"Can you make that pork again?"

DeltaNu1142

So, despite how badly I thought my wife's broker's mom felt about the last time we visited with Egged food, she's invited us back this weekend, and she's even requested more pork! In fact, I'm told that now she wants an Egg of her own.

So I'm going with my old standby: a bone-in pork shoulder of maybe 10 lbs, rubbed with molasses and a good spice mix, cooked low overnight for Sunday. Pit Pal says that last cook was an 8-pounder that went 16 hours.

Last time I did mac & cheese. I'm wondering, what is something else you've added to make your pulled pork pop, or what other sides do you recommend? I don't want to seem like a one-trick pony... it's just so easy to fall back on what works.

xiphoid007

I'm a big fan of good cole slaw. I actually use Paula Deen's recipe. Just so refreshing to cut the fat of the pork. Also the contrast of the soft pork and crunchy cabbage. It's traditional for a reason! 

Looks like another convert!!

Theophan

I'd say cook what you've cooked before and cook well, and experiment with other things when you're not cooking for a bunch of other people.

For myself, pork butt (I've never cooked a shoulder, but I gather they're very similar) isn't something I really want to "pop."  I want some good smoky flavor with a bit of bark in there, but no seasonings that overwhelm the pork flavor.  I'm not originally from NC, but I live there, and I've come to love the Eastern NC style of sauce for pulled pork, which is mostly just vinegar.  Elder Ward's recipe is what I use (It's on this forum somewhere, but it has just a tiny bit of sugar, some hot sauce, black pepper, salt).  I don't put a lot on, just moisten it a bit, gives it a little tang, but doesn't cover up the pork flavor.  But you could offer people who want it a sauce to put on it with more personality, and that way everybody could have what they want.  Mild, smoky pork for those who want it, and a hotter, sweeter, "snazzier" BBQ sauce on it for those who want that.

Ribs I like more highly seasoned, but pulled pork I mostly just want to taste the pork with some smoke.

tonyled

this is a ridiculously easy and insanely good sweet and spicy slaw

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/patrick-and-gina-neely/sweet-and-spicy-coleslaw-recipe0.html

Mr. & Mrs Potatohead

My "to go" sides for pulled pork are most often:
Mack & Cheese
BBQ Baked Beans
Slaw
Deviled Eggs

northGAcock

All good suggestions above. What puts it over the top for me is home made Bread & Butter pickles. If you don't have or can't find, your picked section brands will work nicely......and some white loaf bread. 

Legume

northGAcock said:

All good suggestions above. What puts it over the top for me is home made Bread & Butter pickles. If you don't have or can't find, your picked section brands will work nicely......and some white loaf bread. 

I'm a sucker for famous dave's pickles of you can find them.  Sweet and hot.

gdenby

1st time I made a vinegary slaw to top PP, my wife was dubious. But it worked well. Tart and crunchy added to sweet and slurpy.

swcham

We like to make broccoli slaw...you can find it in the produce section, pre-bagged. Toss it with some zesty Italian dressing and a little black pepper, compliments the pork nicely and is something different than typical cole slaw...

tarheelmatt

I do the following:

Nice tangy dip

Red onions (raw)

Quick pickles (sweet)

Cole slaw (cabbage, Duke's mayo, sugar, apple cider vinegar,  little sour cream, salt, and pepper)

xiphoid007

+1 on the bread and butter pickles

Some sauces on the side might be nice too. I'm a big fan of mustard based sauce with pulled pork. Dead Guy Sauce is a winner too.

XC242

Legume said:

northGAcock said:

All good suggestions above. What puts it over the top for me is home made Bread & Butter pickles. If you don't have or can't find, your picked section brands will work nicely......and some white loaf bread. 

I'm a sucker for famous dave's pickles of you can find them.  Sweet and hot.

@Legume check out this website http://www.famousbbqstore.com/pickles1.html

If this doesn't meet your needs just let me know. I have no trouble getting them here, including the big jars of them at Costco. I could send you what you need. 

Legume

Thanks @XC242 I get the gallon jars at Costo, just don't know where OP is and if he can get them.

DeltaNu1142

xiphoid007 said:

I'm a big fan of good cole slaw. I actually use Paula Deen's recipe. Just so refreshing to cut the fat of the pork. Also the contrast of the soft pork and crunchy cabbage. It's traditional for a reason!

tonyled said:

this is a ridiculously easy and insanely good sweet and spicy slaw

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/patrick-and-gina-neely/sweet-and-spicy-coleslaw-recipe0.html

Great ideas! I just may do coleslaw, especially if it's that easy.

northGAcock said:

All good suggestions above. What puts it over the top for me is home made Bread & Butter pickles. If you don't have or can't find, your picked section brands will work nicely......and some white loaf bread. 

Nice idea. This one got my wheels turning...

I'm a sucker for famous dave's pickles of you can find them.  Sweet and hot.

Have you tried Wickles? That's my go-to for sweet & hot pickles.

xiphoid007 said:

+1 on the bread and butter pickles

Some sauces on the side might be nice too. I'm a big fan of mustard based sauce with pulled pork. Dead Guy Sauce is a winner too.

See, now you're just reading my mind. Based on the suggestions for bread, pickles, and mustard... I'm thinking I'll bring all of the above, plus some glazed ham sliced thin, and a panini press... for Cuban sandwiches. I am in Tampa, after all. That way, people will have the option to do just pork & mustard, just pork & pickles, a pork sandwich, a full Cuban, or whatever other combinations they might think up.

This thread exemplifies everything I value about internet forums. I lack, by nature, any shred of creativity. Having others so willing to lend theirs is nice.

Texas.Eggineer

Here is a good creole mustard sauce that goes great with pulled pork.

http://foodfanatics.usfoods.com/recipes/creole-mustard-bbq-sauce

SmokeyPitt

Really cool idea on the cuban.   I think making a homemade mustard base BBQ sauce as mentioned above would be great on the cuban.  You could have both a mustard BBQ sauce and plain mustard for purists. 

DeltaNu1142

Texas.Eggineer said:

Here is a good creole mustard sauce that goes great with pulled pork. http://foodfanatics.usfoods.com/recipes/creole-mustard-bbq-sauce

This. I'm going to do this.

I picked up some small rolls for Cuban sliders. Thanks for the ideas, everyone.

DeltaNu1142

That mustard sauce has a strong vinegar & mustard taste. I'll probably cut the vinegar down to 4 tbsp if I make it again.

Phatchris

One of my favorite slaws.

http://www.onceuponachef.com/2011/03/asian-slaw-with-ginger-peanut-dressing.html

Biggreenpharmacist

This one is something a little different. 

http://www.foodrepublic.com/recipes/creamed-corn-with-chives-and-chiles/