Maybe it’s because I keep seeing commercials for “the new musical that’s blowing the roof off broadway!”, Memphis, or perhaps it’s my fondness for placing the words “pulled” and “pork” aside one another, but I’ve had a craving for the soul food sandwich from the South for too long without getting my fix of the prized shredded meat. I have succumbed to the urge for this baller of the barbeque and am happy to share the recipe for the pride of Memphis. If prepared properly, all you will need is coleslaw, fries, and cornbread to complete the perfect cookout meal. Just follow the directions below and you will be in a delightful meat coma for at least a day following your barbeque. Before you know it everyone around the grill will be asking you to pull their pork.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 8 hours
Ingredients:
– 1 boneless pork butt (about 5-6 pounds)
For Memphis Rub:
– 2 tablespoons paprika
– 1 tablespoon salt
– 1 tablespoon onion powder
– 2 teaspoons fresh ground black pepper
– 1 1/2 teaspoons cayenne
For Finishing Sauce:
– 2 cups ketchup
– 2 cups chopped onion
– 1 cup red wine vinegar
– 2 cloves garlic, minced
– 1/4 cup yellow mustard
– 1/4 cup brown sugar
– 1/2 teaspoon Louisiana hot sauce
Preparation:
In a medium mixing bowl, mix rub ingredients into a paste. Coat pork shoulder with rub, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 1 hours. Preheat smoker and prepare for an 8 hour smoke.
Make sure wood chips are soaked and drained before using. Add charcoal and wood chips as necessary to keep temperature low, or between 200 – 225°F. Smoke pork shoulder for about 8 hours or until internal temperatures reach 185°F.
Once pork is cooked remove from smoker. Wrap tightly in foil and allow to sit for an hour. While pork is resting, prepare finishing sauce. Blend together everything except the ketchup. Pour into a saucepan and add the ketchup. Simmer over low heat for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside. Unwrap pork butt and shred. Combine pork with 1/3 of the table sauce. Keep warm and serve on white bread buns with remaining sauce on the side. Top with favorite finishing sauce.
