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Cook Up a Feast: Making the Perfect Pulled Pork Sandwich

cooking

By Jackson C.

- May 4, 2026

In need of a knock-out dish? Whip up this enticing pulled pork sandwich. Begin by seasoning a 5-pound boneless pork shoulder, cut in half, with Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper. Then, move to your trusty large cast-iron casserole. Add the pork with its fat side down, and make sure you cook it over a moderately high heat until all sides have browned. The cooking process should take roughly 12 minutes in total, after which the meat should be plated for later.

Let’s make this dish really shine with an outstanding sauce. First, add half a cup of tomato paste to the casserole and let it cook over moderately low heat, make sure you stir until it turns a deep red color. This should take about two minutes. Next, spice things up with 1 and a half teaspoons of hot paprika, a quarter teaspoon of ground cloves, a quarter teaspoon of ground allspice, and half a cup of packed dark brown sugar. Keep stirring until the sugar disintegrates, this typically takes about half a minute.

The next additions include a cup of cider vinegar which you bring to a boil, making sure to scrape up any browned bits. This is followed by a quarter cup of molasses, a cup of ketchup, a tablespoon of ground coffee (never instant!) and a cup of water brought to a simmer.

It's time to return the pork to your tasty concoction. Cover and cook over a low heat, occasionally stirring the meat in the sauce, let the pork become tender, ideally over about 4 hours' time. Transfer the juicy pork to a large bowl, and give it a well-deserved 30-minute rest.

While the pork rejuvenates, skim off any fat from the sauce. Let the sauce boil over a moderately high heat until it slightly thickens, usually about 5 minutes. Take two forks, shred your rested pork; toss out any large pieces of fat, and stir the shredded pork back into this tangy barbecue sauce.

Now for the final assemble: grab 8 brioche buns, split them open, mound the sauce-infused pork onto the buns, follow it up with your coleslaw, and enjoy your perfectly crafted pulled pork sandwich. This is sure to be a hit at any meal gathering.