Porky Pig

Posted by The Editorial Desk / Tuesday, May 31st, 2011

Just because Memorial Day is over doesn’t mean the barbequing has to stop. But instead of the normal American barbeque, why not try a different type? “Char Siu,” which directly translates to “fork roast,” is the term for Chinese barbeque pork. It’s also pretty likely that you’ve seen it before since it’s the aromatic slabs of meat that hang in the windows of Chinese restaurants. Most of the time, these restaurants will also have “Siu Ngaap,” or roasted duck, and “Siu Yuk,” or roasted pig along with the Char Siu.

So how is Char Siu made? It’s a somewhat time consuming process that involves pork butt, various sauces, and a long period of time to marinate. I’ve never had the time or cooking skill to try it myself, but here is a recipe for those of you who are adventurous enough to try. I’ve also seen premade powered packets of marinade at international grocery stores, such as H Mart or Great Wall Supermarket, for those who don’t feel like buying all the ingredients.

For those who are interested in finding out where to buy it already made, here are a few of my favorite places:

Miu Kee
6653 Arlington Blvd.
Falls Church, VA 22042
703-237-8884

Vinh Kee Restaurant
3103 Graham Rd
Falls Church, VA 22042
(703) 645-0118

Mark’s Duck House
6184 Arlington Blvd
Falls Church, VA 22044
(703) 532-2125

If you’re eating at the restaurant, then there will be an option on the menu to order. However, if you plan on buying it to take home, just let the butcher know how many pounds you would like to purchase, then they’ll chop it up and pack it up for you. I would definitely recommend going a bit earlier in the day since some restaurants have the tendency to run out.

The thing I love about Char Siu is how simple it is to make a meal out of it. You can eat it with rice and soy sauce, or with rice vermicelli noodles and fish sauce, you could even use it to make a sandwich.

Another popular way to eat Char Siu is the “Cha Siu Bao.” This is a bread bun that is either steamed (has a white exterior) or baked (has a brown or tan exterior) with Char Siu as the filling. Fortune (6249 Arlington Boulevard, Falls Church, VA 22044; 703-538-3333;) offers both types for Dim Sum.

(Image: Kai Wong/Shutterstock)
- Mai Nguyen

Tags: barbeque, Chinese, Gut Check, Mai Nguyen, pig, pork, roast