Chinese Dry Marinade Recipes

CHAR SIU (CHINESE BBQ PORK)

Steps:

• Cut the pork into long strips or chunks about 2 to 3 inches thick. Don't trim any excess fat, as it will render off and add flavor.
• Combine the sugar, salt, five spice powder, white pepper, sesame oil, wine, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, molasses, food coloring (if using), and garlic in a bowl to make the marinade (i.e. the BBQ sauce).
• Reserve about 2 tablespoons of marinade and set it aside. Rub the pork with the rest of the marinade in a large bowl or baking dish. Cover and refrigerate overnight, or at least 8 hours. Cover and store the reserved marinade in the fridge as well.
• Preheat your oven to 'bake' at 475 F (246 C) with a rack positioned in the upper third of the oven. (If you only have a convection oven, keep in mind the oven not only heats more quickly, your char siu will roast faster than what we have described here). It's amazing how oven temperatures can vary-from model to model, in different spots in the oven, and in how ovens pre-heat and maintain heat. Using an oven thermometer to double-check the actual oven temperature is a great safeguard to monitor your food (I say double-check because even oven thermostat calibrations vary and can sometimes be incorrect). Regardless, be sure to check your char siu every 10 minutes, reducing or increasing the temperature as needed.
• Line a sheet pan with foil and place a metal rack on top. Using the metal rack keeps the pork off of the pan and allows it to roast more evenly, like it does in commercial ovens described above. Place the pork on the rack, leaving as much space as possible between pieces. Pour 1 ½ cups water into the pan below the rack. This prevents any drippings from burning or smoking.
• Transfer the pork to your preheated oven. Roast for 25 minutes, keeping the oven setting at 475 F for the first 10 minutes of roasting, and then reduce your oven temperature to 375 F (190 C). After 25 minutes, flip the pork. If the bottom of the pan is dry, add another cup of water. Turn the pan 180 degrees to ensure even roasting. Roast another 15 minutes. Throughout the roasting time, check your char siu often (every 10 minutes) and reduce the oven temperature if it looks like it is burning!
• Meanwhile, combine the reserved marinade with the maltose or honey (maltose is very viscous--you can heat it up in the microwave to make it easier to work with) and 1 tablespoon hot water. This will be the sauce you'll use for basting the pork.
• After 40 minutes of total roasting time, baste the pork, flip it, and baste the other side as well. Roast for a final 10 minutes.
• By now, the pork has cooked for 50 minutes total. It should be cooked through and caramelized on top. If it's not caramelized to your liking, you can turn the broiler on for a couple minutes to crisp the outside and add some color/flavor. Be sure not to walk away during this process, since the sweet char siu BBQ sauce can burn if left unattended. You can also use a meat thermometer to check if the internal temperature of the pork has reached 160 degrees F. (Update: USDA recommends that pork should be cooked to 145 degrees F with a 3 minute resting time)
• Remove from the oven and baste with the last bit of reserved BBQ sauce. Let the meat rest for 10 minutes before slicing, and enjoy!

CHINESE DRY RUB RIBS

Steps:

• (Optional) Remove the membrane from the back of the ribs by slicing the edge with a knife, then pull off the membrane sheet using your hand.
• Combine the rub ingredients in a small bowl and mix well. Sprinkle evenly all over the ribs, front, back and sides. Gently pat and rub in the spice using your hands. Cover with plastic wrap and marinate overnight in the fridge.
• Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C). Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper for easy cleaning. Place a rack on top.
• Place the marinated ribs on the rack. Cover with a large piece of foil that's enough to cover the baking sheet. Fold the foil along the edges of the baking sheet to seal the ribs.
• Bake covered for 2 hours.
• Remove the baking sheet from the oven and carefully remove the foil. Turn on the boiler to 550°F (280°C). Broil for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the surface of the ribs are charred. You should stay close to the oven during the time and check on the ribs from time to time, to prevent it from burning.
• Once done, remove the baking sheet and let it rest for 10 minutes. Carve the ribs and serve hot.

