# My Top Comfort Food: Char Siu with Airy Rice
My top comfort food is a dish of airy rice, drizzled with sweet soy sauce alongside shimmering glossy pieces of Chinese BBQ pork, commonly referred to as char siu. It’s one of our favored dinners for Mike and me because it’s incredibly simple. We typically visit our preferred Chinese BBQ spot and grab a pound of char siu together with some roast duck. However, occasionally we find ourselves in locations lacking an excellent Chinese BBQ chef, leading us to take control ourselves. Fortunately, unless you’re attempting to prepare a whole crispy roast pork or a number of ducks, a home oven is sufficient to create some fantastic Chinese BBQ.
## What is Chinese BBQ Pork?
Char siu directly translates to “fork roasted,” accurately depicting this dish. Traditionally, pork—usually pork butt or shoulder—is soaked in a sweet and savory BBQ sauce and then roasted. The outcome is a dish that is sweet, salty, and intricate, attributed to the addition of five spice. Char siu is succulent, sticky, and goes perfectly with a bowl of fluffy white rice.
## How to Prepare Char Siu at Home
### Ingredients
– 2 tbsp honey
– 2 tbsp hoisin sauce
– 1 tbsp soy sauce
– 2 tsp Shaoxing wine (optional)
– 2 cloves garlic (lightly smashed)
– 1 inch ginger (sliced)
– 1/2 tsp five spice (optional)
– 1/4 tsp white pepper (optional)
– 2 tbsp honey (for glaze)
– 1 lb pork butt/shoulder (cut into strips)
### Instructions
1. **Slice Your Pork**: Slice the pork into elongated strips at least 3 inches wide.
2. **Marinate**: Combine honey, hoisin, soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, garlic, ginger, five spice, and white pepper. Rub it over the pork and allow it to marinate overnight (or for a minimum of an hour) in the refrigerator.
3. **Roast**: Position the pork on a wire rack in a low oven and let it cook until juicy and thoroughly done.
4. **Prepare a Glaze**: Bring the extra marinade and a touch of honey to a boil to form a glaze.
5. **Brush**: Generously apply the glaze to the pork and give it a burst of heat to char it. Slice and enjoy!
## What Type of Pork for Char Siu?
You can use different cuts of pork for char siu, including:
– **Pork Butt**: For a rich, indulgent char siu.
– **Pork Tenderloin**: For a tender, lower-calorie choice.
– **Pork Loin**: For a leaner, more economical option.
– **Pork Collar (Neck)**: For the finest char siu experience, though it’s less common.
## Crucial Ingredients for Char Siu
1. **Hoisin Sauce**: A thick, sweet brown sauce indispensable for Chinese BBQ dishes.
2. **Shaoxing Wine**: A rice wine that enriches the flavor (optional but advisable).
3. **Five Spice**: Contributes savory notes to the dish.
4. **White Pepper**: Provides a gentle, floral pepperiness.
## Why Should You Try This?
Char siu is a low-effort, high-reward dish that is absolutely tasty. The sticky sweet glaze is so delightful that you’ll want to put it on everything. If you’re craving Chinese takeout, this is the dish for you.
## What Can I Pair It With?
Char siu can be enjoyed with:
– Fluffy white rice
– In buns
– With noodles
– In fried rice
This dish is adaptable and can accompany many sides, making it a fantastic addition to your dinner selections. Enjoy!