PULLED PORK WITH CHERRY-HABANERO BBQ SAUCE

There’s no better feeling than celebrating the ones you love with big bowls of delectable, slow-cooked pork circling the table. So this year for Father’s Day, we’ve got the perfect, hands-free pulled pork with cherry-habanero barbecue sauce. This tangy twist on the classic is just sweet enough and has the right amount of zing to keep you going back for more. And using the CorningWare Cast Aluminum Dutch Oven for this fall-apart pulled pork means less time in the kitchen and more quality time with the fam. Here’s to you, Dads!

Cuisine

American

Course

Dinner, Main Course

Difficulty

Easy

Duration

more than 2 hours

Cooking Technique

Braise, Dutch Oven, Pressure Cook

Keywords

4-6 people, american, apple cider vinegar, black pepper, braise, brown sugar, cherries, cider vinegar, dinner, dutch oven, dutch oven recipes, easy, for cherry bbq sauce:, garlic, garlic powder, ground annatto, ground annatto seed, habaneros, Instant Pot Culinary Team, instant pot recipe, low sodium chicken stock, low-sodium soy sauce, main course, more than 2 hours, onion, onion powder, orange juice, paprika, pork seasoning rub, pork shoulder, pressure cook, pulled pork, pulled pork recipes, salt

Servings

4-6 People

Ingredients

1 pork shoulder
3 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons pork seasoning rub
1 tablespoon salt
2 teaspoon ground annatto seed
12 cloves garlic
1 1/2 cups low sodium chicken stock
1/4 cup orange juice
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1 onion
For cherry BBQ sauce:
2 cups cherries
2 habaneros
1/4 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon ground annatto
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

To be done ahead of time: In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, seasoning blend, salt, ground annatto, and mix to blend. Cut the pork shoulder into 4 even pieces, coating liberally with sugar and spices, pressing into the meat with your hand. Cover and store in fridge up to 8 hours or overnight.
To make the barbecue sauce, combine all ingredients in the Instant Pot. Give a quick stir to blend, then fasten lid. Select PRESSURE COOK and set timer to 3 MINUTES. After 3 minutes, Quick Release the pressure and carefully remove lid. Transfer sauce to a heatproof container to cool. Using a stand or immersion hand blender, blend sauce until smooth. Set aside and cover until ready to use.
Remove seasoned pork from fridge and let come to room temp, about an hour. Pre-heat dutch oven over high heat until extremely hot. Add 1-2 tablespoons of oil and sear the pork pieces until nicely browned, about 3-4 minutes per side. Remove pork and set aside. Add onions and garlic, and continue to saute another minute, and cut heat to low. Deglaze with about a half cup of the stock, scraping free the brown bits from the bottom of the pot. Add the rest of the stock, the orange juice, cider vinegar, and place the pieces of pork snugly in the braise bath. The liquid should come about halfway up the pork.
Securely place the lid and let braise 5 hours. After three hours, check to ensure the braising liquid level still reaches about halfway up the meat. If necessary, add more stock throughout cooking. After 5 hours, remove pork from braise and transfer to a large mixing bowl. The meat will try and fall apart before you make it to the bowl, so be swift and be gentle. With two forks or a fork and tongs, pull the pork to desired consistency. Add about a quarter cup of braising liquid as you toss the pork. Top with cherry barbecue sauce and serve.

Notes

Note on ground annatto: the primary ingredient in achiote seasoning, ground annatto is fragrant and floral, and tends to give a reddish-orange color when cooked. For these purposes, you can substitute with half paprika and half chili powder, though substitutions often call for beet powder or nutmeg.

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