Char Siu Pork Belly
Char Siu Pork Belly
Ingredients
For the Char Siu Pork Belly
- 1 1/2 pounds pork belly, block, cut into 1-inch thick strips
For the Marinade
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons dark caramel
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 teaspoon 5 spice powder
- 2 tablespoons Chinese cooking wine
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 pinch MSG
- 1/2 teaspoon red food coloring, or as needed for desired color
For Serving
- 4 cups steamed rice
Instructions
- 1
Take a block of pork belly and cut it into strips, approximately 1-inch thick. Score the skin side of each pork belly strip with a sharp knife, making shallow cuts about 1/4-inch deep and 1/2-inch apart.
⏱️ 10 min
- 2
In a large bowl, combine the minced garlic, soy sauce, dark caramel, sesame oil, hoisin sauce, oyster sauce, 5 spice powder, Chinese cooking wine, honey, granulated sugar, a pinch of MSG, and red food coloring. Whisk all the marinade ingredients together until they are well combined and smooth.
⏱️ 5 min
- 3
Place the pork belly strips into the prepared marinade, ensuring each piece is thoroughly coated. Use your hands to massage the marinade into the pork. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate the marinated pork belly overnight (for at least 12 hours) to allow the flavors to penetrate deeply.
⏱️ 5 min
- 4
The next day, remove the marinated pork belly from the refrigerator. Place the pork belly strips on a wire rack positioned over a baking sheet. Line the baking sheet with aluminum foil for easier cleanup. Preheat your air fryer to 180°C (350°F).
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 180
- 5
Carefully place the pork belly strips into the air fryer basket, ensuring not to overcrowd it. Cook in the air fryer at 180°C (350°F) for 15 minutes.
⏱️ 15 min•🌡️ 180
- 6
After 15 minutes, carefully open the air fryer. Flip the pork belly strips to the other side. Baste them generously with the remaining marinade from the bowl. Continue cooking in the air fryer at 180°C (350°F) for another 15 minutes.
⏱️ 15 min•🌡️ 180
- 7
Increase the air fryer temperature to 200°C (400°F). Baste the pork belly again with any remaining marinade. Cook for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the pork belly is crispy, beautifully caramelized, and cooked through. The internal temperature should reach 71°C (160°F).
⏱️ 15 min•🌡️ 200
- 8
Once cooked, carefully remove the char siu pork belly from the air fryer and let it rest on a cutting board for a few minutes. This allows the juices to redistribute, ensuring tender meat.
⏱️ 5 min
- 9
Slice the char siu pork belly into desired pieces, about 1/4-inch thick. Serve immediately over hot steamed rice.
⏱️ 5 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Char Siu Pork Belly
For the Char Siu Pork Belly
- 1 1/2 pounds pork belly, block, cut into 1-inch thick strips
For the Marinade
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons dark caramel
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 teaspoon 5 spice powder
- 2 tablespoons Chinese cooking wine
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 pinch MSG
- 1/2 teaspoon red food coloring, or as needed for desired color
For Serving
- 4 cups steamed rice
Instructions
- 1
Take a block of pork belly and cut it into strips, approximately 1-inch thick. Score the skin side of each pork belly strip with a sharp knife, making shallow cuts about 1/4-inch deep and 1/2-inch apart.
⏱️ 10 min - 2
In a large bowl, combine the minced garlic, soy sauce, dark caramel, sesame oil, hoisin sauce, oyster sauce, 5 spice powder, Chinese cooking wine, honey, granulated sugar, a pinch of MSG, and red food coloring. Whisk all the marinade ingredients together until they are well combined and smooth.
⏱️ 5 min - 3
Place the pork belly strips into the prepared marinade, ensuring each piece is thoroughly coated. Use your hands to massage the marinade into the pork. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate the marinated pork belly overnight (for at least 12 hours) to allow the flavors to penetrate deeply.
⏱️ 5 min - 4
The next day, remove the marinated pork belly from the refrigerator. Place the pork belly strips on a wire rack positioned over a baking sheet. Line the baking sheet with aluminum foil for easier cleanup. Preheat your air fryer to 180°C (350°F).
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 180 - 5
Carefully place the pork belly strips into the air fryer basket, ensuring not to overcrowd it. Cook in the air fryer at 180°C (350°F) for 15 minutes.
⏱️ 15 min•🌡️ 180 - 6
After 15 minutes, carefully open the air fryer. Flip the pork belly strips to the other side. Baste them generously with the remaining marinade from the bowl. Continue cooking in the air fryer at 180°C (350°F) for another 15 minutes.
⏱️ 15 min•🌡️ 180 - 7
Increase the air fryer temperature to 200°C (400°F). Baste the pork belly again with any remaining marinade. Cook for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the pork belly is crispy, beautifully caramelized, and cooked through. The internal temperature should reach 71°C (160°F).
⏱️ 15 min•🌡️ 200 - 8
Once cooked, carefully remove the char siu pork belly from the air fryer and let it rest on a cutting board for a few minutes. This allows the juices to redistribute, ensuring tender meat.
⏱️ 5 min - 9
Slice the char siu pork belly into desired pieces, about 1/4-inch thick. Serve immediately over hot steamed rice.
⏱️ 5 min