Puerto Rican Shredded Pork Food

SLOW COOKER PUERTO RICAN SHREDDED PORK

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
• Use a sharp knife to poke 3 to 5 holes into the pork roast. Stuff about half the garlic into the holes. Cook roast in hot oil to brown completely, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer roast to the crock of a slow cooker.
• Blend orange juice, lime juice, remaining garlic, cumin, salt, and oregano in a blender until smooth; pour over the pork.
• Leave the pork marinating in the orange juice mixture for 10 minutes; turn roast and let other side marinate for 10 minutes.
• Turn slow cooker to Low and cook for 8 hours.
• Remove pork to a cutting board. Shred meat using 2 forks.
• Drain liquid from the slow cooker crock, reserving 1 cup. Return shredded pork to the slow cooker crock, pour reserved liquid over the meat and stir.
• Look on Low until the meat is again hot, 15 to 20 minutes.

PUERTO RICAN SHREDDED PORK

Steps:

• Using a sharp knife, poke a few holes into the pork and stuff holes with half of the crushed garlic. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, warm the oil. Add the pork and brown on all sides, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer the meat to a slow cooker.
• Combine the remaining ingredients in a blender and blend for a few seconds until evenly combined. Place the pork in the slow cooker. Pour the liquid mixture over the pork, and let the pork marinate in the mixture for about 10 minutes on each side.
• Turn the slow cooker on low, and set the timer for 8 hours.
• After 8 hours, remove pork and shred using two forks on a large cutting board. Remove all the liquid from the slow cooker except for 1 cup of the cooking liquid and add pork back to pot. Let it cook another 15-30 minutes.
• Serve the shredded pork over lettuce wraps or in corn tortillas, and top with pico de gallo, chopped cilantro and/or avocado.
• *Please note that if you're unfamiliar with tying a roast with kitchen twine, ask your butcher to pre-tie the roast in the store.

MEXICAN SHREDDED PORK

Steps:

• In a large skillet place corn oil and bring to high heat (careful!). Sear pork butt on all sides. Should be browned on all sides.
• Let pork butt rest on cutting board until cool enough to handle. Rub cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper on all sides of pork.
• In large cast iron or equivalent make dutch oven style pan, place chicken stock. Add pork butt.
• Peel and slice into disk onion. Place onion on top of pork.
• Open can of poblanos and remove peppers, save sauce. Place poblanos on onions.
• Cover pan and set burner to lowest setting (May also be done in oven) allow to slow cook.
• Periodically it may be necessary to remove excess fluid from pan as meat cooks down.
• After approx 4 hours check to see if meat falls apart when prodded with fork. (Don't worry if it doesn't. I was told 4 hours of cooking time, my first time it took closer to eight before it flaked apart with a fork) If it doesn't flake apart, continue to cook covered and check each hour.
• When meat falls apart, remove any bones. Drain off liquid. Stir in poblano sauce left from can.
• You may use immediately for tacos, burritos, enchiladas, flautas, or any other Mexican dish requiring shredded pork.
• I recommend adding a dash of rock salt. Keep refrigerated until needed. This meat easily reheats for that quick taco fix.
• Note: EXPERIMENT! I substitute Beer for the chicken stock. Add a chunk of fatty beef that has been seered on all sides to the pot, and WOW! I also add a few fresh Jalepenos cut in half with the tops removed. See what works for you.

DADDY EDDIE'S ROAST PORK (PERNIL), PUERTO RICAN-STYLE

Steps:

• Combine olive oil, vinegar, garlic, oregano, salt, and black pepper in a mortar and pestle; mash into a paste.
• Make deep slits into the pork with a small knife. Stuff slits with the paste; rub any remaining paste over the pork.
• Place pork in a plastic roasting bag and put in a roasting pan with a rack. Let marinate in the refrigerator, 8 to 48 hours.
• Take pork out of the refrigerator, uncover, and bring to room temperature, 1 to 2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
• Roast pork skin-side down in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 2 hours. Flip pork and continue roasting, skin-side up, until juices run clear and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center reads at least 145 degrees F (63 degrees C), 2 to 4 hours more.