Sticky Char Siu Pork Belly Bites with Cucumber Salad
Chunks of pork belly roasted until the fat is crisp and the outsides are coated in a dark, sticky glaze.
Made with Char siu marinade. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time1 hr 30
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £2.81 a head
- Oven180°C (160°C fan)
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Use your ready made char siu marinade (see the base recipe). Pour 30 ml into a clean small dish and keep it back for the final glaze.
- 2
Toss the pork belly cubes with the remaining 70 ml of marinade and leave for 1 hour at room temperature or up to 12 hours in the fridge, covered.
- 3
Heat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan). Spread the pork on a rack over a lined tin, leaving space between the pieces.
- 4
Roast for 50 minutes, turning the pieces every 15 minutes, until the fat is rendered and the meat is tender.
50 min - 5
Raise the oven to 220°C (200°C fan). Brush the pork with the reserved marinade and roast for 8 to 10 minutes, turning once, until dark and sticky. Rest for 5 minutes.
9 min - 6
Cook the rice following the packet. Toss the cucumber with the rice vinegar, sesame oil, sesame seeds and spring onions.
- 7
Serve the pork bites over rice with the cucumber salad on the side. Pour off the fat from the tin first.
Tips
- Pork belly releases a lot of fat. Roasting on a rack lets it drain away so the pieces crisp instead of stewing.
- Keep the cubes the same size so they all cook at the same speed.
- Pour the rendered fat off carefully. It is hot and best cooled and discarded.
Storing and freezing
Keeps up to 3 days in the fridge, cooled within 1 hour. Reheat on a tray at 200C for 10 minutes until steaming hot all the way through, or freeze for up to 2 months.
Questions
Can I use pork shoulder instead of belly?
Yes. Cut it into 3 cm cubes and roast for about 40 minutes at 180C. It is leaner and less crisp, but still sticky and tasty.
Why add the vinegar salad?
The sharp, cold cucumber cuts through the rich, sweet pork. Pickled red onions or kimchi would work in the same way.
Can I use an air fryer?
Yes. Cook at 180C for 18 to 20 minutes, shaking halfway, then toss in the reserved marinade and air fry for 3 more minutes.
More made with char siu marinade
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.