=14510515

✨ Glaze: • Maltose - 2 tbsp (40g) https://amzn.to/4fSaThG • Boiling hot water - 1 tbsp (15g) • White sugar - 1/2 tbsp (6g)

🛒 💰 Sign up for Weee! (Largest Online Asian Supermarket) and get $20 off your next 2 purchases with my referral link: https://www.sayweee.com/en/account/referral/landing?t=1&referral_id=14510515&lang=en&utm_source=copyLink

❤️ Equipment: • Kuccoon Meat Tenderizer Tool - https://amzn.to/3UH0ZHz • Silicone Basting Pastry Brush - https://amzn.to/4eKtR8Q • Ziploc Gallon Food Storage Bags - https://amzn.to/4g2DTn6

🔥 more recipes:

chasiu cantonesebbqpork charsiu chasiew 叉燒 chinesebbqpork cantoneserecipes cantonesebbqmeats bbqpork cantonesefood roastpork charsiew porkshoulder chinesenewyearrecipe

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Tags

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