Saturday, March 5, 2011

Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Sometimes even the most predictable people can fool you big time. You could have picked me up off the floor the day Miss Picky came home from a friend's house, and wanted pulled pork. They were having pulled pork for dinner and she insisted that I make pulled pork for her. WHAT? Did I hear right? Pulled pork? I love that stuff. But I've only had it at BBQ joints. Never homemade. I thought it might be difficult, but for my Miss Picky, I'd find a good recipe. I knew everyone else would like it, but Miss Picky is a definite challenge when it comes to food.

I looked through tons and tons of recipes. Some had too many steps, some involved smoking. I wanted easy. I needed easy, really easy! Martha Stewart had just what I wanted. I could do this. And so can anyone. Miss Picky loved it. We all did. Except for one little thing, next time she wants the all the sauce mixed in with the pork, not poured over it! Still, we're making progress!  If only she'll come home one day and insist on a piece of grilled salmon or something!




Pulled Pork with a side of Chipotle Sweet Potato Fries and Cole Slaw.
Someone couldn't wait to eat before the picture was taken. Snuck a bite! It was that good!

I used Head Country BBQ Sauce. Best sauce in the whole wide world. No kidding.



Pulled Pork
Source: Martha Stewart Living, January 2007
adapted by There's Always Thyme to Cook
Printable Recipe

3 tablespoons sweet paprika
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1 tablespoon packed dark-brown sugar
1 tablespoon ground mustard
salt and pepper, to taste
1 pork roast (shoulder or rump; about 5 pounds)
Barbecue sauce, any kind you like
6 brioche, challah, egg rolls or hamburger buns, split
   
Stir together paprika, garlic, sugar, ground mustard, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Rub spice mixture all over pork. You can refrigerate and marinate at least 3 hours (up to overnight). Or not, I put the rub on, but didn't have time to marinate, it still tasted fine!

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Transfer pork to a roasting pan. Roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of the meat registers 170 degrees and pork pulls away easily with a fork, about 6 hours, or less for smaller roasts. Transfer pork to a cutting board; let rest 10 minutes.

Using two forks, shred warm pork into a large bowl. Add some of the barbecue sauce, and stir to coat. Spoon pork onto bottom halves of rolls; top with more sauce, and top with the roll. Serve.



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42 comments:

  1. An all-time favorite at our house. Perfect sides too YUM!

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  2. I should make this for tomorrow evening... I rarely make it but when I do it is a HIT! The chipolte sweet potato fries are calling my name - YUM!

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  3. Carol, I'll have to try Pulled Pork. It looks great. I have a Mr. Picky in my home- I wonder if he'd like it. Aren't they funny? There's always hope.

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  4. There are few things I love more than pulled pork with coleslaw. Those sweet potatoes sound awesome. I'll have to try making them. Oh, and thanks for the tip on the BBQ sauce. I like to try different types.

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  5. Don't push your luck with the salmon lol. I can tell you why she asked for eat and ate it, because she saw it in another house. My picky son, who doesn't like honey so much came the other day and asked me to put him bread with honey at school. Do you know why? Because his friend sitting next to him had it and mine got jealous! Amazing how human nature works. I would gladly eat this sandwich as well!

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  6. I've never made pulled pork at home either, Carol. I'd love to try your recipe. Looks lovely.
    Who knows what Miss Picky will want next? It's all an adventure, isn't it?

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  7. We love it. Last 40 min put the puled pork back into the sauce and let it simmer. It will soak up some and give it more flavor.
    Looks delicious! Oh and we put the cole slaw ON the sandwich, I know J wouldn't like that, but that's how it is often served!

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  8. This really looks delicious. I'd love to have some on a bun. Have a great weekend. Blessings...Mary

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  9. Looks great, I haven't had it in a while:@)

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  10. When I saw the pic on Gardenbuddies had to find the recipe. I'm gonna have to try this and the pulled chicken. You're so right about Hot Head Country ...it's the best!

    Which bread did you use? Are those Alexia fries?

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  11. Big favorite in our house...really big!!!

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  12. Thanks for the comments!

    Kathleen, good idea to soak it in the sauce!

    The bread was labeled "egg bread" and it tasted a lot like challah! Or brioche. But it was a longer, braided roll instead of round! And yes, those were Alexia Chiptotle Sweet Potato Fries! We love them!

