The 17 best side dishes for Char Siu Pork, from steamed white rice to noodles, stir-fries and Dim Sum!
What is Char Siu?
Char Siu, or Chinese Barbecue Pork, is a traditional Chinese pork dish that tastes both sweet and savory. Traditionally made of pork belly, modern versions of BBQ pork use less fatty cuts such as pork shoulder for health reasons.
It can be served as a main course with steamed white rice, as part of other dishes (such as stir-fried noodles), or in a Dim Sum meal. You can find it at street food stalls or at the most expensive Chinese restaurants!
Note: click here for more pork recipes.
Siu Mei
In Cantonese cuisine, Roast Pork often comes with other types of Siu Mei (燒味), such as roasted goose or Soy Sauce Chicken. They're often served with slices of raw cucumber on the side.
Easy Version
Much as I love the traditional recipe, not everyone has a few hours to poach a dinner recipe. If you're in a hurry, try this easy 1-pot shortcut!
Dim Sum
Note: although Char Siew Bao (BBQ Pork Buns) are 1 of the most popular Dim Sum dishes, I'm not including them in this round-up or it'll be pork overload. I do recommend using leftover Char Siu to make Pork Buns or in Singapore Shrimp Mei Fun though!
Siu Mai
Cantonese Shu Mai (燒賣) is 1 of the most popular Dim Sums but really easy to make at home and freeze.
Ha Cheung Fan
Thin rice paper is wrapped around juicy shrimp and drizzled with a fragrant soy sauce mix in this Cheung Fun recipe (虾肠粉).
Har Gow
Juicy Shrimp Dumplings go really well with roasted pork (which can sometimes be a bit drying), which is why we have yet another prawn recipe on this list, Har Gow.
Lo Bak Gao
Made of radish, this is often called Carrot Cake as well as Turnip Cake as the word for "radish" is similar to "carrot" in Chinese.
Note: A popular variation of this dish is tostir-fry smaller pieces with dried shrimp and XO sauce.
Appetisers
Cucumber Salad
Baos
Spiral Bao
Matcha Mantou
Scallion Buns
Also known as Hua Juan, these buns are freezer-friendly.
Noodles
Slices of Char Siu are a great way to add protein to a plate of noodles.
Stir-fried Vermicelli
Chow Mein
To the Cantonese, Shrimp represents laughter (as it is a homonym.) For a happy year ahead, try some of these Chinese Shrimp dishes.
Wonton
Obviously, adding char siu would make the dish non plant-based! But this is a good combination for a party with both vegans and non-vegans: the vegans can have the plain wonton noodle soup, and the non-vegans the char siu wonton noodles.
Rice
Alternatively, Char Siu is also delicious with a bowl of plate white rice, fried rice or a bowl of rice porridge, such as Ting Zhai Jook.
For more flavor, consider pairing it with some of these congee dishes!
Tip: make a sumptuous meal of it with these porridge side dishes and best toppings for congee, such as salted duck eggs.
Prawn Congee
Scallop Congee
Abalone Porridge
Abalone has a special place in Asian cooking and Chinese cuisine. To learn more, try some of these abalone recipes such as abalone salad.
Fried Rice
Egg fried rice is the most basic version of this classic Chinese dish, requiring 6 ingredients such as sesame oil, light soy sauce and green onions. Delicious and done in 10 minutes!
Tip: the key to non-soggy fried rice is to use leftover rice and not freshly cooked rice!
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