What do you eat during the game? According to an article in Business Insider (1), data scientists at a software company looked at Super Bowl food trends on Pinterest from the past five years. They ranked the recipes that people have re-pinned the most to predict what recipes are trending this year. If you’re thinking nachos, wings and chips with dip, you’re not alone. However, they didn’t make the top spot. What ranked #1?
A recipe called “Crockpot Honey Garlic Little Smokies Sausages,” which requires little more than a slow cooker. Obviously, that’s how it won out. Slow-cooker recipes are not only easy-peasy but time- and cost-effective. That’s precisely why you need one in your repertoire — one with flavor, spice and nourishing ingredients. This slow-cooker pulled pork delivers. With tequila, fresh herbs and citrus, you’ll have a crowd hovering around the crock pot. Thankfully, this recipe makes a big enough batch for all those appetites.
Ingredients
4 lbs. pasture-raised pork shoulder
2 Tbsp. rendered duck fat
2 bay leaves
1 small bunch fresh oregano
1 small bunch fresh cilantro
Kosher salt
1 large, yellow onion, halved and cut into slices
Jalapenos, to taste (optional)
1 orange
2 limes
4 cups bone broth
1/2 cup tequila or mezcal
2 heads Bibb or butter lettuce
1 large, ripe avocado, sliced
Directions
- Cut pork into evenly sized cubes, roughly 2” x 2.” Pat dry.
- In a slow cooker over medium-heat, heat duck fat.
- Add pork and all seasonings, cooking until brown on all sides. Work in batches, if needed.
- Once cooked through, remove pork from slow cooker. Set aside.
- Layer onions along bottom of slow cooker (and jalapenos, if using), and then place pork back in slow cooker over onions.
- Juice orange directly into slow cooker. Remove pits and add orange remnants to the mix.
- Juice 1 lime. Slice second lime into wedges and set aside.
- Add bone broth and tequila – just enough liquid to cover mixture.
- Put a lid on top and cook on low 4 to 6 hours, checking occasionally.
- Remove lid 30 minutes before serving to let cool.
- Once cool enough to handle, work in batches and use two forks to shred meat.
- Serve shredded meat in lettuce cups or tortillas, topped with fresh cilantro and reserved lime wedges.
Notes:
- Reserve the liquid for use in a future soup or stew!
- Sourcing your proteins mindfully is key; check out com for their nationwide directory of humane suppliers.
(1)Garfield, Leanna. “The Most Popular Super Bowl Recipes, According to the Internet.” Business Insider. Business Insider, 05 Feb. 2016. Web. 18 Jan. 2017