Gluten-free Chinese BBQ Pork (Char Siu)

If you love gluten-free Chinese food, then you need to make this gluten-free Chinese BBQ pork recipe, also known as char Siu.

I love Chinese food, but finding gluten-free Chinese food where we live, is pretty much next to impossible. Instead of being sad, I've set out to make a bunch of my favorite recipes so I can still enjoy all the goodness. This char siu recipe is a Cantonese-style roasted pork that has been marinated and then cooked to perfection with the best sweet and sticky glaze.

Want to try more pork recipes? You will love my gluten-free pulled pork and Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin with Cherry BBQ Sauce.

Jump to:

• Gluten-free Chinese food.
• Ingredients.
• Ingredient notes and substitutions.
• Steps.
• Tips and tricks.
• Make ahead.
• Serving suggestions.
• Storing and leftovers.
• More gluten-free Asian recipes.
• 📖 Recipe

Gluten-free Chinese food.

You might be wondering what Chinese foods are gluten-free. Sadly, most Chinese restaurants do not make a lot of recipes that are actually gluten-free. Many contain soy sauce or wheat in the batters or noodles. Luckily with just a few swaps, it's easy to make a lot of Chinese food recipes gluten-free.

Ingredients.

• Pork Roast
• Molasses
• Sugar
• Honey
• Garlic
• Chinese Five Spice
• Gluten-free Soy Sauce
• Gluten-free Hoisin Sauce
• Mirin
• Sesame Oil
• Red Food Coloring (optional)

Ingredient notes and substitutions.

• Pork. - You can use any of the following cuts to make this gluten-free char siu recipe. Pork loin, pork belly, pork shoulder or butt, and even baby-back ribs. If you really don't like pork but want all the good flavors, you can use chicken and turn this into some char siu chicken. I do suggest using something like a boneless chicken thigh, so it has a higher fat content.
• Chinese Five Spice. - It is not a spicy spice. However, it can have an intense flavor. The amount of spices listed might not seem like a lot, but if you are not used to using them, they can be very overpowering. I suggest starting with a lower amount and taste testing to make sure you get the spice you want. If you find your marinade has too much spice, add a few tablespoons of rice or apple cider vinegar to help calm them down.
• Gluten-free Soy Sauce. - Typical soy sauce is NOT gluten-free, as it contains wheat. Make sure you are using a soy sauce that is labeled gluten-free. You can also use tamari or coconut aminos if you can't find gluten-free soy sauce.
• Gluten-free Hoisin Sauce. - Hoisin sauce is made from fermented soybeans and combined with ingredients to make a thick sauce. Not all hoisin sauces are gluten-free. Brands like Lee Kum and San J make gluten-free products. You might also see hoisin sauce listed as Chinese BBQ sauce.
• Mirin. - Usually, char siu uses a Shaoxing wine, which is made from rice but can contain wheat. I've switched the Shaoxing wine for mirin which is also made from rice, but it is gluten-free.
• Sesame Oil - If you cannot handle sesame, you can switch the sesame oil out for another light cooking oil like avocado oil.
• Red Food Coloring. - This is totally optional to add more of the traditional red color of char siu. In authentic recipes, this color usually comes from red bean curds. These don't add much flavor, and where I am, they have not been easy to find. So I switched them out of the recipe for a little amount of red coloring. (I use a tiny amount of beat powder mixed with water to make a paste.) You can use any type of red food coloring you like or just leave it out. Watkins brand also makes good food dyes that don't use artificial colors.

Steps.

Step 1. Prep the pork.

Step 2. Marinate the meat.

Step 3. Cook the pork char siu.

Tips and tricks.

• Cut the pork into even pieces. - This will help make sure that the pork cooks evenly.
• Don't trim the excess fat. - The fat will render as the pork cooks; there is no need to remove it.
• Don't skip the marinating time. - Yes, this gluten-free char siu recipe says to let it marinate for at least twenty-four hours before cooking it. I recommend letting it marinate for forty-eight hours for the best flavor and texture.
• Use the water under the pork when it's cooking. - It might not seem important to add water to the pan when cooking the pork, but do it. This helps prevent burning as well as steaming to help the pork maintain moisture.
• Do NOT overcook your pork. - Baste and roast your pork until the internal temperature reaches about 145 degrees, and then let it rest for about five minutes to fully come to about 150 degrees. You might still see a little pink in your pork, but that is okay. Cooking pork fully to 155 degrees or greater increases the risk of you ending up with dried-out pork.
• Sticky-sweet crust. - If your pork does not fully form a sweet-sticky crust as it cooks enough to your liking, that's okay. Once your pork is getting close to temperature, switch the oven over to broil and broil the pork for about 1-2 minutes per side, just until a crust starts to form.
• Let it rest. - Pork is like steak; it has the best flavor and texture from resting after it's been cooked. Be sure to let your gluten-free Chinese BBQ pork rest for at least five minutes before slicing.

Make ahead.

This recipe needs at least twenty-four hours to let the pork marinate, which makes it perfect for making ahead of time before cooking it off.

Serving suggestions.

Slice and serve this gluten-free char siu pork with some simple jasmine rice or eat it along with some of your other favorites, like gluten-free sweet and sour chicken. It also makes a delicious gluten-free appetizer for your next dinner party.

Storing and leftovers.

• Leftovers will keep in the fridge for up to three days.
• To reheat, place pieces in a warm skillet with a little bit of water to help bring the pork back to life.
• I do not recommend freezing.

If you are really wanting to enjoy more of the deliciousness, it makes a great addition in my gluten-free fried rice into char siu pork fried rice.

More gluten-free Asian recipes.

📖 Recipe