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Memphis Pork and Coleslaw Sandwich

Cooking Light
Memphis Pork and Coleslaw Sandwich
Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross
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Worthy of a Special Occasion

If you've never eaten slaw on rather than with a sandwich, you're in for a treat. You'll need to start the pork and soak the wood chunks a day ahead; you can make the mustard-laced slaw a day in advance as well. If you'd rather not have sandwiches, serve the meat as is or use it to flavor baked beans.

Yield: 13 servings (serving size: 1 bun, 3 ounces pork, about 1/3 cup slaw, and about 1 1/2 tablespoons sauce)

Ingredients

  • Pork:
  • 8  hickory wood chunks (about 4 pounds)
  • 2  tablespoons  paprika
  • 1  tablespoon  freshly ground black pepper
  • 1  tablespoon  turbinado sugar
  • 1 1/2  teaspoons  kosher salt
  • 1 1/2  teaspoons  garlic powder
  • 1 1/2  teaspoons  onion powder
  • 1 1/2  teaspoons  dry mustard
  • 1  (5-pound) bone-in pork shoulder (Boston butt)
  • 1/3  cup  white vinegar
  • 1  tablespoon  Worcestershire sauce
  • 1  teaspoon  canola oil
  • 1  (12-ounce) can beer
  • 2  cups  water
  • Cooking spray

  • Slaw:
  • 1/4  cup  finely chopped onion
  • 1 1/2  tablespoons  prepared mustard
  • 1 1/2  tablespoons  white vinegar
  • 1  tablespoon  reduced-fat mayonnaise
  • 1 1/2  teaspoons  granulated sugar
  • 1/4  teaspoon  salt
  • 6  cups  chopped green cabbage

  • Remaining ingredients:
  • 13  hamburger buns
  • 1 2/3  cups  Memphis Barbecue Sauce

Preparation

To prepare pork, soak wood chunks in water about 16 hours; drain.

Combine paprika and next 6 ingredients (through dry mustard); reserve 1 tablespoon paprika mixture. Rub half of remaining paprika mixture onto pork. Place in a large zip-top plastic bag; seal and refrigerate overnight.

Remove pork from refrigerator; let stand at room temperature 30 minutes. Rub remaining half of paprika mixture onto pork.

Combine reserved 1 tablespoon paprika mixture, 1/3 cup vinegar, Worcestershire, oil, and beer in a small saucepan; cook over low heat 5 minutes or until warm.

Remove grill rack; set aside. Prepare grill for indirect grilling, heating one side to medium-low and leaving one side with no heat. Maintain temperature at 225°. Pierce bottom of a disposable aluminum foil pan several times with the tip of a knife. Place pan on heated side of grill; add half of wood chunks to pan. Place another disposable aluminum foil pan (do not pierce pan) on unheated side of grill. Pour 2 cups water in pan. Coat grill rack with cooking spray; place grill rack on grill.

Place pork on grill rack over foil pan on unheated side. Close lid; cook 4 1/2 hours or until a thermometer registers 170°, gently brushing pork with beer mixture every hour (avoid brushing off sugar mixture). Add additional wood chunks halfway during cooking time. Discard any remaining beer mixture.

Preheat oven to 250°.

Remove pork from grill. Wrap pork in several layers of aluminum foil, and place in a baking pan. Bake at 250° for 2 hours or until a thermometer registers 195°. Remove from oven. Let stand, still wrapped, 1 hour or until pork easily pulls apart. Unwrap pork; trim and discard fat. Shred pork with 2 forks.

While pork bakes, prepare slaw. Combine onion and next 5 ingredients (through 1/4 teaspoon salt) in a large bowl. Add cabbage, and toss to coat. Cover and chill 3 hours before serving. Serve pork and slaw on buns with Memphis Barbecue Sauce.

Nutritional Information

Calories:
387 (35% from fat)
Fat:
15.2g (sat 5.1g,mono 6.3g,poly 2.2g)
Protein:
26.6g
Carbohydrate:
33.7g
Fiber:
2.3g
Cholesterol:
74mg
Iron:
3.5mg
Sodium:
843mg
Calcium:
120mg
Bill and Cheryl Jamison, Cooking Light, JULY 2007

Member Ratings and Reviews

5 stars
Jocelyn
I loved this recipe. Instead of using the hickory wood chunks I used 1tbsp of liquid smoke and it still turned out great. I also always double the bbq sauce recipe because its so tasty! Always a hit with the guys, and the pulled pork is also great in a quesadilla with cheese dipped in the bbq sauce and sour cream06/23/08

5 stars
T. Morgan from An Unknown Location
Fantastic rub. Recipe makes great leftovers. Superply tender and flavorful meat.08/25/07