I always thought Char Sui Pork was intimidating to put together. There are so many flavors, I thought it HAD to be complicated with like 20 ingredients and a long roasting time… But after doing some research, I learned that’s far from the truth!
This easy air fryer Char Sui recipe only takes 20 minutes of cooking time!
Tender succulent Char Sui pork is incredibly easy to put together. The magic is in the marinade, which only includes 7 ingredients! As if things aren’t simple enough, cooking in the air fryer cuts the time from baking in the oven and creates a beautifully caramelized char on the outside!
Are you drooling yet?!
Pro-Tips for the BEST Air Fryer Char Sui
- Ideal Pork Cut to Use: For this easy Char Sui recipe, we’re using pork shoulder. It comes out tender and absolutely delicious! However, you can also swap it out for pork belly. Just remember to remove the skin from the meat so the Char Sui will be completely tender all around!
- Getting Deep Rich Flavors: As I mentioned, the magic is in the marinade! All the pork to soak up all that goodness for AT LEAST 5 hours, ideally overnight. The longer you let it marinate, the deeper the flavors will be!
- Keeping Your Char Sui Juicy: This easy Char Sui recipe will make your house smell AMAZING! The hardest part will be taking it out of the air fryer and waiting 10 minutes before cutting it… BUT YOU HAVE TO WAIT! Allowing it to rest for a few minutes ensures the meat juices remain in the pork and not your cutting board!
- Make the Most Out of Your Marinade: This marinade is sweet, sticky, and PACKED with flavor! You don’t want it to go to waste! Remember to brush your Char Sui with marinade halfway through cooking. Then, you can also simmer the sauce for about 15 minutes with about ¼ of water to create a delicious dipping sauce on the side!
What to Serve with Char Sui Pork
This air fryer char sui is SO good, it pairs so well with steamed rice or veggies! Here are a few quick and easy sides:
Let's Get Cooking!
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Char Siu Pork
Ingredients
CHAR SIU MARINADE:
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 ½ tablespoon hoisin sauce
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons Shaoxing wine
- 2 teaspoons 5 spice seasoning
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon white pepper
- ¼ teaspoon red food coloring optional
INGREDIENTS:
- 2 pounds pork butt or shoulder cut into 3-inch thick logs
- ¼ cup honey for basting
Instructions
- In a large airtight container or Ziplock bag, combine the char siu marinade ingredients - minced garlic, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, honey, Shaoxing wine, 5-spice seasoning, sesame oil, salt, white pepper & red food coloring. Set aside.
- Cut pork into 3-inch wide logs - don’t trim any fat. That’s that good stuff! It’ll help keep the pork juicy and flavorful as the fat renders as it roasts. Add pork to the char siu marinade & marinate overnight (about 8 hours to 12 hours) in the fridge.
Oven Method:
- Preheat oven to 350° F (177° C).
- Line a baking tray with foil for easy clean up, then place baking racks and pork on top - Don’t throw away the marinade! Pour a little water in the baking tray to help prevent smoking, then bake for 30 minutes.
- In the meantime, create the basting sauce. In a small sauce pot, combine the marinade and additional honey. Heat on medium stirring occasionally for 5-10 minutes, or until it turns into a thick, shiny, & sticky glaze. You should be able to make a line on the back of a spoon. Once it’s done, turn off heat and cover until ready to baste.
- Remove pork from oven, baste marinade all over the pork, add more water to the baking tray if needed, then bake for 15 minutes. Baste for a second time, then cook for another 15 minutes. Baste for the third time & bake for another 15 minutes or until pork is cooked through (internal temperature of 145 degrees F). Cooking time may vary slightly depending on the power of your oven, so adjust cooking time as needed so the pork is cooked through & juicy!
- Remove Char Siu Pork from the air fryer and allow to rest for about 10 minutes before cutting into it. Enjoy with hot fresh rice and/or veggies!
Air Fryer:
- Preheat oven to 320° F.
- Place pork air fryer tray, working in batches if needed to prevent overcrowding. Cook for 10 minutes.
- In the meantime, create the basting sauce. In a small sauce pot, combine the marinade and additional honey. Heat on medium stirring occasionally for 5-10 minutes, or until it turns into a thick, shiny, & sticky glaze. You should be able to make a line on the back of a spoon. Once it’s done, turn off heat and cover until ready to baste.
- Brush basting sauce onto pork, then bake for another 5 minutes. Baste for a second time, then cook for another 5 -10 minutes, or until the pork is cooked through (internal temperature of 145 degrees F). Cooking time may vary slightly depending on the power of your air fryer, so adjust cooking time as needed so the pork is cooked through & juicy!
- Remove Char Siu Pork from the air fryer and allow to rest for about 10 minutes before cutting into it. Enjoy with hot fresh rice and/or veggies!
Notes
- Pork: For tender and juicy char siu, go for pork shoulder or butt with nice marbling and fat. Cut the pork with the grain to form long-ish logs and then slice against the grain after roasting.
- Soy Sauce: Regular soy sauce is needed for its saltiness & umami in this recipe.
- Hoisin Sauce: This is sweet. savory, & packed with flavor in one ingredient! Find it at Asian or local grocery stores in the Asian/international aisle.
- Shaoxing Wine: Enhance the marinade's flavors with Shaoxing Wine, found at Asian markets or online.
- 5-Spice Seasoning: Don't skip the 5-Spice Seasoning - it's what gives char siu its signature flavor!
- Red Food Coloring: Traditionally, red bean curd provides that iconic red color, but you can use red food coloring for a similar effect. It's optional, though; your char siu will still taste fantastic without it.
- Key Tips: Get key tips for best results & step-by-step photos in the blog post above!
Nutrition
Exact calculations may vary. For the most accurate nutritional information, use your preferred nutrition calculator, actual ingredients, and quantities used for the recipe. Please consult with your physician or registered dietitian if more precise nutrition calculations are needed for health reasons.
HEY, I'M MIKHA!
...A fellow food lover who believes anyone can whip up a delicious meal - no matter your skill level! These quick & easy Asian recipes will help you transform simple ingredients into a drool-worthy meal for you & the people you love most - without spending all day in the kitchen.
Now come on - Grab a seat & let's eat!
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