Best Recipe for Carolina Pulled-Pork Sandwiches
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons coarsely ground black pepper
- 3 tablespoons (packed) dark brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons paprika
- 2 tablespoons coarse salt
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 untrimmed boneless pork shoulder halves (also known as Boston butt; about 6 pounds total)
- 1 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon coarsely ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon coarse salt
- 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
- 8 pounds (about) 100% natural lump charcoal or charcoal briquettes
- 6 cups (about) hickory wood smoke chips, soaked in cold water at least 30 minutes
- 12 soft hamburger buns with seeds, split
- Carolina Red Barbecue Sauce
- Tangy Coleslaw
Instructions
- Mix first 5 ingredients in small bowl to blend.
- Place pork, fat side up, on work surface. Cut each piece lengthwise in half. Place on large baking sheet. Sprinkle dry rub all over pork; press into pork. Cover with plastic; refrigerate at least 2 hours. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Keep chilled.)
- Make mop: Mix first 6 ingredients in medium bowl. Cover and refrigerate. Following manufacturer's instructions and using lump charcoal and 1/2 cup drained wood chips for smoker or 1 cup for barbecue, start fire and bring temperature of smoker or barbecue to 225°F. to 250°F. Place pork on rack in smoker or barbecue. Cover; cook until meat thermometer inserted into center of pork registers 165°F., turning pork and brushing with cold mop every 45 minutes, about 6 hours total. Add more charcoal as needed to maintain 225°F. to 250°F. temperature and more drained wood chips (1/2 cup for smoker or 1 cup for barbecue with each addition) to maintain smoke level. Transfer pork to clean rimmed baking sheet. Let stand until cool enough to handle. Shred into bite-size pieces. Mound on platter. Pour any juices from sheet over pork. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Transfer pork and any juices to baking dish. Cover with foil; chill. Before continuing, rewarm pork, covered, in 350°°F. oven about 30 minutes.) Divide pork among bottoms of buns. Drizzle lightly with barbecue sauce. Top with coleslaw. Cover with tops of buns.
- Mix first 6 ingredients in medium bowl. Cover and refrigerate.
- Following manufacturer's instructions and using lump charcoal and 1/2 cup drained wood chips for smoker or 1 cup for barbecue, start fire and bring temperature of smoker or barbecue to 225°F. to 250°F. Place pork on rack in smoker or barbecue. Cover; cook until meat thermometer inserted into center of pork registers 165°F., turning pork and brushing with cold mop every 45 minutes, about 6 hours total. Add more charcoal as needed to maintain 225°F. to 250°F. temperature and more drained wood chips (1/2 cup for smoker or 1 cup for barbecue with each addition) to maintain smoke level.
- Transfer pork to clean rimmed baking sheet. Let stand until cool enough to handle. Shred into bite-size pieces. Mound on platter. Pour any juices from sheet over pork. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Transfer pork and any juices to baking dish. Cover with foil; chill. Before continuing, rewarm pork, covered, in 350°°F. oven about 30 minutes.)
- Divide pork among bottoms of buns. Drizzle lightly with barbecue sauce. Top with coleslaw. Cover with tops of buns.
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