Chāshū

also called chashu · chāshū · char siu pork for ramen · チャーシュー · 叉焼 · rolled pork belly · braised pork belly for ramen · ramen pork · nibuta

Three ways to read this recipe

The table

Chāshū: ingredients down the left, what to do with them across. Tap any cell to cross it off.
The braising liquid comes out of this a tare — one preparation, two jobs, and both are worth keeping.
3 lb(1.35 kg; skinless, in one rectangular slab)pork bellyroll skin-out, tie at 1-in intervalsbrown all over 8 minbraise 3 hr at a tremble, turningchill in the liquid 8 hr, then slice thin
2 tsp(10 g)kosher salt
1 Tbs(15 mL)neutral oil
1 cup(240 mL)soy sauce
1 cup(240 mL)sake
1/2 cup(120 mL)mirin
1/3 cup(70 g)granulated sugar
6 cloves(crushed)garlic
2 in(sliced)fresh ginger
3 stalksscallions
2 cups(480 mL)water
Tap anything to cross it off.

What to lay out

Everything the recipe asks for, sitting under the step that eats it. Tick each one as you measure it.14 things to get out.

Pans and tools

Before anything else

2roll skin-out, tie at 1-in intervals

3brown all over 8 min

goes in with what step 2 made

4braise 3 hr at a tremble, turning

goes in with what step 3 made

Cooking it

Tap a step when it is done; the next one lights up.

The clock

Start to finish
at least 11 hr 8 min1 of 4 steps gives no time
Needs you
about 8 min
If you get it wrong
Forgiving — warm belly tears under a knife, so the eight-hour chill in its own liquid is not optional if you want thin slices
  1. roll skin-out, tie at 1-in intervals

    not timedfrom the start

  2. brown all over 8 min

    8 minneeds youfrom the start

  3. braise 3 hr at a tremble, turning

    3 hrwalk away8 min in

  4. chill in the liquid 8 hr, then slice thin

    8 hrwalk away3 hr 8 min in

You'll need Dutch oven · kitchen twine

Goes with

See how it is written
>> title: Chāshū
>> category: Stews & Braises
>> tags: pork, japanese, braise, ramen, make-ahead
>> counters: Ramen Shop, The Bowl Shop
>> aka: chashu, chāshū, char siu pork for ramen, チャーシュー, 叉焼, rolled pork belly, braised pork belly for ramen, ramen pork, nibuta
>> pairs-with: shoyu-tare, tonkotsu-ramen, shoyu-ramen, shio-ramen, miso-ramen
>> servings: 8
>> time: 12 hr
>> slack: forgiving — warm belly tears under a knife, so the eight-hour chill in its own liquid is not optional if you want thin slices

>> step: The braising liquid comes out of this a tare — one preparation, two jobs, and both are worth keeping.
The braising liquid comes out of this a tare — one preparation, two jobs, and both are worth keeping.

>> step: roll skin-out, tie at 1-in intervals
Roll @pork belly{3%lb}(1.35 kg; skinless, in one rectangular slab) into a tight log with the grain running the length of it, rub it with @kosher salt{2%tsp}(10 g), and tie it at 1-inch intervals with #kitchen twine{}.

>> step: brown all over 8 min
Brown @&(~1)tied pork{} in @neutral oil{1%Tbs}(15 mL) in a heavy #Dutch oven{} ~brown{8%min}, turning it onto every face until the whole outside is deep gold.

>> step: braise 3 hr at a tremble, turning
Braise @&(~1)browned pork{} in @soy sauce{1%cup}(240 mL), @sake{1%cup}(240 mL), @mirin{1/2%cup}(120 mL), @granulated sugar{1/3%cup}(70 g), @garlic{6%cloves}(crushed), @fresh ginger{2%in}(sliced), @scallions{3%stalks} and @water{2%cups}(480 mL), covered, at a bare tremble ~braise{3%hr}, turning it every 45 minutes so every face spends time under the liquid.

>> step: chill in the liquid 8 hr, then slice thin
Chill @&(~1)chāshū{} in its liquid ~chill{8%hr}, then untie the log and slice it into 1/8-inch rounds. Strain the liquid and reduce it by half for a chāshū tare.