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–+ servings

Pulled Pork

Soaked in a molasses brine and rubbed with a fragrant mix of fennel and coriander, my slow-smoked pulled pork is bound to be the star of your next backyard barbecue.
For most Americans not housed within the borders of Texas, barbecue means pork, but not all pork is 'cue worthy. What we want from the final dish is fork-tender, succulent, and finger-lickin' good. This means the target meat must contain enough connective tissue to convert into a considerable amount of gelatin, with enough fat on the outside to baste the meat through the long cooking process.
For my money, the best cut for barbecue is the pork shoulder, or butt. Here's how I do it.
This recipe first appeared in Season 7 of Good Eats.
ACTIVE TIME: 20 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 1 day 20 minutes
Yield: 8 to 10 servings

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Brine

  • 8 ounces (3/4 cup) molasses, not blackstrap
  • 12 ounces pickling salt
  • 2 quarts water
  • 1 (6- to 8-pound) Boston butt

Rub

  • 1 teaspoon whole cumin seed
  • 1 teaspoon whole fennel seed
  • 1 teaspoon whole coriander
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 1 tablespoon paprika

Specialized Hardware

Procedure

  • Combine molasses, pickling salt, and water in a 6-quart polycarbonate food storage container. Add Boston butt, making sure it is completely submerged in brine, cover, and let sit in refrigerator for a minimum of 8 hours. 12 hours is ideal.
  • Place cumin seed, fennel seed, and coriander in a spice/coffee grinder and grind fine. Transfer to a small mixing bowl and stir in chili powder, onion powder, and paprika.
  • After 8 to 12 hours, remove Boston butt from brine and pat dry. Sift the rub evenly over the shoulder and then pat onto the meat making sure as much of the rub as possible adheres. More rub will adhere to the meat if you are wearing latex gloves during the application.
  • Heat smoker to 210ºF. Place butt in smoker and cook for 10 to 12 hours, maintaining a temperature of 210ºF. Begin checking meat for doneness after 10 hours of cooking time; you'll know the meat is done when it falls apart easily when pulling with a fork. Once done, remove it from the smoker and set aside to rest for at least 1 hour. Pull meat apart with 2 forks and serve as a sandwich with coleslaw and dressing, as desired.