Neelys Pork Shoulder Recipes

BLACK-EYED PEAS WITH BACON AND PORK

Steps:

• If using dried black-eyed peas, put them in a large pot and cover with about 4 inches of water. Soak the peas overnight, then drain the water and rinse. Alternatively, you can "quick-soak" the peas by bringing them and the water to a boil for 2 minutes. After this, remove them from the heat, cover the pot and soak the peas for 1 hour. Then, drain and rinse the peas.
• Heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. When the oil is shimmering, add the pork. Sear until the pork is browned on all sides, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the bacon, onion and garlic to the pot and cook, stirring, until the onion and garlic are lightly browned, about 6 to 8 minutes. Add the salt, black pepper, cayenne and garlic powder. Cook until the entire mixture is coated with the spices, about 2 minutes. Pour in the stock and water and drop in the bay leaves. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for about 30 minutes.
• When the pork begins to fall apart, add the prepared peas to the pot and simmer until the peas are very soft, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours (see Cook's Note).
• Taste for seasonings, and add some hot-pepper vinegar, if desired. Discard the bay leaves and transfer the black-eyed peas to a serving bowl.

APPLE INJECTED SMOKED PORK

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk together all the ingredients for the marinade.
• Put the pork into a casserole dish. Fill a syringe with the marinade and inject 3/4 of the way into the pork. Inject the meat in several places with the marinade. Pour the remaining marinade over the meat. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 to 12 hours, so flavors can permeate.
• Preheat a grill to 275 degrees F, using indirect heat and applewood soaked chips.
• Drain off excess liquid from the meat and pat dry with a towel. Season the pork with Neely's Dry Rub seasoning, to taste, making sure you cover the sides. Arrange on the grill with the fat side facing up. Grill until the meat is tender, about 6 hours. Transfer to a serving platter and serve.

PULLED PORK SANDWICHES

Steps:

• If using a gas grill, preheat to high on one side; put soaked wood chips in a smoker box. Once smoking, reduce the heat to maintain a temperature of 275 degrees F and cook the pork, covered, on the cooler side of the grill.
• Rub the pork
• Make the Neelys' go-to barbecue seasoning: Mix the paprika, sugar and onion powder in a bowl. Transfer 3 tablespoons seasoning to a separate bowl, add 2 tablespoons salt and 3 tablespoons pepper, and massage onto the pork. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 2 hours or up to 1 day. (Reserve the remaining barbecue seasoning.)
• Prepare the wood chips: Soak 6 cups wood chips in water, about 15 minutes, then drain. Don't oversoak, or the wood will snuff out the fire.
• Light the grill: Fill a smoker or kettle grill with charcoal and light. (Pat uses lighter fluid; you can also use a chimney starter.) When the coals are mostly white, spread them out with tongs. Spread 1/2 cup of the wood chips over the coals (use 1 cup for a kettle grill). The temperature of the grill should be about 275 degrees F.
• Cook the pork: Place the pork fat-side down on a rack in the smoker or on the grill. Cover and cook, rotating the pork every hour or so, until a thermometer inserted into the center registers 165 degrees F, about 6 hours total.
• Feed the grill: As the pork cooks, add more charcoal and wood chips to keep the temperature between 250 degrees F and 275 degrees F and to maintain the smoke level.
• Make the sauce: Meanwhile, mix the ketchup, 1 cup water, both sugars, 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper, the onion and mustard powders, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, corn syrup and 1 tablespoon of the reserved barbecue seasoning in a saucepan over high heat. Bring to a boil, stirring, then reduce the heat to low and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, at least 2 hours. Let cool, then reheat on the grill when ready to use.
• Shred the pork: Transfer the pork to a rimmed baking sheet (you'll want to catch all the flavorful juices) and let stand until cool enough to handle. Shred into bite-size pieces, pile on a platter and pour any juices from the baking sheet on top.
• Make the sandwiches: Mound the pork on bun bottoms, paint with a little barbecue sauce, top with slaw and cover with the bun tops. The best sandwich ever!

