My first attempt of making rolled chashu using braising method.
The meat is kinda dried out and the flavor didn’t penetrate inside that well.
I tried to fix it by brining with braising liquid for a day but didnt help much.
Maybe next time I will just boil it and marinate later.
by Significant_Pop3658
4 Comments
Wow that looks really good
I’ve also tried this method and gotten dry results. Some people make it work, but I’m not sure what the solution is. It might help to have the roll smaller (I like to cut mine in half so there’s no spiral and the ends just meet). I also tried cooking mine in oil recently to great effect–it helps it stay moist.
Braising liquid should be a low simmer not boiling. Once meat is dried out, there’s nothing you can do to get moisture back in it.
I’ve had these results before. Frustrating, but we’ve all been there. Her is what fixed it for me. More braising liquid while braising. No need to marinade before, just keep it at least halfway up the pork, and flip it every 30 minutes or so. I live at altitude so water boils at a lower temperature, so evaporation loss is a big deal. Keep a lid on it, maybe partially cracked to keep the water liquid level up. I once didn’t do this, and it all caramelized and really was hard to clean. Wife wasn’t happy. Anyways. 2-3 hours is what I usually go for until it’s super jiggly like a jello. Take it out and place on a roasting rack for about 30 minutes to attempt to dry the exterior. Get the oven going at 450f or so, and roast for 5 minutes or so to get a nice exterior. Then let cool, and place in a ziplock bag with the cooled braising liquid and let it sit in the fridge for at least 24 hours. I’ve gone up to 4 days with good results. After that, slice while cold, oven to 225, throw it in maybe 30 minutes prior to serving, and hit it with a kitchen torch on one or both sides (see what you like). I also will portion out the rest of the log, freeze, vacuum seal, and then throw in a bag with other portions for ready to go chashu for at least a couple months. It’s great!
This is mostly ramen_lords recipe with some additions that have worked for me on my journey. Good luck!