Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Pulled Pork and Cole Slaw Sandwiches


What is your favorite sport to watch on television?  Football, basketball, baseball, pro sports, college sports?  

If you love watching sports on television you need sports food!  Last weekend, I made these delicious pulled pork and cole slaw sandwiches while we watched Marquette make it into the Sweet Sixteen with one of our daughters and her boyfriend (both Marquette alumni). Whether you're a student, an alum, or just a fan who loves sports, these are sure to please a roaring crowd!

Not only is this easy to make but can be made well in advance so there's no last-minute cooking.


This Tyler Florence recipe starts out with a large bone-in pork shoulder (aka Boston Butt). Mine weighed over 6 pounds. A dry rub of paprika, garlic powder, brown sugar, dry mustard and coarse salt is rubbed on the roast and left to marinate in the refrigerator, preferably overnight. I did this Friday night. On Saturday, I pulled out my old 6 quart Nesco Slow Roaster since this was going to be a 6 hour-plus slow-roast.


When it was done, the tender pork was easy to pull apart and the fat and bone were discarded. I strained the meat juices and defatted them the next day. 
 

On Sunday, all I had to do was arrange the shredded pork on a large baking pan and add the meat juices plus a little (1/2 cup) of Chipotle BBQ sauce and toss every now and again until the juices were reduced, but not totally evaporated, still leaving moist, tender meat.

Did you know that cole slaw is perfect crunchy compliment to pulled pork? You can either pile it on top of the pork on your sandwich or eat it on the side - your preference!


I hope you give these recipes a try, whether you love watching sports or just love a great pulled pork sandwich!

Slow Roasted Pulled Pork and Cole Slaw Sandwiches

Adapted from Oven-Roasted Pulled Pork Sandwiches by Tyler Florence
Printable Recipe with My Personal Adaptations

Tyler Florence includes a recipe for Cider Vinegar BBQ Sauce which I tried and found far too sour and vinegar-y for my liking so I did not include it here but you can find it on the link above. I advise using your favorite BBQ sauce recipe or store-bought brand.

Serves 8-10

Do Ahead: This recipe can be started 2 days before serving.

1 (5 to 7 pound) bone-in pork roast, preferably shoulder or Boston butt

Your favorite BBQ sauce (optional)
Crusty Rolls

Dry Rub:

3 tablespoons paprika
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon dry mustard
3 tablespoons coarse salt

Mix the paprika, garlic power, brown sugar, dry mustard, and salt together in a small bowl. Rub the spice blend all over the pork and marinate for as long as you have time for, overnight being preferred but not absolutely necessary.

Preheat the oven or slow roaster to 300 degrees F.

Place the pork roast in a covered roasting pan and bake for about 6-7 hours, until it's falling off the bone. Allow to cool slightly and remove the meat, discarding excess fat and the bone. Shred the meat using two large forks or your fingers.

Strain the meat juices and separate the fat either using a fat strainer or simply place the juices in the refrigerator overnight and remove the fat layer the next day.

Place the defatted meat juice and shredded meat on a large baking pan. Toss in 1/2 cup cup of BBQ sauce (optional) and roast in a 350 degree oven for another 30-45 minutes, turning every 10 minutes, until the juices are almost dissolved but the meat is still moist.

To serve, spoon the pulled pork mixture onto the bottom 1/2 of a bun, and top with the cole slaw.

Cole Slaw adapted from Jim' N Nick's Coleslaw


This slaw is perfect as a side dish or added to a pulled-pork sandwich.

(I adjusted the vinegar, sugar and mayonnaise to my preference)

Makes 8 to 10 servings

1 2-pound head of green cabbage, quartered, cored, cut crosswise into 1/8-inch-thick slices (about 14 cups)
3/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1-1/2 cups sugar
1 cup grated peeled carrots
1/2 cup finely chopped red onion
1/2 cup mayonnaise
Salt and Pepper to taste

Place cabbage in large bowl. Add vinegar and sugar; toss to coat. Cover and let stand 30 minutes. Toss cabbage mixture well; cover and let stand 30 minutes longer (You can also use a baster to siphon the vinegar solution from the bottom and baste and cabbage). Drain cabbage well squeezing out the excess juice with your hands. Can be made 8 hours ahead up to this point. Cover and chill.

Transfer drained cabbage to another large bowl. Add carrots, onions, and mayonnaise; toss to coat. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

44 comments:

  1. Aren't those little ovens the best! I have a 6qt QVC one and it's great! Love pulled pork, and it's been a while since I've made cole slaw-gotta fix that:@)

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  2. I'm just not a basketball fan...more football and hockey. But that doesn't mean I don't appreciate this lovely pork and slaw, Susan!
    I really, really must get a slow cooker!

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  3. Susan,

    Not a basketball fan! But definitely a fan of your food today. This is good Super Bowl food too. Thanks for sharing and may the best team win!

    Carol

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  4. Exciting time for you with two teams in the tournament! Love pulled pork, took me a long time but finally made it, and now I'll have to try your recipe, it looks amazing!

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  5. The Pulled Pork looks delicious and made me hungry. Have made a copy and will make it soon. YUM!!!

    I admit to not being much of a basketball fan but love football. My sons played football and baseball.

    Carolyn/A Southerners Notebook

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  6. What ? No mention of your Happy Birthday week?
    It's a CELEBRATION:)

    Since you won't mention it:) I will..

    You look as young as when I first met you..


    Happy Birthday Nana2!!

    What a feast! I love Tyler:)♥

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  7. We don't have any football college Teams...but I would like to eat your sandwich ...anyway---hugs, Flavia

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  8. Oh, that looks soooo good! I haven't made pulled pork in a long time. I'm from the South, and as you probably know, we Southerners LOVE barbecue and coleslaw. Gosh, just looking at it makes me hungry. Thanks for the recipe for dry rub and coleslaw.

