Best Carolina Pulled Pork With Lexington Red Sauce Recipes

LEXINGTON-STYLE PULLED PORK

Steps:

• Combine paprika, pepper, brown sugar and salt in a small bowl, working out any clumps in the sugar with your fingers. Spread dry rub all over pork and rub in well. Allow to rest 15 minutes to 24 hours.
• Prepare charcoal grill for indirect heat (place all the coals on one side). Soak 4 cups of wood chips in water for 15-30 minutes. Place the chips on the coals. Heat the top grill with the lid on for 5 minutes. Place the pork on the top grate on the side away from the coals. Open the top air vents fully, and position them over the meat. Open the bottom air vents half- to fully-open, depending on the weather (more closed on a windy day). Leave undisturbed 2 hours.
• Transfer pork to a disposable aluminum roasting pan. Wrap with a double layer of aluminum foil. Place in a preheated 325°F oven for 2-3 hours longer, until fork-tender. Let rest covered for 30 minutes.
• Remove the fat cap and set aside on a plate. Shred the meat into a bowl, discarding any large hunks of fat or gristle. Pull off the "bark" (the dark brown "skin") from the fat cap; discard the remaining fat.
• Whisk the sauce ingredients together in a bowl. Pour 1/2 cup over the pulled pork; serve the rest on the side.
• Serve between slices of white bread, with pickle slices.

LEXINGTON-STYLE BBQ SAUCE

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients together and let sit 10 minutes. Add to chopped barbecue when hot to season the meat and keep it from drying out.
• Chef's note:.
• This sauce keeps indefinitely in the refrigerator, but be forewarned that the longer it sits, the hotter it gets as the heat from the peppers leeches out into the sauce. If you have sauce that has sat for a long time and you don't like it too peppery, cut the sauce with another 2 cups of vinegar, 1/2 cup ketchup, and 1/4 cup dark brown sugar. Taste and adjust the salt if necessary.

CAROLINA "RED" PULLED PORK SHOULDER

Steps:

• In a small bowl mix the rub ingredients.
• Coat the pork shoulder all over with the rub and press the spices into the meat. Allow the pork to stand at room temperature for 30 to 40 minutes before grilling.
• Follow the grill's instruction for smoking with wood chips. With the lid closed, grill and smoke the pork, fat side up, over indirect low heat (250°F to 300°F) for about 1 hour. (Note: Smoke the pork for the first hour only.) Meanwhile, make the sauce.
• In a heavy-bottom saucepan, whisk together the sauce ingredients. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce the heat, and let simmer for about 25 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and, if desired, add extra hot pepper sauce.
• After the pork has been grilling for 1 hour, baste it with the sauce and continue to baste every 30 minutes. Continue grilling until the temperature at the center of the meat registers 180°F When it is done, the meat should be tender enough to tear with your fingers. The total grilling time will be 5 to 6 hours.
• Transfer the pork shoulder to a baking sheet, brush liberally with some remaining sauce, and tightly cover with aluminum foil. Let the pork rest for 30 minutes before serving.
• To serve, pull the warm meat apart with your fingers or two forks and shred into pieces. Discard any large pieces of fat. Pile the seasoned pork on hamburger buns along with your favorite coleslaw and a generous amount of sauce.

LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA BBQ SAUCE

Steps:

• Whisk together all ingredients until sugar and salt are dissolved.
• Pull pork into thin shreds and toss with half of the sauce. Save the remaining sauce to serve at the table for people who like a little more.
• Makes about 2 cups.

LEXINGTON-STYLE VINEGAR PULLED PORK SAUCE

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients together and let sit for at least 10 minutes.
• The longer it sits, the hotter it will get so start with a lesser amount of red pepper flakes if you're a wimp like me.