Char Siu sauce smells so good with Chinese five spice powder and honey, and the marinated meat just makes you salivate instantly when you get a hint of this holiday-like, juicy, fragrant, sweet, but spice aroma. It’s seductive. Deep in flavor. This char siu sauce recipe will make people whisper…what is that? In a very good way. They all want some.
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There’s a reason this style of marinade has lasted throughout history. It’s the only perfect marriage I know. One of sweet and spice, and it’s festive, but like festive year-round, whenever you want it.
What is char siu sauce?
It’s so very simple to make char siu sauce, and can go on any meats from pork to Char Siu chicken. It is especially delish for making Char Siu pork in the oven.
I love the umami blend of spices…and the sticky honey that envelopes and glues it all in. I go heavy with the Chinese Five Spice powder (CINAMMON, FENNEL SEEDS, STAR ANISE, CLOVES, and SICHUAN PEPPERCORNS) that symbolizes earth, wood, water, metal, fire to create this dish and make it absolute…fire (fiyah!).
People think you may have labored for hours and went overboard to make such tongue-hugging flavors and tender meat, but man, it’s easy. It can all be done in the oven too.
Better yet, the marinade is tasty for days and the meat can be easily served cold, thin sliced, and it is like a delicious bahn mi sandwich waiting to happen or just eating plain is so good. It is truly a marinade that makes the meat stand alone as the star.
Ingredients
- Shaoxing Wine – I saw this even at the regular grocery so this is becoming more popular to find. Otherwise, it’s easy to find at an Asian market.
- Hoisin Sauce – I use a gluten free no msg version and it works great
- Oyster Sauce – I use a gluten free no msg version and it works great
- Low Sodium Soy Sauce – You can use any kind you like of regular soy sauce or gluten free
- Golden Brown Sugar – makes the caramelizing set in
- Chinese Five Spice Powder – This is the flavor boost. This spice combo is mandatory.
- Honey – makes the caramelizing and sweet sticky glazing
- Fresh Garlic or Powder – Powder is easier than mincing garlic and blends into the marinade well. A nice time saver if you need it. Either work great.
- Coarse Salt – Sticks well and imparts a lot of savory notes to the glaze
Equipment
- Large Mixing Bowl
- Whisk
- Measuring Spoons and Cups
Instructions
- Gather Ingredients: Collect Shaoxing Wine, Hoisin Sauce, Oyster Sauce, Low Sodium Soy Sauce, Golden Brown Sugar, Chinese Five Spice Powder, Honey, Fresh Garlic or Garlic Powder, and Coarse Salt.
- Prepare Marinade Mixture: In a large mixing bowl, combine 1/4 cup Shaoxing Wine, 1/4 cup Hoisin Sauce, 2 tablespoons Oyster Sauce, 2 tablespoons Low Sodium Soy Sauce, 1/4 cup Golden Brown Sugar, 1 tablespoon Chinese Five Spice Powder, 1/4 cup Honey, 1 tablespoon Fresh Garlic or Garlic Powder, and 1 teaspoon Coarse Salt.
- Mix Thoroughly: Use a whisk to gently and thoroughly mix the ingredients until the brown sugar is completely dissolved and the mixture is well blended.
- Marinate the Meat: Use the marinade immediately for pork or chicken, or cover and refrigerate for later use. Marinate the meat for at least 2 hours, or preferably overnight, for the flavors to infuse.
- Cooking Suggestions: For the best results, use the marinade to prepare delicious Char Siu dishes in the oven, following your favorite recipe. Enjoy the flavorful and tender meat in traditional or creative culinary creations.
Do I Need to Add Food Coloring?
Authentic Char Siu is Cantonese Style roast meat with a sticky and sweet sauce. It is red or pinkish and has a gorgeous sweet and salty balanced union.
The char siu sauce recipe here is close with exception of the red food coloring agent or fermented red bean curd, and no molasses.
This is something, that if you have read about me and more recipes I have written here, I try to eliminate any options that may deter any of you from moving forward with the recipe.
