Char Siu Chicken with Noodles

Easy Char Siu Chicken with Noodles! Juicy marinated chicken & flavorful noodle broth make this a crowd-pleasing dish! Simple & satisfying, perfect for any night!

Char Siu Chicken is an easy alternative and halal mode from the original roast pork char siu. Tender, marinated juicy boneless chicken takes on a sweet and savory glaze, while springy noodles bathe in a light comforting broth. Of course, this recipe is a perfect balance of textures and tastes, I roast in a pan yet still get charred perfection.

Iconic bright red char siu, What is that?

What is Char siu chicken? “Char Siu” (aka “Cha Siu”) in Chinese means “fork roast”, Originally, it’s a BBQ pork dish that originates from Guangdong, China. It’s a popular dish in Cantonese cuisine. marinating strips of pork shoulder in a sweet and savory sauce and then roasting or grilling them until the meat is tender and the sauce is caramelized.

Then come For Char Siu Chicken, skinless chicken thighs are coated with a marinade that typically includes soy sauce, honey, hoisin sauce, red fermented bean curd, and five-spice powder. This dish is often served as an appetizer or main course and enjoyed with rice, noodles, or vegetables. char siu chicken embodies all the flavors and the iconic red colors of classic char siu, just with chicken instead. It’s juicy, and savory, with a hint of sweetness and just enough char.

How to make bright red char?

Traditional char siu chicken relies on natural methods for its signature color. Red yeast rice, a fermented rice product, plays a starring role. Packed with a natural red pigment, it infuses the chicken with a beautiful rosy hue during marinating. Additionally, five-spice powder, with its blend of spices that sometimes includes paprika, can contribute a subtle reddish tint. Finally, the caramelization of sugars in the marinade as the chicken cooks adds a deeper reddish-brown color and enhances the overall flavor profile with a delicious sweet, and savory balance

So, are you ready to experience the magic of char siu chicken for yourself? With its vibrant color, irresistible caramelized sweetness, and savory depth, it’s a dish that’s sure to impress. So grab your ingredients, crank up the music, and you won’t regret it!

Ingredients of Char Siu Chicken

• Chicken thigh fillet; Chicken thighs are the juiciest and most flavorful. I recommend boneless thighs because it marinates better cooks faster, doesn’t dry out easily.
• Garlic; Minced garlic infuses the marinade with its savory and aromatic flavor.
• Red mold rice/ red fermented bean curd, Both choices are options to give char siu chicken the iconic red color char siu is known for. Red yeast rice is a natural and more nutritious option. this offers that natural unique reddish hue red color. You can use red food coloring too.
• Rice vinegar; is an alternative to wine, since I don’t consume alcohol and it’s halal.  adds a touch of acidity and helps balance the sweetness of the other ingredients.
• Soy sauce; For enhancing the sweet and savory flavors needed in the marinade.
• Hoisin sauce; This is the main sauce and flavoring for the char siu marinade. adds a caramelized sweetness to our sauce
• Brown sugar; gives the meat that sugary sweet taste and helps the skin become charred and caramelized
• Chinese Five spice; helps to add that depth of flavor and complexity you want in char siu. This spice blend typically contains star anise, cloves, cinnamon, and fennel seeds and gives the sauce its distinctive flavor.
• Sesame oil; adds a nutty aroma and a subtle sesame flavor to the marinade
• White pepper; adds a touch of heat without affecting the color of the glaze.
• Salt; enhances all the other flavors in the recipe.
• Honey; is another helpful sweetener that helps the crispy skin char.
• Unsalted butter; Butter adds richness to the glaze and helps it brown beautifully. I use unsalted Butter use to grill char siu chicken in a pan, You can use cooking oil too

Noodle Broth

• Noodle; These are the bases for the dish. You can use any type of noodles you prefer, like egg noodles, rice noodles, or udon noodles
• Mushroom powder; This adds a savory, umami depth of flavor to the broth. It mimics the taste of mushrooms without needing actual mushrooms in the broth.
• Soy sauce; Provides a salty and savory base to the broth
• Fish sauce; This adds an extra layer of umami flavor with a slightly fishy punch
• Garlic oil; Infuses the broth with a subtle garlic aroma and flavor
• Sesame oil; Adds a nutty aroma and a subtle sesame flavor to the broth
• Pinch of white pepper; Provides a slight peppery heat without darkening the broth

How to Make Char Siu Chicken

First, In a small blender or food processor, combine the garlic clove and red mold rice with a little water to form a smooth paste. (Alternatively, mince the garlic very finely.)

Then, In a medium bowl, mix the chicken thigh fillet with rice vinegar, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, brown sugar, Chinese Five Spice powder, sesame oil, salt, white pepper, honey, and the blended garlic and red mold rice mixture. and toss everything well to coat the chicken evenly.

Next, cover the bowl with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or ideally overnight, for maximum flavor.

Now we’re grilling, heat a pan (grill pan or skillet) over medium heat. and add the butter and melt it completely.

Place the chicken in the hot pan and cook for 3-4 minutes per side, or until browned and cooked through. You can check for doneness by inserting an instant-read thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken – it should reach 165°F (74°C). Don’t forget to baste the chicken occasionally while grilling for extra flavor.

Once cooked, transfer the chicken to a cutting board and slice it into thin pieces.

Actually, the process of making char siu chicken is done, here I will give instructions for the noodles and assemble them with Char siu chicken.

To assembly

First thing first, In a large pot, bring the water to a boil. Second, add the dried noodles and cook according to package instructions, usually 3-5 minutes, or until al dente (cooked but still firm to the bite).

Third, drain the noodles in a colander and rinse briefly under cold water to stop them from sticking together.

Then make noodle broth. Start in a large serving bowl, combine the cooked noodles with soy sauce, mushroom powder, garlic oil, fish sauce (if using), sesame oil, and a pinch of white pepper. Now, toss the noodles well to coat them evenly with the seasoning. and, divide the seasoned noodles among serving bowls.

Now, assemble time! Top each bowl with sliced char siu chicken. And finally, enjoy your delicious Char Siu Chicken with Noodles! This delicious main dish can be served over steamed rice, or with leafy greens like cabbage.

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