Sesame Pulled-Pork Sandwiches
(Makes 6)
Adapted from the Columbus Dispatch
Ingredients
1 bottle (12 ounces) beer (we used a triple ale)
1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup rice vinegar
3 T sesame oil
2 T soy sauce
1.5 t mustard powder
1 t cayenne
1/2 tsp. ground anise seed
3 pounds pork tenderloin cut into 2-inch chunks
3 t hot sauce
salt and black pepper
Buns
Sesame seeds for garnish and flavor (optional)
Coleslaw (optional)
Directions
In a large saucepan, whisk together the beer, tomato paste, brown sugar, vinegar, 2 tablespoons sesame oil, soy sauce, and mustard powder. Add star anise and pork. Bring to a simmer over medium-high. Cover; cook until very tender, about 50-60 minutes.
Use 2 forks to shred or pull apart the pork into bite-sized pieces. Stir in the remaining tablespoon of sesame oil and hot sauce. Season with salt and pepper.
Divide the pork among the buns, top with coleslaw if you wish.
I wouldn’t recommend a light beer for this recipe. The beer we used was a triple ale (very hoppy). It worked perfectly. I think an IPA or even Guinness would work well too.
I made the really poor mistake of taking the pork out of the sauce and discarding the sauce. DO NOT DO THIS! Keep the pork in the sauce in which it cooks, and shred it in the sauce. These sandwiches were really tasty, but would have been even better had I followed directions!
Not only were these sandwiches tasty, but they were fairly easy. I love a recipe that allows me to clean up while it’s cooking. The house smelled amazing throughout the cooking process too.
Estimated Nutrition Facts
(Serving Size: 1 sandwich, including a 100% whole wheat bun)
Ahem…..a good source of vitamins A, and C, and an excellent source of iron and fiber. Just ignore the sodium and cholesterol. I mean, I’m sure the nutrition facts are much better than store-brand or restaurant pulled pork!
QUESTION: Are you a fan of pulled pork? What type of beer do you typically use to cook with, when a recipe calls for beer?
Also, thank you for all of your responses to my last post about what I like to call “The Dr. Oz Effect”. It was fun to read them all (maybe Dr. Oz himself will read them and make some changes to his show. HA! And lose millions of dollars a year? I don’t think so).
