Chashu (Japanese braised pork)
This Japanese adaptation of the Chinese dish char siu is seasoned with sugar, sake and dark soy sauce and braised at a low temperature for a few hours. It is then ready for using in ramen.
Ingredients
- 175ml/6fl oz dark soy sauce
- 120ml/4fl oz sake
- 3 tbsp mirin
- 2 tbsp oyster or teriyaki sauce
- 75²µ/2½´Ç³ú sugar
- 500g/1lb 2oz skin-on piece pork belly, rolled
- ½ leek, sliced (or 1 small onion, sliced)
- 4 whole garlic cloves, peeled
- 4cm/1½in piece ginger, thickly sliced
Method
Put the soy sauce, sake, mirin, oyster sauce (or teriyaki sauce) and sugar in a small pan. Bring to a simmer to dissolve the sugar.
Preheat the oven to 140C/300F/Gas 2.
Place the pork into a small deep roasting tin. Pour over the hot liquid. Add the leek (or onion), garlic and ginger. Depending on the width of your tin, add 400-500ml/14-18fl oz of hot water – enough not to completely cover it as it will be turned every so often.
Lightly cover with a double layer of foil and leave a small gap for the steam to escape.
Turn the pork occasionally and cook until the pork is tender – about 2-2½ hours.
Once cooked, remove from the oven, leave to cool in the liquid and put into a sealed container with the juices. Leave to cool before putting in the fridge - it is easier to carve when it is fridge cold. If using straightaway leave to rest for 20 minutes.
