Simple Grilled Char Sui Pork Recipe

Buy a Whole Pork Butt and Cut Into 1-1.5″ Thick Pieces

Boneless is best but if you buy one bone-in, remove the bone OR cut in half to make 2 roasts.

After cutting into 1-1.5″ thick pieces, cut these pieces again into strips.

Other cuts that people use for Char Sui:

• Pork Belly
• Pork Tenderloin

Marinade Ingredients and Steps to Take to Marinate Correctly

The only stuff you’ll likely need to buy are the red bean curd, a 5 spice powder, and red food coloring.

I’d also suggest buying plastic gloves so you don’t stain your hands with red food dye.

This char sui marinade is for 3 lbs of pork shoulder:

• 1 tbsp Diamond Crystal kosher salt
• 1 cup white sugar 
• 1/8 tsp red food coloring
• 1 cube fermented red bean curd
• 2 tbsp Water (or 2 tbsp of Shaoxing wine)
• 1 tsp Chinese 5 spice powder
• 1 tsp garlic powder

Before combining the ingredients:

Add the sugar first, then the red food coloring on top.

Then work the food coloring into the sugar and then into the meat.

Then add the water or shaoxing wine.

Doing this will evenly distribute the food coloring.

Then add the rest of your ingredients.

I’d recommend massaging the ingredients into the meat for at least 5 minutes.

Marinate your sliced pork overnight.

But Dylan, Red Food Coloring is Gross

I’ve tried the “traditional” way using various ingredients and to me it doesn’t taste remotely the same as you’d get in a restaurant.

If you aren’t a fan of food coloring, you can technically omit as it’s quite literally just there for color.

You could opt to add some ground annatto to your water as this spice is tasteless but has a great red color.

The Next Day Before Putting the Meat on the Grill, Make a Glaze

In a bowl, combine:

• 2 tbsp Honey
• 3 drops red food coloring
• 2 tbsp water

Get Your Grill Setup to 300-325F

Don’t exceed this temperature as you’ll burn the meat due to the sugar.

If you’re using a charcoal grill, setup a 2-zone fire.

Once at temperature, put char-sui pork on the grill indirect in the cool zone.

Allow Pork to Grill Indirect for 45 Minutes

Then flip the char sui over.

Then take your glaze and a basting brush and liberally apply your glaze.

Allow the char sui to grill for another 20 minutes.

Then flip and baste again.

Allow to grill for 20 minutes.

Take Off to Rest for 15 and Then Slice

I like this meat over rice.

But it goes good in soup, in bao buns, with noodles, in a wrap, tacos, etc.