Carnitas, or pulled pork, is a popular dish originating from Mexico. It is traditionally made using pork shoulder, slow-cooked in oil or lard until the meat is fall-apart tender. While delicious, traditional carnitas is calorically dense due to the high fat content from the added lard or oil. This article will provide you with a healthier alternative to the classic recipe, using leaner cuts of pork and cooking methods that reduce the fat content without compromising flavor. With this recipe, you can indulge in your favorite pulled pork sandwiches guilt-free and embrace a healthier lifestyle.
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BEST EVER PULLED PORK SANDWICH RECIPE AKA PORK BUTT ROAST
Best Ever Pulled Pork Sandwich is life changing! A pork butt roast is slow cooked in the oven and then shredded and put onto buns with BBQ sauce. Seriously so good and SO EASY!
Provided by Jenn
Categories Dinner
Time 6h5m
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 275º F.
- Season pork butt roast liberally with Lawry's Seasoned Salt and salt and pepper. Place flour on the bottom of the oven bag. Place pork roast on top of the flour, fat side up and close up the bag.
- Cut a couple vents on the top of the bag. Place bag on a cookie sheet. Bake in preheated oven for 6-8 hours, until fork tender.
- Shred the meat with two forks and either serve right away or place on a foil lined sheet pan and broil for a few minutes, until golden brown and a little crispy. Serve by itself or on rolls with barbecue sauce. Enjoy!
OVEN-ROASTED PULLED PORK SANDWICHES
Tyler Florence brings barbecue flavor indoors with a flavorful dry rub for his Oven-Roasted Pulled Pork Sandwiches recipe from Food Network.
Provided by Tyler Florence
Categories main-dish
Time P1DT6h15m
Yield 12 servings
Number Of Ingredients 30
Steps:
- Mix the paprika, garlic power, brown sugar, dry mustard, and salt together in a small bowl. Rub the spice blend all over the pork and marinate for as long as you have time for, as little as 1 hour or up to overnight, covered, in the refrigerator.
- Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
- Put the pork in a roasting pan and bake for about 6 hours. Basically, roast the pork until it's falling apart and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 170 degrees F.
- To make the barbecue sauce: combine the vinegar, mustard, ketchup, brown sugar, garlic, salt, cayenne, and black pepper in a saucepan over medium heat. Simmer gently, stirring, for 10 minutes until the sugar dissolves.
- Remove the pork roast from the oven and transfer to a large platter. Allow the meat to rest for about 10 minutes. While still warm, take 2 forks and "pull" the meat to form shreds. Using 2 forks, shred the pork by steadying the meat with 1 fork and pulling it away with the other. Put the shredded pork in a bowl. Pour 1/2 of the sauce on the shredded pork and mix well to coat.
- To serve, spoon the pulled pork mixture onto the bottom 1/2 of the hamburger bun, and top with the spicy slaw. Serve with pickle spears and the remaining sauce on the side.
- Combine the cabbage, carrot, red onion, green onions, and chile in a large bowl. In another bowl, mix the mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, lemon juice, and sugar; stirring to incorporate. Pour the dressing over the cabbage mixture and toss gently to mix. Season the cole slaw with celery seed, hot sauce, salt, and pepper. Chill for 2 hours in refrigerator before serving.
QUICK PULLED PORK SANDWICHES
This tender and juicy pulled pork starts with a surprising choice: pork tenderloin. By simmering large pieces of pork tenderloin in a tangy sauce and then shredding it with two forks the result is tender pork tossed with lots of rich flavorful sauce. The final touch is a crunchy broccoli slaw with a mustardy dressing.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Time 1h10m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- In a large Dutch oven, heat 2 teaspoons of the oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and onion and season with salt and pepper. Cook until softened and lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add the chili powder, cumin, cinnamon and cayenne and cook until toasted, 1 minute more. Stir in the chicken broth, ketchup, molasses and 1/3 cup of the vinegar. Bring to a simmer and add the pork. Simmer, covered, until the pork is just cooked through and tender, about 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk the mustard with the remaining 1 teaspoon oil and 1 tablespoon vinegar in a large bowl. Add the broccoli slaw and toss well. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.
- Remove the pork to a cutting board and let stand for 5 minutes. Increase the heat under the Dutch oven to medium high and cook the sauce until thickened, about 5 minutes.
- Shred the pork with 2 forks into large chunks and return to the thickened sauce. Toss well to coat and simmer 10 minutes, tossing occasionally, to let the pork absorb the sauce. Serve on the buns with the slaw on the sandwiches or on the side.
HEALTHIER PULLED PORK SANDWICHES
Some easy tricks to making healthier pulled pork sandwiches include using a leaner cut of meat, choosing a lower-calorie barbecue sauce, and serving your sandwiches with smaller buns and a lower-fat coleslaw. To top it all off, this recipe is made in the slow cooker, so it doesn't get easier than this!
Provided by Cook Right
Categories BBQ Sauce
Time 6h20m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Put onion in a 4-quart slow cooker; top with pork. Stir chili powder, paprika, cumin, chipotle pepper, black pepper, and dry mustard together in a small bowl; sprinkle over pork. Pour water over pork. Cook, covered, on Low until pork is very tender, about 6 hours.
- Remove pork from slow cooker and shred with 2 forks. Return pork to juices in the cooker. Stir in barbecue sauce.
- Spoon 1/3 cup pork evenly onto each bun bottom; top each with 1/2 cup slaw and top bun.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 351 calories, Carbohydrate 49.7 g, Cholesterol 39.9 mg, Fat 8.5 g, Fiber 3.6 g, Protein 17.9 g, SaturatedFat 2.3 g, Sodium 516.7 mg, Sugar 10.3 g
Tips:
- For a healthier pulled pork, use lean pork loin or tenderloin instead of pork shoulder. This will reduce the fat and calories in the dish.
- Roast the pork in a slow cooker on low heat for 8-10 hours. This will help to tenderize the meat and make it fall apart easily.
- To make a flavorful pulled pork, use a variety of spices in the rub. Some good options include chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika.
- Once the pork is cooked, shred it with two forks. You can also use a food processor to shred the pork, but be careful not to over-process it.
- Serve the pulled pork on whole-wheat buns or slider rolls. Top with your favorite toppings, such as coleslaw, barbecue sauce, and pickles.
Conclusion:
Pulled pork sandwiches are a delicious and easy-to-make meal that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. By following these tips, you can make a healthier version of this classic dish that is still full of flavor.
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