Description
Tender Char Siu Chicken is a classic Chinese dish featuring succulent, flavorful chicken thighs marinated in a sweet and savory sauce, then roasted to perfection. This recipe captures the essence of traditional char siu flavor with a homemade touch.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Marinade:
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 3 tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons Chinese rice wine or dry sherry
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder
- Red food coloring (optional, for traditional look)
Instructions
- Main Marinade: In a bowl, whisk together hoisin sauce, honey, soy sauce, rice wine, oyster sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, five-spice powder, and a few drops of red food coloring if desired. Reserve 1/4 cup of the marinade for basting.
- Marinating: Place chicken thighs in a resealable bag or shallow dish, pour over the remaining marinade, and coat well. Marinate for at least 4 hours or overnight in the refrigerator.
- Roasting: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with foil and place a rack on top. Arrange chicken on the rack, skin-side up if applicable. Roast for 20 minutes, baste with reserved marinade, then roast for an additional 10–15 minutes, until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) and is slightly caramelized.
- Finishing Touch: For extra char, broil for 2–3 minutes at the end.
Notes
- This dish pairs perfectly with steamed rice and stir-fried vegetables.
- You can also grill the chicken over medium heat for a smoky flavor.
- Leftovers are great in fried rice or noodle dishes.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 recipe
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 16 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 19 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 105 mg
