BEST Char Siu Sauce
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Whip up a batch of this delicious and versatile sauce in less than 10 minutes and then use it on your pork, chicken, seafood, rice, noodles, in your stir-fries, and more! This Char Siu Sauce recipe is easy to make and the flavors are bold and vibrant and will make your taste buds sing!
What is Char Siu Sauce?
Char siu refers to the famous Cantonese preparation of roasted pork. Translated as “fork roasted”, pork is slathered with the classic sauce and then roasted in the oven or over a fire. It’s popular throughout China, Southwest Asia and Japan.
The crowning feature of char siu pork is its barbecue sauce. Sticky, sweet and salty with deep umami undertones, its flavors are bold and vibrant. By making it yourself you not only leave out all the junk ingredients that come packed in the store-bought sauce, you also get a vastly superior tasting product – all in less than 10 minutes!
I’m featuring this homemade char siu sauce as a standalone recipe because of its versatility – it is SO delicious! Besides using it to make the classic barbecued char siu pork there are many more ways to use this incredibly delicious sauce!
How to Use Char Siu Sauce
This sauce can be used in a variety of delicious ways. Here are a few ideas:
- As a marinade or glaze for barbecued pork (most commonly belly, loin, shoulder or ribs)
- As a marinade or glaze for barbecued chicken and seafood
- Brushed on grilled veggies
- Added to ramen soups
- As a filling in Chinese steamed buns
- Added to stir-fries
- Drizzled over rice or dumplings
- As a dipping sauce
Char Siu Sauce Recipe
This sauce is easy to make, you just need to gather up the ingredients. Each ingredient is important to achieving the best overall flavor so don’t be tempted to omit any of them. While you can absolutely use store-bought, for the very best flavor we highly recommend making our homemade Hoisin Sauce and Chinese Five Spice, two of the ingredients you’ll need for making this sauce.
Let’s get started!
Simply combine the ingredients in a small saucepan.
Bring the sauce to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
Turn off the heat and let the sauce cool completely.
Store the sauce in the refrigerator where it will keep for at least 2 weeks.
Enjoy!
For more delicious homemade Asian condiments be sure to try my:
- Teriyaki Sauce
- Sweet and Sour Sauce
- Black Bean Sauce
- Hoisin Sauce
- Sweet Chili Sauce
- Ponzu Sauce
- Yum Yum Sauce
- Kecap Manis
- Plum Sauce
- Chili Oil
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BEST Char Siu Sauce
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup hoisin sauce
- homemade hoisin sauce (HIGHLY recommended for best flavor!)
- 1/3 cup soy sauce or tamari
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons Chinese rice wine
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce (optional)
- 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
- 2 teaspoons Chinese five spice
- homemade Chinese five spice (HIGHLY recommended for best flavor!)
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- a few drop of natural red food coloring (optional for traditional red color)
Instructions
- Place all of the ingredients in a small saucepan except for the food coloring (if using). Bring it a boil then reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and let it cool completely.Store in the refrigerator where the sauce will keep for at least 2 weeks. Makes about 1 1/2 cups.
Nutrition
Hi, I’m Kimberly Killebrew and welcome to Daring Gourmet where you'll find delicious originals, revitalized classics, and simply downright good eats from around the world! Originally from Germany, later raised in England, world-traveled, and now living in the U.S., from my globally-influenced kitchen I invite you to tour the world through your taste buds!
It’s a keeper!
made on saturday chicken stir fry ,great taste family loved it >Easy to make
Wonderful, thank you so much, Alun!
Thank you for another great recipe.
You’re very welcome, Linda! :)
When is the proper time to add the red food coloring?
Hi Julian, just stir it in at the very end.
Could this be used on the small cut ribs. I usually do sweet & sour, but this looks good.
It sure can, Christine!
So delicious and tasty! Added so much flavor to our stir fry! I will definitely be making this sauce again!
Thank you, Beth, I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Your website is very useful. It has all the necessary information related to cooking. I liked your recipe very much. Congratulations
This is so good!! Thanks for this easy-to-follow recipe!
Thank you, Sandra, I’m glad you enjoyed it!
We LOVED the bold flavors in this sauce!
So glad you enjoyed it, Cathy, thank you!
I love trying new sauces. This one sounds so good!
Love that bold flavor! So tasty and versatile, had it on some chicken and it was so delicious
For a long time, I learn Asia food, and the main importance of the food art of Asia food is the sauce. Sometimes sauce decides the success of a dish. Char Siu sauce is a very special sauce that I try to do. I can’t find any materials instead of Chinese five spices. It makes the sauce depth taste. When I can’t buy these spices, I have to combine from separate ingredients like star anise and cinnamons.
YUM!!! This Char Siu Sauce looks absolutely delicious! Yummy!
Loved how quickly this came together and added the perfect amount of flavor to our chicken dinner last night! Loved it!
I’m so glad it was a hit, Sara, thank you!
we love char siu! so excited to have a great recipe to have at home!