Pulled Pork Burger with Special Sauce

If there's one thing that Southerners know, it’s their cooking. Don't even think of breathing the word 'calories' when you're talking to someone from the South about their eating habits. In the South, good food is good food. And, that's the end of it!

If you were raised in a Southern family, you likely remember all of those amazing, rich, and sometimes fattening foods that you grew up on. This is the land where Grandma kept used bacon grease in an old coffee can on the stove for seasoning almost anything. And, it was always amazing!

One claim-to-fame for many Southerners is great barbecue. And, they're right! They have mastered the mouthwatering art of slow-roasting nearly any perfectly seasoned piece of meat until it literally falls apart.

Here's an amazing recipe for pulled pork with a special sauce that packs a little kick creating a unique, Southern BBQ burger.

Ingredients

The dark beer and hickory BBQ sauce in the pork really compliment the sweetness of the honey, bringing a perfect balance to this traditional sandwich.

Throw in a bit of watercress for originality and top it with a little bit of 'tang' and you've got yourself a true masterpiece of a sandwich. 

How to Make it

1. Sear the pork. Heat a large frying pan to high heat. Add the canola oil and swirl it around in the pan to coat the bottom evenly. Sear the pork shoulder until you get a nice brown/golden color on all sides.
2. Cook in slow cooker. Once it’s golden, place the pork in a slow cooker with all of the other pulled pork ingredients. Cook at high temperature in the slow cooker for approximately 4 hours, covered (until tender and falls apart).
3. Make special sauce. For the special sauce, mix the mayonnaise with the apple cider vinegar, cumin powder, sugar, salt and pepper. Mix well and refrigerate until ready to use.
4. Shred pork. Remove the pork from the slow cooker to a cutting board. Shred the pork with two forks.
5. Blend. Place all of the cooking liquid and the vegetables in a blender and pulse until blended. (Make sure to open the vent hole in the lid and cover with a kitchen towel to release the steam without any splashing.) Return the pork to the slow cooker. Pour the mixture over the shredded pork and combine well. Adjust salt and pepper as needed.
6. Serve. Toast the buns. Assemble the burgers with the watercress, tomato slices, pulled pork and special mayo. Serve!

Serving Suggestions

You could even use this recipe for the pork on any boneless piece of meat and create your own original BBQ sensation. Better yet, offer this sandwich in a buffet style setting served with a variety of traditional BBQ sauces, spicy and mild, for your guests to choose from.

And, don't forget the bread! Any bread, really! Pick your favorite or pick a few.

Storage

• Fridge Storage: Store leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 4 days.
• Freezer Storage: To freeze it, let it cool (no longer than 2 hours) and place it in double-bagged freezer bags with the air squeezed out to avoid freezer burn or you can vacuum seal it if that option is available to you. Thaw in the fridge overnight.

Mix it up and have some fun. This Pulled Pork Burger could just be the start of one of many future inspirations. Let me know what you thought in the comments!

📋Recipe

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