Cantonese Char Siu

Char siu is a Cantonese roast meat made by marinating pork in a sweet sauce before roasting. In Bill Leung’s family preparation, pork shoulder is cut into thick strips and seasoned with sugar, salt, five-spice powder, white pepper, sesame oil, wine, soy sauce, hoisin, molasses and garlic. Red food colouring is optional in this recipe.^[1]

Leung recalls pork hanging from hooks in his parents’ restaurant oven. His home version rests the meat on a rack above a pan of water, then coats it during roasting with reserved marinade mixed with maltose or honey. The finished pork has a caramelised surface. It can be served with steamed rice and choy sum, or used in pork buns and fried rice.^[1]