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Maple Chipotle Pulled Pork

Maple Chipotle Pulled Pork

Maple Chipotle Pulled Pork - a delicious, slow cooked, sweet, smoky and spicy pulled pork from your oven that can be enjoyed year round.

Ingredients

  • 6 pound or larger pork shoulder roast

For the Maple Chipotle Barbecue Sauce

  • 6 tbsp olive oil
  • 6 cloves chopped garlic
  • 2 medium red onion chopped
  • 4 cups plain tomato sauce
  • 1 cup maple syrup
  • 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tsp to 4 tsp ground chipotle powder according to taste
  • 2 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp ground dry thyme
  • 2 tsp salt

For the pulled pork dry rub

  • ½ tsp powdered ginger
  • 1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon dry thyme
  • 1 tbsp garlic powder
  • 1 ½ tbsp kosher salt

For the pulled pork

  • 4 tbsp canola oil
  • 1 medium sized onion chopped
  • 3 cloves minced garlic
  • 4 medium sized firm apples peeled and chunked
  • 2 1/2 cups of the Maple Chipotle Barbecue Sauce
  • 1/2 tsp to 1 tsp ground chipotle powder according to taste
  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tbsp chopped fresh thyme or one tsp dry thyme
  • 1 1/2 cups chicken stock or water
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp ground pepper

Instructions

To prepare the Maple Chipotle Barbecue Sauce

  1. In a small saucepan, heat the olive oil and add the garlic and onions.
  2. Cook slowly over medium low heat until well softened and beginning to caramelize.
  3. Add all of the remaining ingredients.
  4. Simmer slowly for about 20-30 minutes or until reduced by about 1/4 the initial volume, stirring often.
  5. When cool, puree in a blender or food processor until smooth. Makes about 5 cups.

To prepare the pulled pork

  1. Mix together all of the ingredients for the dry rub.
  2. Rub the mixture all over the pork shoulder roast.
  3. Heat 4 tbsp oil in a large heavy bottomed skillet over medium heat and brown the roast on all sides.
  4. Transfer the roast to a covered roasting pan.
  5. Chop the apples and onions and add them to the pan with the roast.
  6. Mix together the 2 1/2 cups Maple Chipotle Barbecue Sauce and all of the remaining ingredients.
  7. Pour all over the roast, apples and onions in the roasting pan.
  8. Cover with aluminum foil and then the lid of the roasting pan.
  9. Roast in a 300 degree oven for several hours (approximately 3-4) until the meat is very tender and falling off the bone.
  10. Remove the braising liquid to a saucepan, skim all the excess fat and reduce the liquid until it slightly thickens.
  11. At this point you can puree the sauce with an immersion blender or in a food processor to smooth it out and incorporate the cooked onions and apples.
  12. Tear the pork into small strips, discarding the bone/s and any excess fat.
  13. Serve the reduced and pureed braising liquid over the pulled pork.