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  9. I loved pulled pork with coleslaw!! This recipe looks great. We have two of our local teams in ... Duke and UNC!! I am happy with either of them winning :)

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  10. Looks good...I do love a good Reuben sandwich so I'm sure that this would be equally delicious.

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  11. Bonjour Susan
    I laughed when I read yur post because it is so... American.
    Super Bowl and pulled pork - almost unheard of here in Oz but sounds delish. xx

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  12. I haven't had pulled pork in a while, this is making me crave for it now!

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  13. We have pulled pork a few times a year and love it! Very exciting time for you with two teams in the tournament! Our Syracuse team is out :-(

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  14. I love pulled pork. I never tried making my own. Lots of great flavor you have there.

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  15. I made pulled pork sandwiches for Superbowl Sunday! It's a wonderful treat to have while watching sports. Good idea to serve it with coleslaw...I'll have to remember that for next time.

    Thank you for your congratulations on the birth of our grandson, Susan! We are thrilled with the new addition to our family!

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  16. We're big college football fans, but I agree, the intensity on the players faces is riveting at times.

    We love pulled pork, and your recipe looks delicious. I like the idea of serving slaw with it!

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  17. Here we don't have any football college teams, italians love football!Your recipe looks tasty Susan,a warm hug...

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  18. My husband was a basketball player years ago in college, so we still enjoy watching the game. I've alwasy wanted to make pulled pork;yours sure looks tasty; do you think this would work in my Slow Cooker. Thanks.
    Rita

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  19. That sandwich looks and sounds so good, even without an exciting game to watch to go along with it.

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  20. Looks great! I tried Carol's recipe recently. We loved it! Favorite bbq sauce here is Hot Head Country, but when you mentioned chipotle I remembered Sweet Baby Ray's Raspberry Chipotle. Will have to use that next time.

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  21. Thank you, everyone! I can't wait to make this again - it's really very, very good.

    Rita, I don't see why you couldn't make it in a slow cooker. I may required a lot more cooking time, though. It probably depends on what temperature your cooker uses.

    Enjoy!

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  22. Looks delicious, Susan. What a great meal for basketball viewing!
    I have made it both ways, oven and crock pot, both came out fine. It is the kind of recipe that is hard to mess up! I made it for over 100 for a picnic. It has only caught on here in the last few years though.
    We put the cole slaw on top, love it.

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  23. Oh, we love pulled pork sandwiches. It was just a few years ago that I learned about putting cole slaw on them - wow, it sure gives it a punch!

    When we are watching our team, my stomach is in knots. BYU plays again tonight - at least they made it this far. Go University of Wisconsin! I grew up in Madison so I always cheer for them, unless they are playing BYU!

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  24. I love pulled pork!! I keep telling hubby that he needs to put a pork roast on the barbecue....and I could mix up your slaw...yummy!

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  25. Hi Susan, thanks for stopping by today. It really is a tasty side dish, I think you'll like it!

    Mary

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  26. Love this time of year! My favorite team was out in the first round but still enjoying the games. Love pulled pork, this looks delicious!

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  27. Pork shoulder is one of my favorite cuts of meat, because I love the results braised. This looks like a substantial sandwich, I am sure a meaty crowd pleaser.

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  28. Though I know absolutely nothing about March Madness and merely smiled and nodded through the whole first segment of your post, I am down with eating pulled pork. Even if it means I have to watch a basketball game in order to do so. This looks so delicious! Love how simple it is to throw together.

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  29. I love coleslaw on a pulled pork sandwich. Your photos look delicious.

    -Brenda

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  30. Do you make these recipes just for me? It sure seems like it!
    This is another reicpe to go on my weekly menu.
    Delicious!!!!
    Yvonne

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  31. I have got to get a slow cooker.. just too many great things I'm missing... the pork looks unbelievably tender and juicy.

    I go off and read during basketball games... not my speed but this is... great for any sandwich event.

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  32. ~~~ so i am watching Mad Hungry on The Hallmark Channel and she is making carnitas...and then i see you on octoberfarm's sidebar with pulled pork sandwhiches...i have some cabbage i need to use so here i go...this looks wonderful....

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  33. That would be terrific, with or without basketball! Can't wait to try it!

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  34. Nicely done, my kids would love this :)

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  35. Sadly, both our teams have been eliminated and did not make the Elite Eight :( We still had fun cheering for them and thank you all for your wonderful comments!

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  36. I love pulled pork sandwiches, especially with cole slaw. They'd be great for munching during a basketball game or anytime! Go VCU!! :)

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  37. I've never tried doing pulled pork, but you made it look pretty simple. Sounds yummy, even if your aren't watching a game! I also have to try the Apple & Spice cake. That sounds delish!
    CAS

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  38. Ooh, pulled pork with cole slaw sounds sooo good!

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  39. Sweet Lord, those look fantastic! Pulled pork is one of my favorite dishes, something about the tenderness of the meat and the way it tastes wedged between two buns is glorious. The cole slaw on the side sounds tasty, too!

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  40. Looks wonderful to me. Did you know pork shoulder has the perfect fat to protein ratio for sausage making? Maybe that's why it is Soooooo yummy. This looks really delicious, Susan. I have made this in my Sous Vide machine, and it was a hit - but honestly, I have never eaten an "authentic" pulled pork sandwich and wouldn't have a clue how one was supposed to taste, so tasting "good" and "delicious" are criteria that work for me.
    :)
    Valerie

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  41. wonderful sandwiches all the best for your team

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  42. I have never had a pulled pork sandwich before...This is indeed mouthwatering!

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  43. I love the combination of pork and cole slaw. The compliment each other well. Hope your teams are still doing well!

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