Monday, June 30, 2014

SLOW COOKED PORK BARBECUE WITH CILANTRO LIME SLAW


Summer has officially arrived, and Fourth of July is right around the corner! That’s why this week I'm showing you easy and delicious recipes that will make you the star of your next backyard barbecue!

And what better way to start the week than with my recipe for Slow Cooked Pork Barbecue with Cilantro Lime Slaw.

Traditionally, pulled pork is either made by roasting it in the oven or by putting it outside in a smoker or grill. However, I personally find several problems with those techniques. First of all, I don’t want to heat up my oven for hours on end during the summer! That’s way too hot. And secondly, I don’t own a grill or a smoker. Fortunately, it’s just as easy (ehemm, EASIER) to make pulled pork in the crock pot! You achieve the same low and slow roast without heating up your kitchen. And BONUS: it’s portable! So if you’re taking the meat to a party, you can take the whole thing with you, plug it in, and keep it on warm. People can then serve themselves as they please without having to worry about reheating the meat.

What I like about this pulled pork recipe is that there’s very little prep work – which is exactly how a crock pot recipe should be!

And what’s the perfect pulled pork without coleslaw?! For this sandwich, I wanted a slaw that wouldn’t get lost in the barbecue but at the same time wouldn’t overwhelm it. That’s why I chose this Cilantro Lime Slaw. It’s very light and refreshing and adds the right amount of crunch. It’s also a bit tangy which provides a good contrast to the sweetness of the barbecue.


SLOW COOKED PORK BARBECUE WITH CILANTRO LIME SLAW

INGREDIENTS
For the Slow Cooked Pork Barbecue 
·         1 tablespoon packed brown sugar
·         1 tablespoon chili powder
·         1 tablespoon kosher salt
·         1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
·         1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
·         2 medium yellow onions, thinly sliced
·         4 tablespoons minced garlic
·         1 cup root beer
·         4 pounds pork shoulder, cut to make sure it fits properly inside your slow cooker
·         2 cups barbecue sauce

For the Cilantro Lime Slaw
·         1 (12 ounce) bag broccoli slaw
·         4 scallions, chopped
·         1/2 bunch fresh cilantro, torn
·         1/2 cup sour cream
·         1/2 cup mayonnaise
·         1/4 cup lime juice
·         1 and 1/2 tablespoons sugar
·         Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS
For the Slow Cooked Pork Barbecue 
1.      Mix the brown sugar, chili powder, salt, cumin, and cinnamon in a small bowl and set aside.
2.      Add the onions and the garlic to the bottom of the crockpot in an even layer.
3.      Pour the root beer on top.
4.      Pat the pork dry with paper towels.
5.      Rub the spice mixture on all sides of the pork and place the meat in the crock pot on top of the onions and garlic.
6.      Cover and cook until the pork is tender, about 4 to 6 hours on low.
7.      Turn off the crock pot and remove the pork to a cutting board.
8.      Set a fine-mesh strainer over a medium heatproof bowl.
9.      Pour the onion mixture from the slow cooker through the strainer and return the solids to the crock pot.
10.  Set the strained liquid aside.
11.  Using 2 forks or a sharp knife, shred the meat into bite-sized pieces, discarding any large pieces of fat.
12.  Return the shredded meat to the slow cooker, add the barbecue sauce, and mix to combine.
13.  Add to sandwich buns if desired

Recipe adapted from Chow

For the Cilantro Lime Slaw
1.      Toss the bag of slaw, scallions, and cilantro in a large salad bowl
2.      Make the dressing by combining the sour cream, mayonnaise, lime juice, and sugar.
3.      Season with salt and pepper to taste.
4.      Pour the dressing over the slaw and mix to combine.
5.      Serve on top of pork sandwiches or as a side

Recipe adapted from Tyler Florence

The ingredients for the pork rub

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The spices combined

I cut the pork shoulder into pieces so it would fit in my crock pot

The finished pulled pork!

Add the slaw on top of the sandwich for an added crunch!


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