Showing posts with label pulled pork. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pulled pork. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Barbara's Stir Fry (Pork Fried Rice)


Pork fried rice is one of our favorite things to order in a Chinese restaurant. With just a little prep work, this wonderful stir fry can be made in less than 15 minutes. 

Loaded with veggies, this delicious and easy recipe was inspired by my friend, Barbara, at Moveable Feasts.  Although Barbara doesn't actively blog any longer, you can still find her on Instagram where she shares the wonderful archive of recipes from her website.  Recently, she shared this stir-fry recipe, which she learned from a Chinese women during her family's Air Force years in the 50's.


I adapted the recipe slightly and used frozen peas and fresh pea shoots.  I also added diced, slow-roasted pork shoulder (a great recipe which lends itself perfectly to stir fry recipes). Recipe below.

Chinese New Year is coming soon (The Year of the Dog) and begins on February 16!

Barbara's Stir Fry



3 cups cooked brown rice (or any rice you have left over) 
2 or 3 eggs 
2 tablespoon canola or peanut oil, divided
1 large shallot, chopped, or regular onion - about 1/4 cup
2 cloves garlic, diced or minced
6 scallions, sliced very thinly  
1/2 cup shredded carrots (I use a box grater)
1/2 cup diced water chestnuts (optional)
1 cup peas, (defrosted if frozen) or ready-to-eat edamame 
1 cup diced, previously roasted pork shoulder (you may also use diced shrimp or chicken) 
2 tablespoons soy sauce 
salt and freshly ground black pepper 

Garnish with Fresh Pea shoots, if available, or, with thinly sliced green onion tops

Note:  Diced bok choy or small broccoli florets would also be great vegetable choices in the stir fry.  Add when adding the shredded carrot.  

Heat a saute pan or wok large enough to hold all the above ingredients over medium-high heat and add a little neutral flavored oil. When the oil is heated, add the eggs and scramble them briefly, breaking into small pieces. Remove the cooked eggs from the pan and set aside. 

Reheat the pan until hot. Add a little more oil, then add the shallots, scallion whites, carrots and garlic. Cook, stirring, for about a minute. Add the cooked meat and rice and continue to stir for another few minutes until the rice and meat are hot and begin to brown slightly. 

Add the soy sauce, water chestnuts, scallion greens and peas or edamame, salt and pepper to taste and fry together for another minute or two. 

Garnish with some fresh pea shoots, scallion greens or other micro greens, if available. 

Pass additional soy sauce at the table when serving.

Slow Roasted Pork Shoulder with Brown Sugar

SERVES: 10-12

1 3-1/2 to 5 pound pork shoulder (butt) roast
2 whole garlic cloves, sliced or minced (optional)
1/3 cup Worcestershire Sauce
3/4 cup light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme or oregano
1 cup unsweetened apple juice (I didn't have juice so I used 2 fresh apples, peeled and diced) 
1/2 teaspoon salt, and 
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper, or to taste

Make small slits all over the roast then insert a slice of garlic into each slit. Alternately, you can mince the garlic and rub it over the meat). Place the roast in a Dutch oven with lid.  I used my enameled cast iron Dutch oven.

Sprinkle the roast on all sides with Worcestershire sauce. Let sit at room temperature for 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 425 F.

At the end of the hour, spoon any Worcestershire sauce that has accumulated on the bottom of the pot back over the meat. Mix together the brown sugar, black pepper and thyme or oregano and press the brown sugar mixture firmly onto the top and sides of the meat. Pour the apple juice into the bottom of the pot and cover tightly.

Place the roast in the oven and immediately reduce the temperature to 225 F.

Roast for about 4 to 4-1/2 hours or until the meat is fall-apart tender (cooking time will vary depending on the size of the roast).

Remove the meat to a platter, tent with foil and set aside.  Stir the salt into the pan juices and taste test. Adjust seasonings if necessary. Strain juices and reserve. 

Slice meat as desired and pour strained juices over the top of the meat.  

Note:  This can easily be made a day or two ahead and refrigerated.  Juices can be easily defatted after chilling by scraping congealed fat off the top.  When ready to serve, warm meat in a 350F oven in a covered pot for about 30 minutes, adding the reserved juices.  

Adapted from Genius Kitchen 

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.