Herby, Spicy Pulled Pork with Peppadews & Smoked Provolone Sandwich
It's funny how something that seems so unappetizing, like raw meat, can be so beautiful to photograph. I'm in LOVE with the pics from this post (not to toot my own horn) but again, I'm so surprised how lovely they turned out and how a bowl of pasta can look like a bucket of puke in a photo. Yes, a bucket of puke.
Sorry, that was gross.
I picked up these pretty country-style pork ribs from Lakewinds Co-op. It's local pork from Hidden Stream Farm in Elgin, MN. I really had no idea what I was going to do with the pork, but it looked too good to pass up. Once I had decided that I would be making a delicious Italian pulled pork sandwich, I thought mozzarella cheese would be good, but stumbled across some smoked provolone, also from Lakewinds and also local from a WI cheesemaker (can't remember where now!). It was so good, though. The roll is up to you. I love ciabatta, but anything that is sturdy enough to carry a mound of pulled pork will work! If you make it, be sure to post a pic and include the hashtag #bigmeatysandwich. I'm trying to make it happen (along with "fetch").
Herby, Spicy Pulled Pork with Peppadews & Smoked Provolone Sandwich
Ingredients::
1 lb. country-style pork ribs
salt/pepper
1 tbsp. dried oregano
1 tbsp. dried rosemary
1 tsp. paprika
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tbsp. cloves
4-5 sprigs of fresh thyme, removed from the large stems
4-5 fresh sage leaves, torn into little pieces
4 peppadew peppers, diced
handful of cloves garlic (I apparently used 12 because I'm a vampire)
1/2 c. water
smoked provolone, sliced (or your favorite Italian sandwich cheese)
ciabatta rolls, or your other favorite sandwich roll
Method:
1. Season pork ribs with salt, pepper, oregano, rosemary, paprika
. Rub the spices/herbs into the meat. Let sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes. Meanwhile, heat a cast iron skillet over high heat until hot.
2. Once the skillet is hot, add pork ribs and sprinkle with thyme, cloves and sage leaves. Once one side is browned, flip to another side, continuing to do so until all sides are browned.
3. Remove pork from skillet and place in a slow cooker insert or a bowl if you're preparing the meat the night before. Deglaze hot skillet with 1/2 c. water and pour over the pork. Add diced peppadew peppers and garlic cloves.
4. Set slow cooker to low and leave for up to 8 hours, or 4-6 hours on high.
5. When ready to eat, preheat your broiler, shred pork with two forks and adjust any seasonings as necessary. Place cheese on one or both sides of your roll and then place shredded pork on top of one side. Set open-faced under the broiler for just a minute or two while the cheese melts and browns slightly. Now go enjoy that #bigmeatysandwich.
