Slow-Cooker Pulled-Pork Barbecue Sandwiches with Buttermilk Coleslaw

Living in New York, I rarely get truly great barbecue. One weekend I had a craving, so I developed this recipe and invited a few friends over to share. They went crazy over it. The key is cooking it long and slow. I serve it piled high on buns and topped with coleslaw.

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Pinch of cayenne pepper, optional
5 pounds boneless pork butt or shoulder
2 cups barbecue sauce (homemade or store bought)
10 to 12 soft hamburger-style buns

Directions:
In a small bowl, mix the chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and cayenne, if using.  Rub the spice mixture on all sides of the pork.  Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight.

Place pork in a slow cooker.  Set on low heat and cook for 10 hours.  Transfer from the slow cooker to a roasting pan and shred with two forks, removing any large pieces of fat.  Pour the broth into a heatproof pitcher or large fat separator, and skim off the fat.  Put the pork back into the slow cooker.  Combine the barbecue sauce and 3 cups of the skimmed broth.  Stir into the pork and cook 2 hours.  Using a slotted spoon, remove the pork from the slow cooker.  Place the meat on a serving platter or on individual buns.  Serve the remaining sauce alongside.
SERVES: 10 TO 12
PREP TIME: 5 MINUTES
INACTIVE PREP TIME: 2 HOURS
COOK TIME: 12 HOURS

Buttermilk Coleslaw
I can’t have a summer barbecue without this buttermilk coleslaw on the menu.  I absolutely love the flavors of the spicy Dijon mustard combined with the tang of the cider vinegar and buttermilk, and the sweetness of the brown sugar and the secret ingredient – celery salt.  The colors of the green and purple cabbage with the orange carrots look so pretty on the table.  When you make my pulled-pork barbecue, be sure to make this coleslaw and serve them together on a bun.

½ cup mayonnaise
1½ tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons buttermilk
½ teaspoon celery salt
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 cups finely shredded green cabbage (about ½ head)
4 cups finely shredded purple cabbage (about ½ head)
2 large carrots, grated

Whisk together the mayonnaise, mustard, brown sugar, vinegar, buttermilk, celery salt, kosher salt, and pepper in a large bowl.  Add the cabbages and carrots and toss to combine.  Cover and chill until serving time.

6 SERVINGS
PREP TIME: 15 MINUTES