I know that red fermented bean curd is not going to be easy to find for some folks in certain areas. Therefore, I prefer to not use food coloring besides in certain colorful desserts, or unless I want to go a step further when I have a gathering of people I am serving.
The additive of food coloring, when just not necessary and has no effect on taste, is something I omit.
I also will say this Char Siu marinade recipe is still spectacular if you cannot access oyster sauce or hoisin sauce. My neighbor has a seafood allergy, so I once eliminated the oyster sauce and it was still a wonderful marinade.
When I do use these ingredients, I find and use the “no msg” options.
Excluding food coloring additives will change the look from the traditional red to a deep brown, and instead of molasses I include honey and brown sugar. The taste is still absolutely exceptional.
Dishes that Pair Perfectly with Char Siu Marinade
Char Siu Pork
Marinate pork in the rich and flavorful Char Siu sauce, then roast it to perfection in the oven. The result is tender, juicy, and bursting with the irresistible blend of sweet and savory flavors.
Char Siu Chicken Skewers
Transform ordinary chicken into an extraordinary dish by marinating it with the fragrant Char Siu sauce recipe. Whether grilled, BBQ roasted, or stir-fried, the marinade adds a touch of culinary magic to each bite.
Char Siu Bao (Barbecue Pork Buns)
Elevate homemade bao buns by filling them with succulent Char Siu pork. The harmonious balance of savory and sweet notes in the marinade creates a delightful filling that’s sure to tantalize the taste buds.
Char Siu Fried Rice
Add a burst of authentic Chinese flavor to fried rice by incorporating diced Char Siu pork marinated in the signature sauce. Each grain of rice becomes infused with the delectable essence of this time-honored marinade.
Char Siu Noodles
Whether served in soup or stir-fried, char siu noodles provide a delightful canvas for showcasing the enticing flavors of the marinade. The tender char siu meat complements the noodles beautifully, creating a satisfying and flavorful dish.
Char Siu Ramen
Enhance a comforting bowl of ramen by incorporating tender slices of Char Siu pork. The indulgent, complex flavors of the marinade elevate the entire dish, offering a truly memorable dining experience.
Special Occasions go Perfect with this Sauce
For Lunar New Year, I’ll be making this for my family for Oven Roasted Char Siu Pork, and yes, my kids love this dish which is even better.
This marinade is a beautiful choice for any special dinner night or celebrations and holidays.
Being half-Filipino, I have some percentage of Chinese and I love creating traditions, expanding my cultural horizons and education, and introducing wide flavors to my family. Lunar New Year has not always been something I have celebrated, though it is now, and this meat-loving marinade Char Siu sauce recipe is an easy choice for me to keep the cultural broadening alive within my home and passing the love to my kids.
I hope you give this Char Siu marinade recipe a try, and step into making the Char Siu Pork and let yourself and others taste and make new memories.
Questions
Can I prep this beforehand?
Yes, you can make the sauce, and make double the recipe for later. However, do not keep the sauce in the refrigerator for more than a few days or it will loose the potency. The five sprice powder and garlic all taste the most fresh, when the sauce is made at the time you will marinate the meat.
Is this gluten free?
This is not gluten free, however, the ingredients listed are available in gluten free versions!
Char Siu Marinade
Equipment
- 1 glass bowl to mix
- whisk
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup honey
- 4 tbsp golden brown sugar
- 3 tbsp Chinese Five Spice Powder
- 3 tbsp Shaoxing wine
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp garlic powder or fresh garlic minced
- 1 tbsp oyster sauce
- 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
- 1/2 tbsp sea salt
Instructions
- take all dry ingredients and whisk to mix in bowl4 tbsp golden brown sugar, 3 tbsp Chinese Five Spice Powder, 1 tbsp garlic powder, 1/2 tbsp sea salt
- take all wet ingredients and whisk to mix well and incorporate the dry ingredients in3 tbsp Shaoxing wine, 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp oyster sauce, 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
- add honey last and mix slowly with spoon1/2 cup honey
- use to massage and then marinate the meat overnight for at least 10 hours
- save the remaining marinade to repeatedly baste and coat meat, adding a little more honey towards end for the final basting to create sticky sweet caramelization on the meat
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