This is one of my favourite crowd pleaser recipes. It is simple, and I love that my slow cooker is doing the work for me! Slow cooker meals are the best. The smell of a home cooked meal is so satisfying, especially when you really haven't done a lot of work!
You can make pulled pork with just barbecue sauce, but the added veggies in this recipe, add extra flavour and nutrients, and help to keep the meat moist. All you need is your favourite buns, and some coleslaw, and you have a complete meal. The best part about this recipe is, if you have leftovers, pulled pork pizza or nachos are amazing! See below for tips on the best pulled pork pizza. Yum!
Makes about 12 sandwiches
Ingredients
2 lb fresh pork (ie. pork loin or tenderloin)
1 tbsp cumin
1 tbsp coriander
Salt & pepper
1 can whole or diced tomatoes, drained
1 bell pepper, diced
1 cup bbq sauce (any flavour)
¼ cup brown sugar
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 small onion – diced
2 cloves garlic – minced (or 1 tsp dried)
Fresh buns
Instructions
Mix spices together and rub on the pork. Set aside.
Open tomatoes and drain juice (save for another day). Blend tomatoes in a blender or with an immersion blender. Leave slightly chunky.
Combine tomatoes, peppers, barbecue sauce and brown sugar in your slow cooker.
In a large frying pan, on medium heat, brown the pork in the vegetable oil, on all sides (no need to cook all the way through). *Skip this step if you are short on time.
Transfer to slow cooker.
While frying pan is still hot sauté onion and garlic, until translucent. Add this to the slow cooker as well, mixing into sauce.
Cover meat with sauce.
Cook on high for 6 hours (until it can easily be pulled apart).
Remove meat 30 minutes before complete, and place on a large baking pan. Let cool slightly, and pull apart using two large forks, or your hands.
Put meat back into the pot and mix into the sauce. Let cook on high for 30 more minutes.
Enjoy on a fresh bun (try with my whole wheat dinner rolls), with coleslaw.
Tip
Pulled Pork Pizza - my favorite way to use leftover pulled pork is on naan bread pizza with barbecue sauce, green onion, bell peppers, cilantro and marble cheese. YUM!
Recipe by Janine LaForte, RD
REAL LIFE NUTRITION