Classic Potted Pork Recipes

CLASSIC NORTH CAROLINA PULLED PORK

Steps:

• Season pork all over with salt. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. The next day, stir together garlic and oil. Mix together sugars, paprika, pepper, mustard, and thyme. Rub oil mixture over pork, then sugar mixture. Let stand while you heat grill.
• Open grill vents. Prepare a chimney with 80 charcoal briquettes; place on small lower grate. Ignite; let burn until top layer is turning ash gray, about 20 minutes. Place a small disposable roasting pan on one side of grate. Add 2 cups hot water. Pour coals in on other side. Top with main grill grate.
• Place pork on grill, over pan of water. Cover grill with lid, keeping top and bottom vents halfway open. Every hour, add briquettes (about 16) as needed to keep grill temperature at a steady 300 degrees. Cook until a thermometer inserted in thickest part of pork registers about 200 degrees, 7 to 8 hours.
• Let meat stand 20 minutes before pulling apart with two forks. Meanwhile, whisk together sauce ingredients in a bowl. Toss pulled pork with 1 cup sauce. Pile pork on buns, then top with slaw and cucumber. Serve, with pickles and remaining sauce on the side.

PULLED PORK

Steps:

• Stir together the brown sugar, chile powder, paprika, garlic powder, salt, black pepper and cayenne in a small bowl. Rub the mixture all over the pork shoulder. Wrap the pork in plastic wrap and refrigerate for several hours or preferably overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
• Place the pork in a large pot on a bed of the onion halves. Roast until fork-tender and falling apart, about 7 hours. Remove the pork from the pot and set it on a cutting board. Slice some of the onion.
• Place the pot on the stove over medium-high heat and add 1/2 to 1 cup of hot water. Scrape the pan to loosen up the bits and cook for 5 minutes to reduce. Pour in the barbecue sauce and stir to heat.
• Shred the meat with two forks, add the sliced onions to the pork and then toss in the barbecue sauce until it's coated to your liking! Serve on hamburger rolls.

CLASSIC PORK STEW

Steps:

• Toss pork cubes with flour, 1 teaspoon salt and pepper in a large bowl until evenly coated.
• Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add half of the pork; cook, undisturbed, until browned on the bottom, about 3 minutes. Stir and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until browned on all sides, about 3 minutes. Transfer the meat to a clean bowl; repeat with the remaining pork.
• Reduce heat to medium. Add onion to the pot; cook, stirring often, until softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Add garlic and herbs; cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add tomato paste; cook, stirring constantly, until the tomato paste darkens, about 1 minute. Add wine; cook, scraping the bottom of the pot, until reduced by about half, about 1 minute. Add stock, bay leaves and the remaining 1 teaspoon salt; return the browned pork and any accumulated juices to the pot. Increase heat to medium-high and bring to a boil; reduce heat to low, cover and cook until the pork is almost tender, 30 to 40 minutes.
• Stir in potatoes, carrots, parsnips and mushrooms. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender, 30 to 40 minutes. Transfer 1/4 cup of the liquid to a small bowl; whisk in cornstarch to make a slurry. Stir the slurry back into the stew; increase heat to medium. Stir in peas; cook until the peas are bright green and the liquid is slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in vinegar and remove and discard bay leaves. Garnish with chopped parsley, if desired.

POTTED PORK

Steps:

• Pulse pork shoulder and fresh pork fat together in 2 batches in a food processor until finely ground (be careful not to pulse to a smooth purée), transferring to a 2- to 2 1/2-quart heavy saucepan.
• Add water, onion, garlic, bay leaves, salt, black pepper, and allspice to pork and bring to a boil, stirring to break up clumps. Reduce heat and simmer, partially covered, stirring occasionally, until meat is tender and liquid is still visible below surface of meat, 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 hours.
• Discard bay leaves from pot, then transfer pork to 5 (8-oz) ramekins with a slotted spoon. Spoon remaining liquid over pork (use caution).
• Place a small round of wax paper on surface of creton in each ramekin and chill until firm, at least 3 hours.
• Let stand at room temperature 1 hour before serving.