Carolina “red” Pulled Pork Shoulder

Submitted by Rita1652

"From the Weber sight a recipe tweeked and want to make."

 

• Ready In: 5hrs 15mins
• Ingredients: 20
• Serves: 10

ingredients

• Rub

• 2 tablespoons pure chile powder
• 2 tablespoons paprika
• 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon fresh ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon garlic granules
• 1⁄2 teaspoon hot pepper flakes
• 1 (5 -6 lb) boneless pork shoulder, with a thin layer of exterior fat
• 3 cups hickory chips, soaked in water for at least 30 minutes

• Sauce

• 3 cups apple cider vinegar
• 1 (14 ounce) bottle ketchup, about 2 cups
• 2 cups packed light brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon hot pepper sauce, to taste
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 -2 chipotle chile in adobo, diced to taste
• kosher salt
• fresh ground black pepper
• 10 -12 hamburger buns
• 1 pint Coleslaw

directions

1. In a small bowl mix the rub ingredients.
2. Coat the pork shoulder all over with the rub and press the spices into the meat. Allow the pork to stand at room temperature for 30 to 40 minutes before grilling.
3. Follow the grill’s instruction for smoking with wood chips. With the lid closed, grill and smoke the pork, fat side up, over indirect low heat (250°F to 300°F) for about 1 hour. (Note: Smoke the pork for the first hour only.) Meanwhile, make the sauce.
4. In a heavy-bottom saucepan, whisk together the sauce ingredients. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce the heat, and let simmer for about 25 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and, if desired, add extra hot pepper sauce.
5. After the pork has been grilling for 1 hour, baste it with the sauce and continue to baste every 30 minutes. Continue grilling until the temperature at the center of the meat registers 180°F When it is done, the meat should be tender enough to tear with your fingers. The total grilling time will be 5 to 6 hours.
6. Transfer the pork shoulder to a baking sheet, brush liberally with some remaining sauce, and tightly cover with aluminum foil. Let the pork rest for 30 minutes before serving.
7. To serve, pull the warm meat apart with your fingers or two forks and shred into pieces. Discard any large pieces of fat. Pile the seasoned pork on hamburger buns along with your favorite coleslaw and a generous amount of sauce.

Reviews

[DeliciousAsItLooks]

Delicious rub, but the sauce was a bit too much vinegar for my taste. I don't have a weber grill, so I put the roast in the slow cooker with some liquid smoke, which worked great!

 

[LOWELL C.]

The Eastern side of NC is a bit different. They don't add any tomato based sauce. The flavoring is added after pulling/chopping. It's a liquid containing apple cider vinegar and red pepper flakes and a touch of ketchup. There are many different recipes for the "juice" but that the basis for most of them. There been actual physical fights over which type is true "Carolina Style" Q! Then there's the folks who go even farther stating it HAS to be pit cooked, or whole hog, etc... And don't even agree what is the "traditional" sides to be served with a plate of Q.

 

[Caroline Cooks]

I need more stars for this recipe--10, at least! WoW, is that sauce a winner, Rita. Made for Special Meals in Cooking Photos and for Spice of the Month: Paprika in the French Forum.