Char Siu Sou (Chinese BBQ Pork Puff)

Char Siu Sou Pastry Pockets Recipe

What Is Char Siu Sou?

One of the best Chinese snacks to try are these Chinese Char Siu Sou Pastry Pockets. It’s a popular dish in Hong Kong and is often served at Dim Sum. “Char Siu Sou” or “Char Siew Sou” are small pastry puffs, filled with Chinese-styled roast pork and topped with sesame seeds.

How To Make Char Siu Sou:

These Char Siu Pastry Pockets require very limited ingredients. Provided you already have Char Siu Pork Ready, you can have these pastry pockets ready within 30 minutes. 

Pastry

For the pastry, I simply use premade puff pastry. As a student, I don’t like making the puff pastry from scratch so I just get premade pastry from my local supermarket.

To make the pastry nice and golden brown, I like to brush some egg wash over the pastry pockets. This isn’t a requirement but it helps make the pastries cook more evenly. After the egg wash, I also like to add more sesame seeds on top of the pastries.

Filling

For the filling, you’ll need

• Char Siu (Chinese BBQ Pork)
• Brown Onions
• Sesame Seeds

My Chinese BBQ Pork Pastries use already cooked char siu. To learn how to marinate and cook the char siu pork, click here. 

Sauce

For the char siu sou sauce, you’ll need

• Sugar
• Shaoxing wine
• Light soy sauce
• Honey 

Alternatively – Buy Premade Char Siu Sauce:

If you don’t want to buy all the ingredients, you can use premade Char Siu Sauce. Lee Kum Kee is a brand that sells a Chinese BBQ marinade that you can use instead. You can find this at a Chinese supermarket, or alternatively, on Amazon. It’s an easier way to make the sauce for the Char Siu Sou, but can also be used to marinate and cook the Char Siu BBQ Pork.

I prefer making my own sauce for these BBQ Pork Pastry Pockets, as the premade sauce is a lot sweeter. However, if you’re short on time or don’t want to buy all the ingredients, this sauce is a good alternative. 

What To Serve With These Chinese Roast Pork Pastry Puffs

These Chinese BBQ pork pastries are often served at Dim Sum. I don’t go to Dim Sum often, so I like making these pastry pockets at home whenever I fancy it. My family likes to make these as a simple snack or as an appetiser when we have guests. It’s the perfect appetiser to make, especially for people who have never tried it before. 

Can You Freeze Char Siu Sou?

This Char Siu Sou recipe can be frozen. I like to make the char siu sou in batches and then freeze them. To reheat, simply let the pastry puffs defrost for a couple of hours, and then bake for 10-15 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius. I personally find these BBQ Pork Puffs taste the best when made fresh, however, if you have leftover, reheating them will still taste good. 

Hints and Tips:

• Let the char siu sou filling cool before wrapping it in the puff pastry. This will stop the pastry pocket from becoming soggy.

• Add some egg wash over the pastry pockets to help them brown more neatly. Sprinkle more sesame seeds over the pastries for decoration.

Looking For Similar Recipes? Try These 

• Yeung Chow Fried Rice

• Char Siu (Chinese BBQ Pork)

• Chinese Beef Hor Fun

• Indian Kachumber Salad (Spicy Cucumber Peanut Salad)

Final Thoughts On These Char Siu Dim Sum Pastries

These Chinese Pork Pastries are so easy to make, taste delicious and are such a party favourite! If you love Chinese food and Dim Sum as much as I do, this appetiser will easily become one of your favourite snacks to make!

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