I believe Char Siu is the most important ingredient of Ramen. The word of Char Siu is Chinese and it means Roast Pork. Chinese Roast Pork is called “Char Siu” even in Japan, and it is also called “Yaki Buta (literally, Roast Pork). But as a Ramen topping, it is always called as “Char Siu.”
Chinese Char Siu is roasted literally, but Japanese Char Siu is a little different. It is roasted and simmered. I think Japanese style Char Siu is tender than Chinese original Char Siu because it is simmered. If you want to enjoy the taste of pork, it would be better to slice as much as thick. Because this style Char Siu is tender, you can enjoy thick sliced one.
It is served, of course, on top of Ramen, and also we sometimes eat it as it is or Char Siu Rice Bowl (Donburi).
I sometimes make it by myself because I want to enjoy thick sliced one. Maybe you have eaten thin sliced one at Ramen shops. If you make it by yourself and can slice as thick as you like, you’ll never go back to thin one.
Ingredients:
- 350g Pork (Shoulder)
- 300ml Soy Sauce
- 300ml Mirin (Sweet Rice Wine)
- 10g Garlic
- 15g Ginger
- 20g Leek (green part)
- Sea Salt
How to make:
1) Drill holes with a fork onto the Pork meat. Put some sea salt and tie the meat with kite string. Leave it for a while (10 – 15 min.)
2) Mix Soy Sauce and Mirin in a pan and heat it until boiled.
3) Pour some cooking oil in a fry pan and heat it on strong heat. Grill the all sides of pork meat until golden brown.
4) Put the grilled pork meat in the boiled sauce and put Garlic, Ginger and Leek. Heat the pan on small heat for about 45 min. Place a cooking paper on top of meat as a lid. Flip the meat over sometimes on the way.
If you put a skew into the meat and transparent liquid (oil) comes out, it is the sign to be completed.
When I made Char Siu, I enjoy not only as ramen or Hiyashi Chuka (Cold Ramen) topping, but also as it is or an ingredient of Char Han (Chinese style fried rice).
Enjoy meal!