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Chinese crispy roast pork belly is a classic celebration dish that is a show stopper when done correctly. I’ve tried making this many times in the past and this is the method I use to get the perfect crispy skin every time. No need to boil or poke holes in the skin, all you need is to dry it out 1 day in advance.
Origins of Siu Yuk
Siu Yuk, or Chinese roasted pork belly, originates from southern China, particularly within Cantonese cuisine. Pork has long been a staple in this region, making Siu Yuk a beloved dish.
Traditional Preparation
The process of making Siu Yuk involves marinating pork belly in a blend of spices and seasonings. The pork is then slow-roasted to achieve its signature crispy skin and tender, juicy meat.
Cultural Significance
Historically, Siu Yuk has been prepared for special occasions and family gatherings. Its rich flavors and satisfying crunch make it a popular dish during celebrations.
Over time, Siu Yuk has spread beyond China, becoming a favorite in Chinese communities around the world. Its combination of crispy and tender textures has made it a global favorite.
How to prepare pork belly
You will want to use a 4 lbs piece of pork belly which I cut in half to make 2 separate portions. I find that when I cut them in half, they cooked more even. I season only the meat side with five spice, garlic powder, salt, and brown sugar. Let this sit in the fridge, skin side up uncovered overnight to dry out the skin. You can also do this 2 days in advance which will end up even better.
Why the air fryer is best for crispy roast pork
From my experience, I have found that using the air fryer to crisp up the skin is better than any other conventional oven. The reason being, an air fryer circulates heat much better than a regular oven which leads to a more evenly cooked outcome. Many times, I have tried to bake in a conventional oven and only half of my pork belly skin will crisp up and the other half will stay hard. If you do not have an air fryer, I would use a convection oven at the highest temperature.
Purpose of wrapping pork belly in tin foil
The reason why I create a tin foil boat for the first phase of cooking the pork belly is to prevent burning. By wrapping the meat side, this prevents the sugars from seasoning to burn. This is a common issue since we are cooking it over the course of almost 2 hours.
Why cook crispy roast pork salt?
By cooking the pork with a layer of salt, it dries out the skin even more during the initial cooking phase. This initial phase is meant to cook the meat and not make the skin crispy yet. After this, you remove all the salt and blast it in an air fryer to achieve that perfect crispy crackling.
Turning roast pork into banh mi
Key ingredients for a classic Banh Mi sandwich include:
- Baguette: A French-style baguette, typically lighter and airier than traditional French baguettes, providing a crispy exterior and soft interior.
- Protein: Crispy roast pork
- Pickled Vegetables: Usually consisting of carrots and daikon radish, pickled in a mixture of vinegar, sugar, and salt, providing a tangy and crunchy contrast to the sandwich.
- Fresh Vegetables: Slices of cucumber, cilantro sprigs, and jalapeño peppers, adding freshness, herbal notes, and a hint of heat.
- Mayonnaise or Aioli: Spread on the baguette for creaminess and richness. In my banh mi, I used a chimichurri butter
- Pâté (Optional): A layer of pork liver pâté adds depth of flavor and richness to the sandwich.
These ingredients come together to create a harmonious balance of flavors and textures in every bite of the Banh Mi sandwich, showcasing the diverse culinary influences of Vietnamese cuisine. Here is the video for crispy pork belly banh mi.
Crispy Pork Belly (Chinese Siu Yuk)
Ingredients
- 4 lbs skin on pork belly, (makes 2 portions)
- 1 tsp five spice powder
- 2 tsp brown sugar
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp oil or white vinegar
- ½ cup kosher salt, (for topping)
Sauce
- 2 tbsp hoisin sauce
- 2 tbsp water
Instructions
- Cut your pork belly in half, you want it about a 8×6 inch slab.4 lbs skin on pork belly
- Make vertical slits along the meat side about ½ inch deep. Season ONLY the meat side with five spice, brown sugar, garlic powder, and salt.1 tsp five spice powder, 2 tsp brown sugar, 2 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp salt
- Let it sit in the fridge over a wire rack with the skin side up overnight. This will allow the skin to dry up.
- Next day, create a tin foil boat that tightly wraps around the meat side of the pork belly. This just prevents the meat from burning.
- Add enough salt to fully cover the skin. You want to use kosher salt or something more coarse so that it doesn't actually penetrate the skin. Sea salt is too fine.2 tbsp oil or white vinegar, ½ cup kosher salt
- Place in an oven at 300F for 1.5 hours. The meat will cook and shrink, causing it to get taller. The reason I use the oven and not the air fryer in this step is because the air fryer fan is very intense and will blow away all the salt.
- Remove all the salt from the skin. Brush with a layer of oil.
- Place into an air fryer at 450F for 20 minutes or until the skin is crispy and light. If you do not have an air fryer, place it into your oven at the convection bake on highest temperature.
- Cut into it and serve with a mixture of water and hoisin sauce. I use a 1:1 ratio.
If you enjoyed this one, check out some more from the Christmas series:
Plan to make a big batch.. then keep some for future use. How to do it… Thanks
Is there a recipe for the sauce?
Yes its in the recipe, hoisin + water.
Could you please tell me the cook time in the oven if I have a 2 lb piece of pork belly (all I could get at the moment). I don’t want to overcook it! And same temp? Thanks! Can’t wait to try this! It’s drying in my fridge right now!
Use the same time and temp it will work the same!
Hello! Thanks for the recipe I can’t wait to try it. If my air fryer only goes to 400, is that enough?
Yes! That is enough you might need to leave it in an extra 5 minutes though. Just check on it and decide for yourself if it is crisp enough!
Simple and worked great! Makes a looot of crispy pork, and I found the salt bake worked well with coarse rock salt. My mum is demanding I make this for her birthday now 😂
AYEEE so glad you enjoyed! I make this for all celebrations.
At which point do you brush on the vinegar?
The seconds cooking stage after you remove the salt and place in the airfryer