Chinese BBQ Sauce

This all-natural Chinese BBQ sauce tastes just like Chinese takeout!

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Barbecuing meat has been around since the beginning of time, and varieties of BBQ sauces are as diverse across America, as they are globally. With an average number of 3.34 million searches per month, Chinese cuisine still reigns supreme as America’s food of choice, and this super simple sauce allows you to create authentic Chinese flavor at home.

What is Char Siu?

A classic Chinese barbecue sauce, char siu originally comes from Cantonese cuisine and is traditionally used for barbecuing meat or seafood. The words chā sīu literally mean “fork roasted,” which is a nod to the traditional cooking method of skewering seasoned pork with long forks, and placing them in an oven or over a fire. I can still remember the familiar sight of char siu, red tinged meats hanging in the windows of Chinese barbecue restaurants in downtown Manhattan. The juicy, incredibly flavorful meat is still one of my favorites.

Is Chinese BBQ Sauce Healthy?

This recipe for Chinese barbecue sauce is vegan, paleo-friendly, and contains no refined sugar. It has similar Cantonese notes, and uses many of the same ingredients as the authentic Chinese char siu sauce, without the bright red color. Although the use of red food coloring (contained in typical char siu sauces) is omitted from this recipe, the sauce’s rich, umami-caramel flavor and chocolatey brown color, allows you to recreate the flavors of your favorite Chinese restaurant dishes at home, with a taste that’s even better than takeout. Another healthful difference worth noting is that this recipe doesn’t contain maltose. The result? A sauce that is less sticky, but still has the same thick consistency as the original.

INGREDIENTS

1/3 cup hoisin sauce
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon Chinese five spice powder
1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

INSTRUCTIONS

Combine

Mix all sauce ingredients in a saucepan.

Simmer

Cook mixture over medium heat until thickened.

Cool

Allow sauce to cool before using or storing.

Devour!

FAQs & Tips

How to Make Ahead and Store?

To keep this sauce for later, after cooking, set it aside for about 10 minutes to cool, before transferring to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week and freeze for up to 1 month.

How Do I make this recipe gluten-free?

Simple! For a gluten-free version, you can substitute gluten-free hoisin sauce, and either tamari or coconut aminos for the soy sauce used in this recipe.

Tip 1 – How to enhance the flavor

To enhance the Chinese BBQ sauce recipe, bring to a simmer over medium heat while stirring until all the ingredients are dissolved and blended together. Simmer and continue to stir continuously until the sauce thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon. If you want to further enhance the flavor, consider garnishing the sauce with some chopped scallions to add some zip and a pop of color.

Tip 2 – Keep an eye on it!

When using Chinese barbecue sauce in cooking, make sure to keep a close eye on it. This sauce can burn easily due to its sugar content, so be sure to add it at the end of cooking.

Serving Suggestions

This sauce is great for barbecued meat, like pork or chicken, as well as seafood too. You can even turn this sauce into a dip! Just add 1-2 tablespoons of smooth peanut butter, stir until fully incorporated, and ENJOY!

For more Chinese-inspired dishes, try these Sweet and Sour Meatballs, these Five-Spice Chicken Thighs or this Spicy Zucchini Stir Fry.