A delicious and flavorful recipe for Ultimate Char Siu Chicken, perfect for elevating your dinner with a taste of Asian cuisine.
Author:Lorenzo Bonucci
Prep Time:15 minutes
Cook Time:35 minutes
Total Time:4 hours 50 minutes
Yield:4 servings 1x
Category:Main Course
Method:Roasting
Cuisine:Chinese
Diet:Gluten Free
Ingredients
Scale
2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
2 tbsp honey
1 tbsp vegetable oil
¼ cup hoisin sauce
3 tbsp honey
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp oyster sauce
1 tbsp Chinese cooking wine or dry sherry
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp sesame oil
1 tsp five-spice powder
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp grated fresh ginger
½ tsp white pepper
1 tbsp red food coloring, optional
2 tbsp honey
1 tbsp warm water
1 tsp sesame oil
2 green onions, sliced
Sesame seeds, optional
Instructions
Prepare the marinade: In a bowl, whisk together the hoisin sauce, honey, soy sauce, oyster sauce, Chinese cooking wine, brown sugar, sesame oil, five-spice powder, garlic, ginger, and white pepper.
Marinate the chicken: Place the chicken thighs in a large resealable bag or container. Pour the marinade over the chicken and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
Preheat the oven: Heat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with foil and place a wire rack on top. Lightly grease the rack.
Prepare the chicken: Remove the chicken from the marinade, allowing excess marinade to drip off. Reserve the marinade.
Roast: Arrange the chicken on the rack and roast for 20 minutes.
Make the glaze: Pour the reserved marinade into a small saucepan. Bring it to a full boil and simmer for 3–5 minutes until slightly thickened. Add the honey and vegetable oil and stir well.
Glaze the chicken: Brush the chicken generously with the glaze. Return it to the oven and roast for another 10–15 minutes, brushing with more glaze halfway through.
Caramelize: Increase the oven temperature to 450°F or switch to broil for the final 1–3 minutes. Watch closely until the edges become beautifully caramelized and slightly charred.
Check for doneness: The thickest part of the chicken should reach 165°F.
Rest and finish: Let the chicken rest for 5–10 minutes. Brush with the honey-water mixture and sprinkle with sesame seeds and green onions.
Serve: Slice the char siu chicken and serve over steamed jasmine rice with your favorite Asian vegetables.
Notes
For best results, marinate the chicken overnight.
Adjust the amount of honey in the glaze to your taste preference.
Serve with steamed vegetables for a complete meal.