Originally Published July 31, 2012
There's nothin in the world like a good ol' southern pig pickin'. It's something quite common down in North Carolina. My husband and I had one at our wedding reception 14 years ago as did my cousin who got married a couple years ago. It's nothin' fancy, just some down home cookin'. So I decided it was time to make my own version of Carolina BBQ. Typically a pig (or two) are slow roasted in a large barrel cooker, which looks like an oil drum, for hours and hours. Then, after the pork is pulled it is served with some famous Carolina barbeque sauce which typically is apple cider vinegar and red pepper flakes and a few other spices. There are a million and one versions but they all have to have that vinegar as the base. It's what makes Eastern Carolina Barbeque different. Nope, it's not sweet like Memphis Que, but has some tang and spice. Don't get me wrong..I love me some molasses-based barbeque sauce...(like my JD Barbecue Sauce) I can eat that with most anything, including potato chips. BUT, Carolina BBQ is what I was raised on and though both are good I cannot choose my favorite because they are so different. I love them both! So anyway..I was on a mission to create a delicious Pig Pickin for my Princess's third birthday party complete with barbecue, cornbread, potato salad, baked beans (I cheated and used Bush's) and cole slaw . Well, I don't know about you, but up here in PA I don't have a barrel smoker sittin' in my backyard thank you very much. PLUS, who has the time? Seriously? Not me, that's for sure! So instead I tried to adapt my Jack Daniels Memphis style Slow Cooker Pulled Pork recipe to a Carolina Slow Cooker Pulled Pork. Okay, now I'm going to tell you the secret in the sauce...because, if you're gonna cheat, there HAS to be a trick somewhere. The trick here is to use.....drumroll please......
.........Liquid Hickory Smoke. Yep, they bottle smoke. Who knew? It'sbasically water that has had smoke pass through it, then it's bottled. I can usually find liquid smoke in my grocery store. It's the key to giving the pork that smokey flavor. I know, I'm a cheat...but so what?! It tastes amazing and is less hassle! Seriously, my mouth is watering right now just thinking about Caroline Pulled Pork. Sigh....luckily I was down south a few weeks ago and got some straight from my old stompin ground...and it was delicious! I think I smell some pulled pork in my near future.
SO..without further adieu...here's my tasty recipe. I love it! Hope you do too! It's got a little kick to it, but what do you expect when it calls for red pepper flakes? :)
Ingredients:
Rub:
1 T. Chili Powder
1 T. Salt
1 T. Onion Powder
1/2 tsp. pepper
5lb shoulder roast or picnic roast
1 T. Liquid Hickory Smoke
3 cups divided Carolina Barbecue Sauce
BTW: Make the barbecue sauce the day before!
1. Preheat a skillet over medium high heat. Then mix spices together then rub all over the pork. Sear the roast on all sides. This will give it a little more flavor and since we are slow cooking, we need to cheat as much as possible. :)
2. Flipping the roast can be tricky because it is pretty heavy so I used some tongs and a big spatula. Just be careful because it's pretty hot.
3. Next, place in the slow cooker and add 1 cup of barbecue sauce along with 1 tablespoon of liquid hickory smoke. Place the lid on and cook over night on low. (8 hours)
4. Remove roast to a separate dish to cool slightly.
5. Using two forks at first, shred the pork. Once it is cool enough to handle then definitely use your fingers to pull the pork. You have a better feel of what is fat and what isn't that way and it is much easier too.
6. Pour the drippings into a separate bowl.
7. Skim the fat off the top and discard. Reserve 2 cups of juices and add 2 cups of the barbecue sauce.
8. Place pulled pork back in the slow cooker and pour in the sauce mixture. Cook on low for 3 hours. You can cook longer, it really doesn't hurt anything. I cooked mine for 6 hours.
9. Here y'all go! Doesn't that look amazing?? You can serve it up just on a plate with some fixins like cornbread, potato salad and cole slaw on the side. OR you can serve it on a bun. Just make sure to pour some of the Carolina Barbecue Sauce over it before you dig in either way. Oh, and it ain't right if you don't put the slaw ON the sandwich. You gotta do it up Carolina style! The combo of textures with the sweet and the tang is what makes this sandwich most incredible. Just try it! No whining :)
To Print the RECIPE ONLY Click Here
I got a ketchup and mustard container set from Walmart for less than 2 bucks. I'd suggest cutting off the tip to make the spout a little larger. Have this filled with the sauce to make it easier for guests to pour sauce on the pork.
