
Char siu rooster is a dish primarily based on the favored char siu pork, or Cantonese barbecued pork. I beforehand shared a char siu pork recipe made within the oven and an air fryer model. Right now I need to introduce this rooster model, which provides a lighter and equally delectable different.

Char siu sauce with a secret ingredient
On this recipe, I need to introduce a brand new char siu sauce.
Purple fermented tofu
This recipe makes use of purple fermented tofu, or furu, or Jiang Dou Fu (酱豆腐) in Chinese language. Furu is a conventional fermented ingredient made by getting old the tofu cubes in a brine of rice wine, salt, and infrequently flavorings equivalent to chili, sesame oil, and spices. The purple kind is made with purple rice yeast, giving it a purple coloration and barely candy taste. Furu is a little bit like cheese in a method. It’s stuffed with umami, tastes salty and a little bit funky, and a little bit little bit of it goes a great distance.
Furu is a secret ingredient utilized in many Cantonese barbecue retailers to create a greater tasting char siu sauce. It additionally offers the sauce a pure darkish purple coloration, because of the purple rice yeast.

Different elements within the sauce
- Shaoxing wine: An necessary ingredient so as to add umami and a fancy taste.
- Hoisin sauce: A key ingredient that provides fruitiness and sweetness.
- Oyster sauce: One other ingredient that provides umami and sweetness.
- Sugar
- Honey: Paired with sugar, it additionally makes the glaze shiny and barely thicker.
- Ginger: Recent ginger provides aroma to the sauce.
- Garlic: Much like ginger, provides aroma and depth to the sauce.
- 5 spice powder: Provides a heat tone to the sauce.
Do I want maltose?
Maltose is often a default ingredient in char siu pork. It’s a very thick syrup that turns into stable when chilled, and retains its very thick consistency at excessive warmth. It’s utilized in char siu pork to ensure that the glaze correctly coats the sleek floor of the pork when roasting. I skipped this particular ingredient on this recipe, as a result of the glaze stays on the rooster pores and skin fairly properly even with out it. That being mentioned, be happy to make use of maltose to switch honey, which is able to make for a stickier glaze. On this case, you can too glaze either side of the rooster as a substitute of simply the highest aspect. A maltose sauce can even stick higher in the event you plan to make use of a skinless reduce of rooster.
Which reduce of rooster to make use of
I favor to make use of bone-in skin-on thighs for this recipe. The glaze holds onto the rooster pores and skin so a lot better than it does to rooster meat, creating an excellent texture and style. Hen thighs are additionally much less vulnerable to getting overcooked, making it simpler to complete up the roasting course of by glazing underneath the broiler.
That mentioned, you possibly can completely use bone-in skin-on rooster breast. Like I discussed above, boneless skinless items ought to work, too, in the event you use maltose to switch the honey on this recipe.
Learn how to make char siu rooster
- Marinate the rooster items in the identical combination that might be used for the glazing later.

- Roast the rooster at 375°F (190°C) for half-hour.

- Activate the broiler. Glaze the rooster by brushing it with reserved sauce, then roast it till the glaze is charred barely, Repeat one to 2 occasions.

As soon as accomplished, the rooster needs to be totally cooked by, and the pores and skin sticky and shiny. The meat is tender and juicy, with nice taste.

Serving Recommendations
Char siu rooster pairs splendidly with steamed white rice and steamed or sautéed greens like Chinese language broccoli, choy sum or bok choy. It’s additionally versatile sufficient for use in fried noodles, wonton soup, fried rice, or as a filling for sandwiches and buns. Leftovers may be refrigerated for as much as 4 days and reheated gently to keep up moisture.

Different traditional Cantonese recipes
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This char siu rooster is moist and tender, with shiny sticky pores and skin, flavorful meat, and a char siu glaze full of umami. Be taught to make use of this one secret ingredient to make the most effective tasting char siu sauce that’s naturally purple with out meals coloring. {Gluten-Free Adaptable}
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Roasting
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When the rooster is marinated and the glaze is chilled, you’re able to prepare dinner.
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Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a big baking tray with aluminum foil. Place the rooster onto the tray with out overlapping. Bake for half-hour.
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Activate the broiler. Baste the highest aspect of the rooster. Broil for two to three minutes. Baste once more. Broil for an additional 2 to three minutes. The rooster ought to look shiny, calmly charred, and cooked by. You may check the doneness by inserting a thermometer into the thickest a part of the rooster. It ought to learn 165°F (74°C).
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As soon as accomplished, cowl loosely with aluminum foil. Let relaxation for 10 minutes earlier than serving. Serve the rooster sizzling over rice as a principal dish.
Ingredient Substitution Information
- Hen pores and skin is necessary on this recipe as a result of it holds the glaze higher and creates an excellent texture as soon as baked. I like to make use of thighs, as a result of they arrive out juicy and are much less more likely to dry out. The subsequent finest different is bone-in rooster on rooster breast. In case you favor utilizing skinless items, think about using maltose as a substitute of honey, so the sauce holds onto the meat higher. If utilizing skinless items, the opposite choice is: Reserve 1/2 cup sauce; gently simmer the sauce (to prepare dinner off the uncooked garlic style) for two to three minutes; then serve the rooster with the reserved sauce.
- Fermented tofu is the key ingredient on this recipe, making a sauce with extra umami and giving the char siu a pure purple coloration with out meals coloring. In case you would not have this ingredient, you need to use the options as a substitute (soy sauce + salt + purple meals coloring). That can make a fairly tasty char siu sauce as properly.
- To make it Gluten-Free: substitute Shaoxing wine with dry sherry. Remember to use a gluten-free oyster sauce.
Serving: 1serving, Energy: 283kcal, Carbohydrates: 12.8g, Protein: 23.6g, Fats: 14.9g, Saturated Fats: 4.2g, Ldl cholesterol: 84mg, Sodium: 229mg, Potassium: 196mg, Fiber: 0.3g, Sugar: 9.5g, Calcium: 17mg, Iron: 2mg