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If you’re looking for a flavorful and fast Chinese dinner that rivals take-out, this Char Siu Pork Fried Rice is a winner! Packed full of flavor, a hint of tang, and plenty of vegetables, it is a filling meal that will become a staple in your home.

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What is Char Siu Pork?

Simply put, traditional char siu pork is slow roasted Chinese BBQ pork.

When prepared this way, the pork develops a delicious browned crust. However, I’m a fan of quick and easy dinners.

So today’s recipe is going to be a much simpler version that anyone can do on the fly!

What is Char Siu Sauce Made Of?

Char siu sauce has a variety of ingredients. You’ll find many different versions online, however this recipe calls for:

• Garlic
• Brown sugar
• Hoisin sauce
• Soy sauce
• Sesame oil
• Five spice powder
• Honey

Easy Fried Rice

Depending on your preference, fried rice can be made with long grain white rice, brown rice, or jasmine rice.

I prefer the flavoring of jasmine rice for this recipe.

To make fried rice, it is best to cook your rice the night before, or in the morning. Using leftover rice is a great option.

Cooking with cold rice keeps the rice from sticking together and preserves texture.

What is the Secret Ingredient to Restaurant Fried Rice?

When cooking your fried rice, make sure to add butter!

Butter brings out a delicious flavor to beef up bland rice. It pairs nicely with the tanginess of the char siu pork as well.

And, if you’re wondering why restaurant fried rice is usually yellow, I have a secret. It’s just food coloring. Since I prefer not to color food unnecessarily, I don’t use it in my recipe!

You’ll see that I also omit red food coloring for the char siu pork as well.

What Gives Restaurant Fried Rice Its Flavor?

If you’re looking for the familiar taste of restaurant fried rice, it’s all in the sauces!

Most restaurants use a combination of soy sauce, fish sauce or oyster sauce in their fried rice.

I like to keep my recipes as simple as possible, so this recipe uses soy sauce. Soy sauce is most commonly used in western homes, while fish or oyster sauces may be an extra purchase.

However, don’t be afraid to experiment! Swap the soy sauce for one of the other sauces in this recipe and see which (or what combination) you prefer!

How to Make Char Siu Pork Fried Rice

While this recipe can be done all in one evening, for best results you will want to prepare two things the night before.

Prepare the Night Before (Optional)

This preparation not only makes the dish most flavorful, but it also cuts down on prep time on the evening you’ll be eating this dish.

The night before, cook your rice according to directions. Cool, and then place in a covered glass dish in the refrigerator.

Also, cube your pork tenderloin into 3/4″ chunks, cutting away any fat. Mix together the char siu sauce and marinade the pork overnight in a freezer bag or glass dish.

Ingredient List

For the Char Siu Marinade

• 1 clove Minced garlic
• 1/2 cup Brown sugar
• 1 Tbs Rice wine
• 1/4 Cup Soy sauce
• 1 Tbs Hoisin sauce
• 1 tsp Sesame Oil
• 1/4 tsp. Five Spice Powder
• 2 Tbs Honey
• (Optional) Red food coloring can be added but is unnecessary for any flavoring

Additional Ingredients

• 1 lb diced pork tenderloin
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
• 2 Tbs Avocado Oil for cooking (or vegetable oil as a substitute)
• 1 10 oz bag of mixed frozen vegetables, thawed (or sub. peas and carrots only)
• 1 Can Sliced Water Chestnuts
• 3 cloves minced garlic
• 1/2 tsp ground ginger
• 2 Tbs butter
• 3 cups cold cooked jasmine rice
• 2 large eggs
• Chopped green onions for garnish

Cooking Char Siu Pork Fried Rice

The night before, cook your rice and refrigerate overnight. Then, combine all marinade ingredients and marinade your cubed pork tenderloin in a freezer bag. Refrigerate until you’re ready to prepare this dish.

The day of: First, remove your marinated pork and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Mix well.

Next, heat your oil in a large wok or skillet over medium-high heat. Once the oil is heated, add the pork (with half of the marinade mixture) and cook until cooked through, about 5 minutes.

(Alternatively, you can prepare your char siu pork the traditional way with a slow roast.)

After your pork is cooked through, remove it to a large bowl and cover to keep warm.

Next, add oil to your skillet and toss in your thawed frozen vegetables and water chestnuts. Cook about 5 minutes, stirring frequently.

I like to use mixed vegetables because the corn adds a sweet flare and the green beans add great texture. Traditional fried rice usually only uses peas and carrots, so that is a great alternative as well.

Remove the cooked vegetables with a slotted spoon and add them to the bowl with the pork, cover.

Add oil to the pan and quickly cook your minced garlic for 30 seconds. Then, add in butter, ginger and cooked rice and stir well to coat. Make a well in the middle of the rice and scramble two eggs in the hole.

Let the eggs cook until just done, then break them up and mix them into the rice.

Add in the pork and vegetables, green onions, and any collected sauces to the skillet. Stir and evenly coat everything well.

Serve hot.

Printable Char Siu Pork Fried Rice Recipe

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You’ll Also Enjoy…

Let me know what variations and substitutions you’ve added to this recipe! It is very versatile and changing just one ingredient can create a whole new dish!

If you’re looking for more quick and healthy recipes, check out these next.

• Fresh Mango Pico De Gallo Recipe
• Simple Thai Turkey Salad w. Peanut Lime Sauce
• Easy Thai Orange Chicken

You can also visit my recipe archives here.

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– Sarah