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  13. Just stopping by from Weekend cooking. I have never heard of Pulled Pork, now off to investigate!

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  14. This looks and sounds delicious. I've never tried a rub on pork for a pulled pork but now I'm interested in trying this one. Thanks for sharing.

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  15. I love pulled pork...and in the theme of my post today, you can make a fine one in the slow cooker!

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  16. I've had a pork shoulder in the freezer waiting for a good recipe! This sounds delicious, Carol! The whole meal looks mouth-watering. Way to go, Miss Picky!

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  17. I love pulled pork! Yours have very different flavor than mine. I'll give yours a try.

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  18. That looks yummy! Love your side dishes, too.

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  19. How strange to see this. If you substitute Char Siew sauce, then this is a classic Chinese dish! We often eat it at our favourite coffee shop.

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  20. Looks and sound delish. Its actually pretty much what I do with my BBQ Pork that I do in the crockpot. So if you don't want to watch the oven...season the pork as you did and pour the barbecue sauce in too. I usually add a bit of ketchup and honey in addition to the barbecue and my secret weapon..a glug of coke. Randy loves that stuff. Its is birthday Monday. Maybe I'll do one tomorrow. Glad Miss Picky liked it.

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  21. Miss Picky is at the age where you'll be picking yourself up off the floor over quite a few things..not all food related!!
    I've only made pulled pork once and loved it..I think it was Emeril's recipe..but yours looks much easier (I like that).
    Also like Kathleens idea of putting the slaw on top also, for some crunch. Will have to look up the fries.
    Great job..looks perfect and juicy!!

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  22. Dear Carol, Thank you for the birthday wishes. Isn't pulled pork the best! You recipe sounds delish! Blessings, Catherine xo

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  23. I've been craving pulled pork lately. yum!

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  24. That looks so yummy, but a 5 lb roast yields a LOT of pulled pork sandwiches, no? Sounds like it will all go, though. I can smell it from here.

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  25. Have to look up Char Siew sauce, I don't think I've had it!

    Sara, I definitely used a much smaller roast than Martha's recipe called for, I didn't note the size, but it was perfect to feed four with some leftovers!

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  26. Sounds and looks very yummy.

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  27. Pulled pork is truly the sole reason why I could never become a vegetarian. This looks amazing! I usually make it in the slow cooker and have a really simple recipe on my blog if you're looking for another one!

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  28. Love pulled pork and yeasterday I had a sandwich very similar to yours at awekk know deli here. When I get back home I will try your recipe for sure.
    Rita

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  29. We love pulled pork. I usually make it in the crock pot/slow cooker. It's a perfect meat for the slow cooker!

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  30. This looks so incredibly good and not nearly as difficult as I thought. I am saving the recipe and giving it a try.

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  31. I love this stuff too, simple and so delicious!

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  32. Oh yum...! This sounds and looks beautiful! I've never had pulled pork sandwich, but I can imagine that it tastes great :D).

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  33. I have not tried pulled pork. I make with beef and the family loves it. One of these days I'll get brave. trouble is I don't like pork roast. I do suppose it tastes nothing like a roast pork, but so moist and juicy laden...

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  34. I love pulled pork, and maybe my picky eater would eat it too! I'll give it a try.

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  35. We love it and do ours in the crock pot. Will have to try your version soon( spices sound yummy) before the weather gets to hot. We don't use our oven a lot in the summer.

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  36. I am so hungry just looking at this!

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  37. This is a great recipe, as I absolutely love pulled pork sandwiches! If you're interested, I'd love it if you could check out pulled pork recipe guide: http://www.recipelion.com/Sandwiches/14-Pulled-Pork-Recipes-And-Cooking-Tips

    Thanks!

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  38. Pulled pork is one of my favorite foods and when it is on a menu, I order it. I am sure there is a recipe for a slow cooker.

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  39. Pulled pork is the perfect slow-cooking winter dish, warm and spicy. The image of sandwich, served in combination with chipotle sweet potato fries and cole slaw looks yummy. Every food lover will like to prepare this dish at home. Thanks for sharing the recipe of this wonderful dish.

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  40. Thanks for the nice comments!

    @ BBQ Restaurant, your restaurant looks fantastic! When I get to Brooklyn one of these days, I'm there, the ribs look fantastic!

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Thank you for taking the time to comment. They are fun to read and very much appreciated! Sorry for comment moderation, the spam has been overwhelming lately.

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