Pulled Pork

I had Pulled Pork for the first and, to be honest, the last time at a popular fast-food restaurant. I was drawn to the idea of it and the photo in the ad looked appealing, so it was mere culinary curiosity :) But what I got was just not so good looking and kind of tasteless. Since then, I've been testing the Pulled Pork recipe and I've tried many versions of it, both classic and original. Eventually, I decided to stick to this one, which is adapted to our taste.

Pulled Pork, or shredded pork, is actually slow cooked steak in the oven, seasoned with specific spices and sauce. It usually has a slight smoky flavour and a somewhat sweet taste, like the Barbeque sauce kind of sweet. I don't like this combination, so I got rid of the sugar in the sauce right from the start. The smoky flavour comes from the smoked paprika, I'm not too fond of that either, so I often replace it with sweet paprika, especially that smoked paprika is so hard to find.

This is a simple low-carb, no sugar recipe, but you are free to create the version you like. You can play, adjusting the salt, sugar and smoky flavour to your own taste. One more important thing - you'll get a lot of food if you use these amounts. I was a bit buffled at first, but then I decided to freeze the rest. When thawed, the meat doesn't lose its taste and texture, so you can always keep it for when you are in the mood for some pita bread sandwiches or just plain, but you don't have the time.

Oh, and you can use chicken, turkey or any other meat you like, but keep it in the over for less time, I'd say 2-3 hours.

Ingredients
Pork leg meat
1.5 kg
choose a fatty cut, like the pork shoulder
Tomato paste
200 g
it has to be slightly more liquid, you can use water to dilute the tomato paste
Onions
1 piece
Garlic cloves
2 pieces
Chilli pepper
1 piece
Smoked paprika
2 tsp
I normally use sweet paprika
Ground coriander
2 tsp
Ground black pepper
0.5 tsp
Salt
2 tsp
Brandy or cognac
2 tbsp
optional
Step by step
Step 1

In a small bowl, mix tomato sauce, cognac (if you want), salt, paprika, black peper and coriander (adjust to your taste). 

Pulled Pork - Step 1
Step 2

Finely dice the chilly pepper, onion and garlic - add them to the sauce and stir well.

Pulled Pork - Step 2
Step 3

I used this meat, but next time I will choose a fattier shoulder cut.

Pulled Pork - Step 3
Step 4

Place the meat in a bowl or even in the casserole dish in which you will cook it. Coat the meat with the sauce, covering well every part of it. 

I have a deep Jena baking dish with lid which I use mostly for cooking pork steak. I marinated the meat in it. 

Pulled Pork - Step 4
Step 5

Cover with a lid or plastic wrap and leave in the fridge to marinate for 5-6 hours, or even 1-2 days. 

Pulled Pork - Step 5
Step 6

After this time, cover with a lid or aluminium foil and place in the oven for 5-6 hours to 125 degrees C

If you used a different bowl to marinate meat, transfer it in a casserole dish together with the sauce. There is no need to add any other liquid, as there is plenty and covering it with a lid while cooking will prevent the meat from getting dry. 

Pulled Pork - Step 6
Step 7

This is what it looks like after 4-5 hours in the oven. 

Pulled Pork - Step 7
Step 8

Now it's the time to shred the meat, using 2 forks. 

Pulled Pork - Step 8
Step 9

Keep it in the oven for another 30 minutes, same temperature. 

Pulled Pork - Step 9
Step 10

It's nicely roasted now, let it cool for 15-30 minutes. 

Pulled Pork - Step 10
Step 11

While still warm, use 2 forks to pull the meat apart and blend it well together with the sauce.

Pulled Pork - Step 11
Step 12

Now, just enjoy pulled pork with: pita breads (I spread cream cheese on, I added in the pork, pickled cucumber, cabbage, tomatoes and corn), sandwiches, pasta, patatoes, vegetables etc. 

Pulled Pork - Step 12
Step 13

You can freeze the extra food in hermetic sealed plastic bags and then relish it when you have neither the time nor the mood for cooking. 

Pulled Pork - Step 13
Step 14

It's a wonderful and easy to cook dish, which I recommend trying. It's a nice variation in the family menu and everybody is happy. 

Enjoy!

Pulled Pork - Step 14
Quantity: 1 kg ()
Prep time:
300 min
Difficulty: easy
Ready in: 600 min