Slow Cooker Maple-Mustard Pulled Pork
Recipes adapted from the Kitchn
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35 – 40 minutes
Serves: Approximately 4
Ingredients
*ingredients available at the market
FOR THE PORK:
1 (4- to 5-pound) boneless pork shoulder or pork butt, halved*
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3/4 teaspoon dried oregano*
1/2 cup maple syrup*
3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth or water*
2 tablespoons tamari or soy sauce
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 large yellow or white onion, peeled and cut into 8 wedges*
4 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed*
FOR THE MAPLE-MUSTARD SAUCE:
1/2 cup maple syrup*
1/4 cup Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano*
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
FOR SERVING:
Rolls or bread*
Pickled red onion* or coleslaw* (note: typically supplies for coleslaw can be purchased at he market including variety of cabbages, carrots, peppers, and other fresh produce items).
Directions:
Make the pork: Trim off any large pieces of fat from the surface of the pork. Sprinkle the salt, pepper, and oregano evenly over all sides of the pork, then rub the seasonings into the meat. Place in the crock of a 6-quart or larger slow cooker.
Place the maple syrup and mustard in a small bowl and whisk to combine. Pour over the pork, then turn the pork so that all sides are coated in the mixture. Pour the broth or water, tamari or soy sauce, and vinegar around, but not on top of, the pork. Scatter the onion pieces and garlic cloves around the pork. Cover and refrigerate the pork in the crock overnight.
Place the crock in the slow cooker and cook on the LOW setting until the meat can be easily shredded, 8 to 10 hours. Transfer the pork to a cutting board. Pour the cooking liquid through a fine-mesh strainer into a measuring cup and discard the solids. Skim the fat from the surface of the cooking liquid.
When it is cool enough to handle, use 2 forks or your fingers to shred the meat into bite-sized pieces. Discard any large pieces of fat. Transfer the pork back to the slow cooker. Add some of the cooking liquid until moist but not wet and toss to combine. Reserve the rest of the cooking liquid for storing leftovers.
Make the sauce: Place all of the sauce ingredients in a small bowl and whisk to combine. Pile the pulled pork onto buns and/or fresh bread, drizzle with some sauce, and top with pickled onions or coleslaw.
This week’s Article: Time for a little Maple Love!
The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is currently open Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., November through April at Wilton Mall Food Court; accessible from the mall entrance across from BJs. The CDTA’s 450 (from Schenectady) and 452 (from Skidmore College via downtown Saratoga) run to the Mall hourly Saturday mornings.
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