Air Fryer Char Siu Pork

Name: Air Fryer Char Siu Pork
Prep time: 4 min
Cook time: 130 min
Total time: 134 min
Ingredients: 3 lbs Pork shoulder; 2 tbsp Brown sugar; 2 tbsp Honey; 1 tsp Red food dye; 2 tbsp Hoisin sauce; 2 tbsp Light soy sauce; 2 tbsp Dark soy sauce; 1 tbsp Fish sauce; 2 tbsp Wine vinegar

Jump to Recipe

Last Saturday we were celebrating my sons birthday and I decided to throw it down Chinese takeaway style! One of the dishes was an Air Fryer Char Siu Pork.

The result was succulent slices of pork marinated in a sweet and savory mixture, with crispy edges that everyone loved! We served it with fried rice and Peking style chicken drumsticks jasmine rice and some stir-fried veggies. It was a hit

The pork is marinated for 24 hours in a mixture of brown sugar, honey, red food dye, hoisin sauce, light soy sauce dark soy sauce, fish sauce and Shaoxing Wine to create a flavorful and tender piece of meat.

Next time you’re craving a classic chinese dish, try making Char Siu Pork in your air fryer instead of ordering takeaway. You won’t be disappointed!

Ingredients

2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon red food dye
2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
2 tablespoon light soy sauce
2 tablespoon dark soy sauce
1 tablespoon fish sauce
2 tablespoons wine vinegar

Instructions

Remove any skin and fat from the pork and place into a mixing bowl.

Add the brown sugar, honey, red food dye, hoisin sauce, light soy sauce dark soy sauce, fish sauce and wine vinegar to the mixing bowl. Mix these ingredients together until they form a paste.

Once all of the ingredients are combined evenly, spread them onto both sides of the pork so that it is fully coated in the marinade. Place into a glass dish or plastic bag and cover with cling film. Refrigerate overnight for best results.

The next day remove the pork from the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for about 40 minutes before air frying. Preheat your air fryer to 300 degrees then place in your char siu pork.

Do not discard the marinade place it into a saucepan and heat until bubbling then reduce to a simmer. After 40 minutes coat the pork in the sauce and cook for an additional 40 minutes

Coat again and cook for 10 minutes.

Once cooked, remove from the air fryer and let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Enjoy your delicious Char Siu Pork!

Recipe Tips

Be sure to marinate the pork for 24 hours for best flavor.
If you prefer a sweeter taste, increase the amount of brown sugar or honey.
The red food dye gives char siu pork its signature color but can be omitted if desired.
Use a thermometer to make sure that your pork is cooked through before serving.
Serve with rice and vegetables for a complete meal.
If desired, you can brush a little extra sauce onto the pork before serving.
Using a thermometer will ensure that the pork is cooked through before serving. Make sure it reads at least 165°F before removing from the air fryer.

Substitutions

Honey can be substituted for maple syrup.
Light soy sauce and dark soy sauce can be combined to make a single portion of regular soy sauce.
Fish sauce can be replaced by Worcestershire or oyster sauces.
Wine vinegar can be substituted with apple cider vinegar or rice wine vinegar.
Red food dye is optional and can be omitted if desired.

FAQs

How can I make my Char Siu Pork extra flavorful?

Adding a few tablespoons of freshly grated ginger or garlic to the marinade will help to amp up the flavor. Also, brushing some extra sauce onto the pork before serving will give it an even richer taste. If you prefer a sweeter taste, increase the amount of brown sugar or honey in the marinade.

Can I substitute any of the ingredients in this recipe?

Yes! Honey can be substituted for maple syrup, light soy sauce and dark soy sauce can be combined to make a single portion of regular soy sauce, fish sauce can be replaced by Worcestershire or oyster sauces, and wine vinegar can be substituted with apple cider vinegar or rice wine vinegar. The red food dye is also optional and can be omitted if desired.

Is there anything else I should know before making Char Siu Pork in my air fryer?

Absolutely! To ensure that your pork is cooked through, make sure it reads at least 165°F before removing from the air fryer. Always keep an eye on it though as times may vary depending on size/shape of the pork.

What kind of dish should I use when making this type of meal in my air fryer?

It is recommended to use an oven-safe dish when cooking Char Siu Pork in an air fryer – this could include ceramic, glass, or metal containers.

Is the red food dye necessary for the Char Siu Pork?

The red food dye is an optional ingredient and can be omitted if desired. It does give the pork its classic red color, but it is not necessary for flavoring.

Can I substitute any of the ingredients in this recipe?

Yes, there are several ingredient substitutions that can be made if needed: honey can be substituted for maple syrup, light soy sauce and dark soy sauce can be combined to make regular soy sauce, fish sauce can be replaced by Worcestershire or oyster sauces.

Is there any way to make the Char Siu Pork extra tender?

To ensure that your pork is cooked through and stays extra tender, marinate it for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight.

How do I know when my Char Siu Pork is done cooking?

To ensure that your pork is cooked through, make sure it reads at least 165°F before removing from the air fryer.

Is there any way to make the Char Siu Pork extra crispy?

Yes! To achieve a crispier texture on your pork, brush some of the marinade onto the outside before and after cooking in your air fryer.