Pulled Pork Recipe Caja China Style

BRINED PORK SHOULDER COOKED IN A CAJA CHINA WITH SOUR ORANGE DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Whisk together the water, salt, sugar, and peppercorns in an extra large stockpot or large plastic container until most of the salt and sugar have dissolved. Place the pork shoulder in the mixture, making sure it is completely submerged, and refrigerate for at least 12 hours and up to 24 hours. Remove pork, rinse well with cold water then pat dry. Season pork with cilantro and achiote seasoning.
• Prepare a Caja China according to the manufacturer's directions. Place pork, skin side down, in the box and carefully fill tray to its full capacity with lit charcoal. Cook for 1 hour, carefully uncover (you will need to protect yourself from the heat) the Caja China, and turn the meat over. When you turn the pork shoulder, make some small cuts in the skin. Cover the Caja China, add more charcoal as needed, and continue roasting for 2 to 2 1/2 more hours. Do not uncover until pork is done. Alternatively, you can grill the pork; start out on high heat to char it and then reduce the heat, cover, and cook until desired degree of doneness. You can also use a rotisserie.
• When the pork is done, remove it from the Caja China and let rest for at least 15 minutes before slicing. Slice and serve with the Sour Orange-Habanero Dipping Sauce.
• Heat grill to high. Bring orange juice and lime juice to a boil in a medium non-reactive saucepan on the grates of the grill and cook until reduced to about 2 cups. Let cool slightly. Transfer the mixture to a blender and add the onion, garlic, habanero, vinegar, and honey and blend until smooth. With the motor running, slowly add the oil and blend until emulsified. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Let cool to room temperature before serving.

KOREAN PULLED PORK SANDWICH WITH ASIAN SLAW

Steps:

• For the Korean pulled pork: Remove the pork from the refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking.
• Whisk together the soy sauce, gochujang, hoisin, ketchup, vinegar, honey, sesame oil, five-spice powder and pepper until smooth. Rub the pork with the marinade, cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours and up to 24 hours.
• Prepare the Caja China according to manufacturer's directions. Cook until the pork reaches 190 degrees F, 3 to 3 1/2 hours. Remove the pork, place in a baking pan, tent with foil and let the pork rest for 20 minutes. Reserve the juices for the BBQ sauce.
• For the Korean BBQ sauce: Heat the oil in a medium high-sided saute pan. Add the shallots and cook until soft. Whisk in the reserved juices from the pork, the chicken stock, ketchup, gochujang, honey, soy sauce and five-spice powder and cook until slightly reduced. Remove from the heat, add the vinegar and sesame oil.
• For the Asian slaw: Whisk together the vinegar, honey, sesame oil, and soy sauce until the honey is dissolved. Add the peas, carrots, cabbage and sesame seeds. Toss to combine; season with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate until cold, at least 1 hour.
• For serving: Using tongs, pull the pork into bite-size bits. Toss with the BBQ sauce. Mound some slaw on the bottoms of the buns. Top with the pork and the top bun.

GOCHUJANG PULLED PORK IN THE SLOW COOKER

Steps:

• Combine gochujang, onion, vinegar, chicken stock, honey, brown sugar, ginger, soy sauce, mustard, garlic, cinnamon, salt, thyme, and black pepper together in a large bowl and mix well.
• Dredge pork in the gochujang sauce on all sides. Pour sauce into a slow cooker and add the pork. Spoon some of the sauce on top of the pork. Cover and cook on Low until pork roast shreds easily with a fork, about 8 hours.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Place roast in a large bowl and shred the meat with 2 forks. Pour the sauce from the slow cooker into a pot over medium-high heat. Cover and bring to a boil. Uncover; reduce heat to a simmer.
• Mix 1 tablespoon butter and flour in a small bowl; combine with the sauce in the pot and mix well. Cook until heated through and slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir again.
• Spread remaining 3 tablespoons butter over insides of buns. Place on a baking sheet.
• Toast in the preheated oven until golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Pour the sauce into the bowl with the shredded pork and mix. Top pork with green onions. Spoon pork over the toasted buns.