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Pulled pork

17/11/2023

Pulled pork is a classic dish of the United States cuisine, particularly from the South. It’s known for the slow cooking that makes the meat very tender and easy to “pull” apart, hence the name “pulled”. Here is an Italian twist on this recipe:

Ingredients

  • 1.5 kg of pork shoulder
  • 2 tablespoons of smoked paprika
  • 2 tablespoons of brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon of coarse salt
  • 1 teaspoon of ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon of onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon of mustard powder
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 500 ml of tomato sauce (Italian variation)
  • 125 ml of apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil (Italian variation)
  • Burger buns or rustic sandwich bread to serve
  • Cabbage salad (coleslaw) to accompany, if desired

Preparation

  1. In a bowl, mix paprika, brown sugar, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and mustard powder to create the rub (the spice blend).

  2. Rub the spice mixture all over the meat surface and let it rest for about an hour, so that the flavors can penetrate the meat well.

  3. In a large pot or in a large deep skillet, add the olive oil and heat it over medium-high heat. Sear the pork shoulder from all sides until it becomes golden.

  4. Add the tomato sauce, apple cider vinegar, and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it cook covered, on low heat, for about 4-5 hours. If desired, this step can also be done in an oven at 150 °C (300 °F).

  5. Check that the meat is tender and ready to be “pulled”. At this point, remove the meat from the sauce and let it rest until it is cool enough to handle.

  6. Use two forks to “pull” the meat, separating it into strands.

  7. Remove the excess fat from the sauce left in the pot and, if necessary, reduce it further to get a thick and tasty sauce.

  8. Return the shredded meat to the pot with the sauce to flavor it further and reheat.

  9. Serve the pulled pork on a burger bun or rustic sandwich bread, and if desired, accompany with a fresh and crispy cabbage salad.

Curiosity

In general, “pulled pork” is smoked for many hours in large barbecues in the United States, a process that adds complexity of flavor. The use of tomato sauce is an Italian variation on the traditional barbecue sauce, which usually also includes ketchup and molasses. The slow cooking and meticulous preparation make this dish a true symbol of conviviality and comfort food. In this perspective, you could add a personal touch with typical Italian aromatic herbs, such as rosemary or thyme, during cooking.