Onion and Cider Pulled Pork

Slow-Cooker Apples, Onions, and Pork

This dish was inspired by a what I saw Zane Homlquist cook on the Today Show the morning of January 11, 2012.

Ingredients

• 2 large granny smith apples
• 2 large yellow onions
• 2 TBSP minced garlic
• 2 TBSP coriander
• 2 TBSP paprika
• 2 TBSP salt
• 2 TBSP pepper
• 4 TBSP Montreal Steak Seasoning
• 1.75L (59 FL OZ) bottle Apple Cider (Simply Apple Pure Pressed)
•  Pork shoulder
• 2-3lbs pork shoulder
• 3TBSP Worcestershire Sauce
• 3 Bay Leaves

Instructions

1. Season the pork shoulder with half of the Montreal Steak Seasoning. Heat up a hot pan and sear off the meat.
2. While the meat is searing, slip and quarter the onions and put them in the slow-cooker. Check your meat and make sure you're searing the other sides.
3. Wash and core the apples. Cut into 16ths. Put them in the slow-cooker. Check your meat to make sure you're searing all the sides.
4. Add the minced garlic, coriander, paprika, bay leaves, salt, and pepper to the slow-cooker. Your meat should be fully seared. Add it to the slow-cooker.
5. Pour in the apple cider until everything is completely covered. Then add the Worcestershire Sauce.
6. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours, then turn down to low and cook a minimum of 4 more hours. Best option would be to cook for a full twelve hours to get the most tender pork.
7. Strain the liquid from the slow-cooker into a large bowl. Take the meat and the onion pieces out of the colander and put it back into the slow-cooker. Make sure all the liquid is drained from the colander and discard the contents.
8. Take two forks and shred the pork and onions in the slow-cooker. Then add as much liquid back in as to cover the shredded pork. Continue to let warm in the slow-cooker until serving.
9. The leftover liquid can be made into a Carolina Barbeque style sauce by using the recipe listed below. Add to the sandwich or adjust the re-added liquid to the recipe and make your whole slow-cooker flavored that way. Save any extra in case the liquid in the slow-cooker seems to dry up, you can keep re-adding to keep the pork moist. 

Note: Suggested side dishes are a salad, scalloped potatoes, or wild rice and sauteed snap peas. Any BBQ side-dish works just as well.

Carolina BBQ-Style Sauce

Ingredients

• 3 cups Cider Vinegar
• 3 cups the above recipe Seasoned Liquid Leftovers
• 1 TBSP sugar
• 3 TBSP red chili flakes
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 TBSP pepper

Instructions

1. In a bowl or a contain with a spout, add in all the ingredients list above.
2. Shake the container, stir, or mix in some way.
3. Taste and season or adjust liquid ratio to your preferred taste.
4. Serve over pulled pork.