Asian Influenced Pulled Pork Tacos with Crispy Bok Choy Slaw
Ingredients: For the Pork: Total cook time 5-7 hours mainly unattended
1 T Olive Oil
1 Medium Yellow Onion, peeled & diced
6 Large Garlic cloves, peeled & minced
2 T Fresh Ginger, peeled & minced
1/2 C Hoisin sauce
1/2 C Fish Sauce
3 T Ross’ Rowdy Bees Honey
1, 4-5 Pound Bone-in Pork Shoulder, fat removed and reserved
1 T Sandcastle Yellow Jacket Seasoning
1/2-1 Cup Water (see instructions)
12 – 16 Flour Tortillas or Bao Buns (warmed)
For the Slaw:
1/3 C Rice Vinegar
2 T Ross’ Rowdy Bees Honey
2 tsp Fresh Ginger, grated
1-3 tsp Sesame Oil (start with one and add more to taste, this oil can be overpowering)
2-3 T Neutral Oil, like avocado or grapeseed
1 tsp Sriracha or Garlic Chili Sauce, optional
1 Bok Choy, small thinly sliced (about 2 Cups)
2 Carrots, medium peeled and sliced into julienne strips
2 Cucumbers, medium peeled and sliced into julienne strips
1/2 tsp Salt
Fresh Cilantro, roughly chopped
1 Lime, cut into thin wedges (Squeeze two wedges into the dressing)
Shaved fresh jalapeno rounds, optional
Instructions:
Pat pork roast dry and season with Yellow Jacket seasoning, set aside. In a sauté pan over medium-high heat add the olive oil and onions, stirring to combine. Sauté approximately 5 minutes, then add the garlic stirring until onions are translucent. Turn off the heat and stir in the ginger, honey, hoisin and fish sauce to combine. Add ~1/3 C of water to thin the mixture.
In a slow cooker set to low, place a few spoonfuls of the sauce into the pot, placing the pork on top. Pour the remaining sauce over the pork and cook 5 – 7 hours, or until the pork shreds easily with a fork. Checking on it after the first 3 - 4 hours then checking regularly. Remove the pork from the slow cooker and allow it to rest before shredding. While it is resting, make the slaw.
In a small bowl whisk together the vinegar, ginger, honey, both oils, lime juice, cilantro, and sriracha. Add the vegetables and toss to combine. (Do not dress until ready to use & adjust seasoning/sweetness to taste) Reserve some lime slices and cilantro to garnish.
Check the pork after 5 hours to see if it is fork tender. Shred the pork and return it to the slow cooker, stirring to combine. Warm the tortillas or Bao buns in the oven or microwave. Serve the pulled pork in tortillas or bao buns topped with the slaw and garnish with cilantro, a wedge/squeeze of fresh lime, and sliced fresh jalapeno if desired or your favorite hot sauce.
My prefered method is to cook the pork a day in advance, shred while warm and storing the meat separately from the broth in the refidgerator. When ready to serve, remove any fat that has settled on top of the broth and reheat with the pork in the crockpot on low. Be sure to give it another taste, if the flavor/salt is too strong add some more water while reheating.
Reserved Fat: Render it to make lard & cracklings. Recipes posted separately.
Tips: Pork can be made 1 – 2 days in advance and stored in the refrigerator, reheat in the crockpot to serve.
Slaw dressing can be made 1 day ahead and stored in the refrigerator. Vegetables for the slaw are versatile, use what is in season or on hand, red onion, red bell pepper or cabbage are all great options.
Oven Method: Cook the pork in a covered dutch oven 4 – 5 hours at 325 degrees.
***Reminder, season to your liking & always taste through various stages of the cooking process and adjust as needed.