Alton Browns Pulled Pork Food

PICKLED PORK

Steps:

• Combine all of the ingredients except the ice and the pork in a 2-quart nonreactive saucepan, set over high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and maintain a simmer for 3 minutes. Remove from the heat, add the ice and stir. Place the pork into a 1-gallon zip top bag and add the cooled pickling liquid. Remove as much air as possible; seal the bag and place in the refrigerator for at least 3 days, turning the bag occasionally. Use within 2 weeks or remove from the pork from the brine and freeze.

PEPPER PORK CHOPS

Steps:

• Combine the vegetable broth, 1/2 cup kosher salt, brown sugar and peppercorns in a medium saucepan and set over medium-high heat. Cook just until the salt and sugar dissolve, and then remove from the heat and add the ice. Place the pork chops into a 2-gallon zip-top bag along with the brine and seal. Place in a plastic container and refrigerate overnight.
• Remove the chops from the brine, rinse and pat dry. Sprinkle on both sides with the remaining 2 teaspoons kosher salt and set aside.
• Place the apples in a 5 1/2- to 6-quart slow cooker.
• Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a 12-inch stainless steel saute pan over medium-high heat. Saute the pork chops on both sides until golden brown, 5 to 6 minutes per side. Once browned, place the pork chops into the slow cooker atop the apples. Add the remaining 1/2 tablespoon olive oil to the pan, followed by the onions, and saute until they begin to brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the chicken broth to the pan to deglaze. Add the black pepper and thyme and stir to combine. Transfer this to the slow cooker, set to high, cover and cook for 1 1/2 hours. Decrease the heat to low and continue cooking until the pork is tender and falling away from the bone, another 4 hours and 30 minutes.

PORK WELLINGTON

Steps:

• Place a rack in the upper third of the oven and heat to 400 degrees F.
• Whisk the egg and water in a small bowl and set aside. Place the apple rings into the bowl of a mini food processor and process for 30 to 45 seconds or until they are the size of a medium dice. Set aside.
• Trim the pork tenderloin of any excess fat and silver skin. Slice the tenderloin down the middle lengthwise, creating 2 separate pieces. Lay the tenderloin pieces next to each other head to tail, so when laid back together they are the same size at the ends.
• Lay out a 12 by 16-inch piece of parchment paper on the counter and arrange the pieces of prosciutto in the center, overlapping them enough to create solid layer that is as long as the tenderloin. Top with a second piece of parchment, and using a rolling pin, roll over the prosciutto to help adhere the pieces to each other. Remove the parchment paper and sprinkle the prosciutto with the salt, pepper, and thyme. Set the tenderloin down the middle of the prosciutto. Spread the dried apples in between the 2 pieces of tenderloin and push back together so the apples are held between them. Using the parchment paper to assist, wrap the prosciutto around the tenderloin to completely enclose in a package.
• Sprinkle the counter with flour and roll out the pastry to 12 by 14 inches. Spread the mustard thinly in the center of pastry and lay the prosciutto wrapped tenderloin in the center of the pastry on the mustard. Fold the puff pastry up and over the top of the tenderloin, then roll to completely enclose, brushing the edges of the pastry with the egg wash in order to seal. Turn the tenderloin over so the side of the tenderloin with the double thickness of pastry is underneath. Pinch the ends of the pastry to seal.
• Brush the entire pastry with the egg wash. Place the tenderloin on a parchment lined half sheet pan and bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until the pork reaches an internal temperature of at least 140 degrees F.
• Remove the tenderloin from the oven, transfer to a cooling rack and let rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

PULLED PORK SHOULDER

Steps:

• Combine ingredients for the brine.
• Place the pork roast into the brine, making sure it is submerged, and refrigerate for 10-12 hours, or overnight.
• Using a spice mill or mortar and pestle, grind ingredients for the spice rub into a fine powder.
• At the appropriate time, drain the pork roast from the brine and pat dry with paper toweling.
• Apply the spice rub to the pork roast, massaging it in, using gloves if desired to keep the rub from sticking to your fingers.
• Mix together ingredients for mop/baste and set aside.
• Prepare smoker or grill.
• When the smoker/grill temperature has reduced to 210F, add the pork roast, cover grill, and cook for approximately 10 hours, or until internal temperature has reached 165-190°F.
• Do not exceed 190F for an internal temperature in the meat or it will be dry.
• Maintain smoker/grill temperature of 210F throughout cooking time (you may add soaked wood chips to the coals occasionally, if desired).
• During the last hour or so of cooking, brush on mop liberally, about every 15 minutes or so.
• When the pork is cooked, it should be tender enough that sticking it with a fork loosens the meat easily.
• The roast will appear dark (it's what is called a"bark") when fully cooked.
• Allow pork roast to"rest" for 45 minutes to an hour before pulling (try not to pick at it and eat all of it before you get a chance to pull it!).
• To pull, use your fingers or 2 forks to shred meat on a cutting board.
• To make a sandwich, thin your preferred barbecue sauce and toss with meat in a bowl.
• Place meat on a bun/roll with some cole slaw (if desired).
• May also just eat off the plate, no sandwich.
• You'll find yourself grabbing pieces to munch on anyway.

ALTON BROWN'S PULLED PORK

Steps:

• Combine molasses, pickling salt, and water in 6 quart Lexan. Add Boston butt making sure it is completely submerged in brine, cover, and let sit in refrigerator for a minimum of 8 hours. 12 hours is ideal. Place cumin seed, fennel seed, and coriander in food grinder and grind fine. Transfer to a small mixing bowl and stir in chili powder, onion powder, and paprika. Remove Boston butt from brine and pat dry. Sift the rub evenly over the shoulder and then pat onto the meat making sure as much of the rub as possible adheres. More rub will adhere to the meat if you are wearing latex gloves during the application. Preheat smoker to 210 degrees F. Place butt in smoker and cook for 10 to12 hours, maintaining a temperature of 210 degrees F. Begin checking meat for doneness after 10 hours of cooking time. Use fork to check for doneness. Meat is done when it falls apart easily when pulling with a fork. Once done, remove from pot and set aside to rest for at least 1 hour. Pull meat apart with 2 forks and serve as sandwich with coleslaw and dressing as desired.