CHEESY PORK ENCHILADAS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Mix the chili powder, salt, oregano and pepper together in a small bowl. Sprinkle the cubed pork chunks with the spice mixture and put into a large Dutch oven. Add 1 cup of the salsa verde, chicken broth, garlic and onions. Stir together with a wooden spoon. Put the pot on high heat and bring the mixture to a simmer. Transfer to the oven and cook, covered, until the pork is tender and easily shreds, about 1 hour 45 minutes. Once done, shred the pork in the Dutch oven with a pair of tongs or 2 forks.
• Turn the oven up to 350 degrees F.
• Combine the remaining 2 cups salsa verde and sour cream in a wide, medium bowl. Spread about 1/2 cup of the mixture on the bottom of a large rectangular casserole dish.
• Wrap the tortillas up in a damp paper towel and microwave 40 seconds. Lay the warm tortillas out on your cutting board. Dip into the sour cream-salsa mixture and fill evenly with the shredded pork mixture and sprinkle of the cheese. Roll the enchilada up and place seam-side down in the baking dish. Pour the remaining sauce over the top and top with the rest of the cheese. Bake 30 minutes. Garnish with cilantro sprigs, if using.

BBQ ROAST PORK

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Mix together all of the dry rub ingredients in a small bowl. Rub the pork with canola oil and generously sprinkle the rib all over the pork. Put in a bowl, cover and refrigerate overnight.
• BBQ sauce: Add the oil to a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat. Once hot, add the onion, garlic, and jalapeno. Saute until soft and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Add the strawberries and sugar and cook until the strawberries begin to break down and the sugar dissolves. Add the ketchup, water, strawberry nectar, jam, mustard, Worcestershire, salt and pepper. Simmer for 30 minutes.
• Put the pork in a roasting pan and roast until an instant-read thermometer registers 145 degrees F, about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Brush with BBQ sauce the last 10 minutes of cooking.
• Remove the pork from the oven and let rest for 10 minutes before slicing.

SLOW COOKER PORK SHOULDER WITH ZESTY BASIL SAUCE

Steps:

• Cook the pork: Mix garlic, oil, mustard, brown sugar, salt, pepper, oregano, and paprika in a small bowl to form a paste. Rub all over pork, then transfer to a resealable plastic bag or slow cooker insert and chill overnight.
• Place pork in slow cooker, cover, and cook on low until meat is fork-tender but not yet completely falling apart, 7 1/2-8 hours.
• Meanwhile, make the sauce: Mix shallot, basil, oil, oregano, red pepper flakes, and salt in an airtight container. Cover and let rest up to 3 hours at temperature or up to 2 days in refrigerator. Stir in lemon juice just before using.
• Transfer pork to a cutting board and let rest 5 minutes. Slice and transfer to a platter. Drizzle with sauce and serve with additional sauce alongside.
• Do Ahead
• Pork can be rubbed 2 days ahead; chill in an airtight container. Sauce, without lemon juice, can be made 2 days ahead; chill in an airtight container.

NEELYS' IF-YOU'VE-GOT-A-SMOKER BBQ PORK

Steps:

• Mix together the Neely's barbecue rub, pepper, and salt.
• Rinse the shoulder or butt thoroughly, pat dry with paper towels, and massage the seasoning mixture into the meat. Cover the meat with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or up to 1 day in advance.
• Following the manufacturer's instructions, and, using lump charcoal and 1/2 cup of soaked and drained wood chips for the smoker (or 1 cup for the kettle grill), start a fire, and bring the temperature of the smoker or barbecue grill up to 275 degrees F.
• Place the pork on a rack in the smoker or on the grill. Cover, and cook the meat until a thermometer inserted into the center registers 165 degrees F, turning the pork every hour or so, about 6 hours total. Add more charcoal as needed to maintain the temperature, and more drained wood chips to maintain the smoke level.
• Transfer the pork to a rimmed baking sheet (this is important-you'll want to catch all the flavorful juices), and allow it to stand until cool enough to handle. Shred the pork into bite-sized pieces, and mound on a platter. Pour any juices from the baking sheet over the pork. At this point the pork can be served immediately, or covered with foil and refrigerated for a day.
• If you chill the pork, rewarm it, covered, in a 350-degree oven for about 30 minutes.