CHINESE DRY MARINADE

Steps:

• Combine ingredients and use for marinade for spare ribs and pork.

TAKEOUT-STYLE CHINESE SPARE RIBS

Steps:

• Mix together the hoisin sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar, honey, five-spice powder, garlic, ginger and food coloring in a metal, non-reactive bowl. Pour the marinade into a large zip-top bag, reserving 1/2 cup on the side for basting later. Add the ribs to the bag and marinate, refrigerated, for at least 3 hours, though longer is better and overnight is ideal.
• Heat a charcoal or gas grill to 275 degrees F for direct and indirect grilling.
• Remove the ribs from the marinade (discard the marinade) and place onto a wire rack. Place the rack directly on the cooler side of the grill. Cook until the meat is very tender, basting with the reserved marinade 3 times during the cooking process, 2 to 3 hours.
• Drizzle the ribs with honey, move them to the direct heat side and quickly char each rib to caramelize.

CHINESE MARINATED FISH

Steps:

• Turn on broiler in oven or toaster oven.
• Combine the sherry and sesame oil. Grate the ginger, and add.
• Wash and dry fish. Coat it with marinade, until it's time to cook it -- just a few minutes.
• Remove the fish from the marinade, and broil it according to the Canadian rule: measure the fish at its thickest part, and cook it 8 to 10 minutes to the inch. Scrod will take about 5 minutes. Brush once with marinade.

CHINESE PORK MARINADE

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients, except pork, in a bowl and mix well.
• Coat pork in mixture. I store mine in quart sized zipper bags, 2-3 chops per bag.
• Let pork marinade in refrigerator for a minimum of 1 hour. I marinate for 24 hours.
• Cook outdoors on grill until done. On my grill that's 4-5 minutes per side.
• They also cook well indoors on a contact type grill. I generally cook for 5-6 minutes indoors.
• Pork filled bags may be frozen with marinade and thawed to cook later.
• **Note - Marinating time is not included in my "time to Make".

SPICY CHINESE MARINADE

Steps:

• In heavy duty freezer bag, mix soy sauce, hoisin sauce, oil, garlic, sugar and red pepper flakes.
• Add meat and stir stir to coat all over.
• Seal and refrigerate for at least 1 to 3 hours, turning bag over occasionally.
• Remove meat, reserving marinade, and cook meat until desired doneness.
• Meanwhile pour marinade from bag into saucepan.
• Rinse bag with the 1/2 cup of water.
• Add water to saucepan.
• Bring to a low boil.
• Boil slowly for 5 to 6 minutes.
• Right before meat is ready to serve, add butter to saucepan.
• Heat through.
• Slice meat thinly, and pour sauce over meat.
• Top with green onions.
• Serve over rice or noodles.

CHINESE MARINADE

Steps:

• Finely grate the ginger, collect it up into a ball and squeeze out the juice into a bowl.
• Stir in the other ingredients and use as required.

ASIAN MARINADE

Steps:

• Whisk ingredients together in a small bowl. Place meat, poultry, fish, or vegetables in zipper lock bag or in shallow, nonreactive pan. Pour marinade over contents and seal or cover. Turn zipper lock bag or stir contents of pan occasionally to evenly distribute marinade.
• Prepare 1/2 cup marinade per pound of meat. See description for suggested use of rosemary.

CHINESE FIVE SPICE SPARE RIBS

Steps:

• Combine soy sauce, white wine vinegar, sesame oil, honey, five-spice powder, garlic, and ginger in a large storage bag. Shake to mix well. Add ribs to marinade; refrigerate 4 to 8 hours, turning bag occasionally.
• Preheat an oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Remove ribs from marinade and place in a roasting pan; cover tightly with aluminum foil.
• Cook ribs for one hour, turning occasionally. Increase oven temperature to 400 degrees F. Remove foil from pan and bake an additional 20 minutes, turning once, until ribs are nicely browned.