Roasted Cantonese Barbecue Pork with Honey Glaze
Succulent pork shoulder is marinated in a fragrant Cantonese-style barbecue sauce and roasted to perfection, then basted with a sticky honey glaze for a sweet-savory finish. This chinese-inspired pork ready in about 95 minutes pairs pork shoulder, hoisin sauce, soy sauce for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs pork shoulder
- 3 tbsp hoisin sauce
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp Chinese five-spice powder
- 2 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp Shaoxing wine
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- 1 cube mashed (optional for color) red fermented tofu
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
Instructions
- Step 1: In a mixing bowl, whisk together 3 tbsp hoisin sauce, 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tsp Chinese five-spice powder, 2 tbsp Shaoxing wine, 2 cloves minced garlic, 1 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tsp sesame oil, 1 tbsp vegetable oil, and optionally 1 mashed cube of red fermented tofu for a vivid red color.
- Step 2: Score the surface of 2 lbs pork shoulder with shallow diagonal cuts about 1/2-inch apart. Rub the marinade evenly over the pork, cover tightly, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
- Step 3: Preheat oven to 375°F. Place the marinated pork on a wire rack set over a baking sheet lined with foil.
- Step 4: Roast the pork for 45 minutes, then remove from oven and baste generously with 2 tbsp honey. Return to oven and roast for an additional 15-20 minutes, basting with honey every 10 minutes, until the pork is cooked through and the exterior is caramelized and sticky.
- Step 5: Let the pork rest for 10 minutes before slicing thinly against the grain. Serve with steamed rice or buns.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Roasted Cantonese Barbecue Pork with Honey Glaze take to make?
Total time is about 95 minutes (15 min prep + 80 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Roasted Cantonese Barbecue Pork with Honey Glaze?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep pork shoulder from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Roasted Cantonese Barbecue Pork with Honey Glaze?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Roasted Cantonese Barbecue Pork with Honey Glaze for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 6 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 6). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Roasted Cantonese Barbecue Pork with Honey Glaze?
Chinese pork like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
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