What a good blog I never thought I could get something good like this, actually I've increased my knowledge, actually I know my friends will be so happy with this when I sharing it with them.
ReplyDeleteGotta love pulled pork... I think I might have to try this recipe soon!
ReplyDeleteLet me know how it turns out! :)
ReplyDeleteThis is my first Sharefest. Your slow cooked pork reminds me of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives! It looks that good! I took a look at your blog and found the birthday pics. Congrats on your princess' 3rd b-day! So cute!
ReplyDeleteMy 4-year-old daughter took part in a preschool Olympics this past Friday here in South Africa (my kids all have dual citizenship - American and South African). I posted several pics of her, but I was careful not to show clear faces of the other kids as I don't have permission from their parents. :)
I'm now following you with GFC! Have a great weekend and join my Sat. blog hop if you like at http://abooksandmore.blogspot.com
Tina - mom of 4, author and blogger of 5 blogs
Thanks, Tina! Will go check your blog out. So glad to have you!
ReplyDeleteLooks yummy! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHappy Sharefest!
YUM! This looks like a recipe I HAVE to try!
ReplyDeleteI so love pulled pork. Happy SITS Day!
ReplyDeleteI LOOOOOVE pulled pork from the south. I live in DC and I love southern food. Can you feel my excitement for this recipe?! Well I am sooo excited. I will let you know how it turned out. Happy SITS Day!!
ReplyDeleteBlessings~
Alethea
OMGOSH that looks HEAVENLY!!!!!! Happy SITS day!!!
ReplyDeleteI can practically smell the pork. Thank you for the conversion because I too do not have a backyard smoker. It's too cold in the PNW to do that outside in January but having something warm for dinner is appealing. Enjoy your SITS Day.
ReplyDeleteI love ALL types of BBQ! My mouth is watering right now. This is something I would definitely like to try!
ReplyDeleteHappy SITS day - I absolutely love Carolina pulled pork - I am a huge fax of the cider based slaw and this is such a great dish to either feed a crowd of feed your family with leftovers for other meals and/or the freezer. Thanks for sharing your version!
ReplyDeleteHappy SITS Day to you! I'm definitely trying this recipe, my husband and kids love pulled pork.
ReplyDeleteSuper hungry now! Looks amazing...going to have to try it soon! Enjoy your SITS day!
ReplyDeleteI've never attempted to make my own pulled pork, but this is a good BBQ recipe to try when I have people over to watch an ACC game....
ReplyDeleteOh MY, this looks exactly like the sandwiches we would get a Piggly Wiggly when I would visit family in North Carolina. Thank you for sharing this recipe. Will definitely have this for dinner soon!
ReplyDeleteLooks delicious :) I will have to try this!! Happy SITS Day!
ReplyDeleteYummy, we could make sandwiches all day long! Happy SITS Day!
ReplyDeleteThat looks really good!!
ReplyDeleteThis looks so delcious! I pinned it right away. Mmmm...
ReplyDeleteMan, that pulled pork looks so much like chicken. I bet this was really good. Unfortunately, I never really grew up on the good stuff. My mom had my sister and I on a strict diet and a strange religion that included no pork or shellfish. I should really try this recipe.
ReplyDeleteHappy SITS day! I love this recipe. My husband is from NC and I have started trying different BBQ recipes recently. He's more of a Lexington BBQ fan, but it's really not that different from eastern BBQ.
ReplyDeleteHappy SITS! Yum yum and yum! I am going to save this recipe and make it this week! I am from Oklahoma and have been hankering for chicken fried steak and biscuits, but this will do the trick just fine ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm totally pinning this! Looks fantastic! :)
ReplyDelete-Sarah
www.sweetandsavorylife.com
www.facebook.com/sweetandsavorylife
I admit, I am more of a "sweet BBQ" person, but this looks good. Plus I could probably adapt the recipe for a sweeter sauce.
ReplyDeleteI am a sweet BBQ person too but this looks really yummy in the pictures
ReplyDeleteHey! thanks:) i love both...i actually have a sweet bbq recipe in the slow cooker...check it out:) http://www.theredheadedprincess.com/2012/01/slow-cooker-pulled-pork.html
ReplyDeleteThanks Sarah!:) I'm one if your new followers! Havea great weekend!
ReplyDeleteThis looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteHappy SITS Day!
Oh, that looks yummy!! I love pulled pork in the slow cooker. Hope you have a great day!!
ReplyDeleteHappy SITS Day! My husband would go nuts for this. Pinning for a later date!
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I love this and always looking for good recipes! Thanks! Happy SITS Day by the way!
ReplyDelete