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Chinese · Joshua Weissman

Char siu

From the video “Simple Homemade Chinese BBQ Pork (Char Siu)” by Joshua Weissman. RecipesMD is not affiliated with Joshua Weissman. Steps are in our own words.

Machine-read from the video · not yet checked by a personMediumWeekend project
Not spicy
Total time
~1015 min
est.
Serves
~8
est.
Cost
~$3.29*
per serving, Ontario (~3 portions assumed)save ~$12.71* vs ordering out
Difficulty
Medium
Ingredients
11

Ingredients

May contain gluten, soy, sesame

Read from the ingredient list. Check packaging if you have an allergy.

The video doesn’t say how many this serves, so amounts are shown as made in the video.

Ontario grocery estimate*

~$9.88*for the batch in the video
~$3.29*per serving

You save about ~$12.71* per serving (79% less*) than ordering it out — ~$38.12* for ~3 portions.

Order out = a typical Ontario Chinese takeout plate, before delivery fees, tax and tip.

5 ingredients priced from Ontario averages · 5 predicted from typical costs · not priced: chinese five spice, shaoxing rice wine, fermented red bean curd, red food dye, boneless pork shoulder

* Estimate, not a quote: 5 line(s) we couldn't price were filled with typical costs for their type; the video doesn't state how many it serves, so 3 portions were assumed; restaurant comparison is a typical Ontario Chinese takeout plate at ~$16, before delivery fees, tax and tip. Prices: Ontario averages (StatCan 2026-07) + RecipesMD estimates, pro-rated, staples excluded.

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stated said or written in the video · shown seen in the video · estimated our guess

Nutrition & health

Nutrition per serving465 kcal · 23% of 2,000
Fat31 g40%
Saturated fat11 g53%
Sodium868 mg38%
Carbohydrate14 g5%
Fiber0.1 g0%
Total sugars13 gno daily value
Added sugars13 g25%
Protein30 g59%

Estimate from the ingredient list — not dietary advice. % Daily Value uses FDA reference amounts; 5% or less is low, 20% or more is high. Added sugars are counted from sweeteners and sweet sauces in the list.

Health indexTreat
  • Starting point60
  • Protein+20 of 20
  • Fiber+0 of 20
  • Saturated fat−20 of 20
  • Sodium−16 of 20
  • Added sugars (estimate)−11 of 20

RecipesMD health index — an estimate from the ingredient list, not medical or dietary advice

From 8 of 11 ingredient lines (99% of the measured weight), divided into 8 servings (estimated: 1361 g protein foods at ~170 g per serving; model check 6 agrees). Not matched to nutrient data: chinese five spice, fermented red bean curd, red food dye. Source: USDA FoodData Central SR Legacy (2018-04, public domain) + 4 Branded Foods records.

Equipment

  • bowl
  • knife
  • cutting board
  • baking dish
  • plastic wrap
  • oven
  • baking sheet
  • wire rack
  • foil
  • tongs
  • basting brush

What the video didn’t say

  • Exact holding time for the marinade
  • Brand of red bean curd and rice wine
Cook it this week →Watch on YouTube ↗Markdown

Read from the public video by gemini-3.5-flash-lite on 2026-10-05. Thumbnail and video are Joshua Weissman’s, shown through YouTube’s official embed.

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Frequently asked questions

Everything you need to know about Char siu

What makes Joshua Weissman's Char siu recipe and technique special?

Joshua Weissman's take on Char siu focuses on home kitchen precision, balancing Chinese flavors with an estimated under 30 minutes total preparation time. Every step is timestamped to the exact second in the video so you can follow along hands-free.

How much does it cost to make Char siu at Ontario grocery prices?

Based on Statistics Canada benchmark consumer food pricing, this Char siu recipe costs approximately economical home-cooked pricing per serving (yielding 2 to 4 portions). Home cooking saves an estimated 60% to 75% compared to ordering takeout at a restaurant.

Can I make Char siu ahead of time or store leftovers?

Yes. Leftover Char siu can be refrigerated in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days. If the recipe contains delicate leafy greens or dressed ingredients, keep the dressing separate until ready to serve to maintain crisp texture.

What substitutions can I make in Joshua Weissman's Char siu?

This recipe utilizes approximately 11 ingredients across 16 steps. For gluten-free adaptations, swap regular soy sauce or flour with tamari or cornstarch. For vegetarian adaptations, replace meat proteins with extra-firm tofu, mushrooms, or legumes while preserving the aromatics.

Where can I watch the video tutorial for Char siu?

The official cooking video by Joshua Weissman is embedded directly on RecipesMD, featuring video timeline scrubbing that jumps directly to each step, adjustable playback speeds, and Kitchen Mode.