Pulled pork practically makes itself in a slow cooker. The key is having a pork roast on hand, so pick one up and stash it in the freezer. To thaw, set it on a dish and leave it in the refrigerator for a day or two: When it’s time to cook, either braise with a couple beers or take the sweeter route with cider or a barbecue sauce (or, really, any other bottled sauce, like teriyaki marinade).
To make pulled pork in advance: After cooking, cool the pork to room temperature, then refrigerate overnight, or up to three days. (This will make it easy to remove and discard the hardened fat from the surface before reheating.) Before serving, simply heat the pulled pork on the stovetop, in the slow cooker, or in an oven-safe serving dish covered with foil (300°F for 30 minutes).
To make the sandwiches pictured, you’ll need some toasted ciabatta buns, coleslaw (I suggest my Modified Memphis Coleslaw), and pickled red onions.
Published in Edible Bozeman, Fall 2019. Photo by Samantha Lord.
Pulled Pork
4–6 servings
Ingredients
Pulled Pork
- 2–3 pound pork shoulder roast, boneless cut into 4 pieces
- 1 tbsp high-heat cooking oil safflower by The Oil Barn
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- a few grinds of black pepper
- 3 cups braising liquid (two 12-ounce bottles of light beer, or 1 bottle of beer and either 12 ounces of apple cider, broth, or a bottle of marinade or BBQ sauce)
Instructions
-
Dry the roast with paper towels, then cut off and discard any large pieces of fat—you’re not going to get it all, and you don’t even want to. Cut roast into 3 or 4 pieces. Season with salt and spices.
-
Heat the oil in a slow cooker insert (make sure it’s safe for the stove top) or Dutch oven. Add meat and brown on all sides. Take the time to develop a dark brown color—this adds great flavor to your braise. Transfer the pork to a slow cooker, add the braising liquid, and set to high for 4–6 hours (or low for 6 hours).
For cooking in a Dutch oven, cover with lid and set to a low simmer on the stovetop for 2.5–3 hours.
-
When the meat is cooked, pull it apart gently with a wooden spoon and fork. If there is a lot of liquid left, I suggest removing the meat to a plate and reducing the sauce by about a third to thicken slightly, then transferring the meat back to the sauce. Serve with coleslaw and toasted ciabatta rolls or other buns.
