Easy and Delicious Pork Roast
This morning I got up bright and early to start making one of my families favorites. Slow Cooked Pork Roast. The pork roast is not only easy and delicious it’s also super economical. Even with my big family I can get three meals out of a single roast. And I’m not talking about the same left overs three nights in a row. I mean three delicious and different meals.
I start with a bone in Pork Butt Roast. Now, don’t let the name fool you. A pork butt roast really comes from the shoulder. I like to season my meat well with a good seasoning salt. My favorite is Bad Byron’s Butt Rub. I first found Butt Rub while on vacation in Pagosa Springs Colorado. That was an amazing trip. Lots of fun and funny memories made. Butt Rub is the perfect combination of spices including: salt, pepper, garlic and whatever else they put in it. I buy it online in quantity since no stores around me carry it. Make sure your roast is nice and dry. I always pat my meat down with paper towels. This ensures the seasonings stick well to your roast and your meat doesn’t steam when you put it in your frying pan.
Once your roast is well seasoned, I heat up a cast iron skillet with either Crisco or Vegetable Oil and add my roast. Let it sizzle for about 3-5 minutes per side including the sides. By doing this you are sealing in the juices and creating a great crust that will be so yummy.
While the roast is browning, get your crock pot ready. I add equal amounts of chicken stock and water. A good shake of granulated onion and garlic. I also throw in a couple cloves of whole garlic and a whole onion or two into the broth. Turn your crock pot on while the roast in browning. That way your are not putting your hot roast into cold liquid and you just stopped or slowed down the cooking process. ** I also add a small splash of liquid smoke. Hickory Smoke flavor is my favorite. Depending on your taste buds you can either add or omit this ingredient.
Put your lid on and let it cook away for 6-8 hours. Get ready, your house is going to smell amazing. Once your roast is fully cooked it should be fork tender. What I mean is you should be able to take a fork and shred the roast. When you have reached this stage take the roast out of the crock pot and place in a large bowl to cool.
Once your roast is cool enough to handle start shredding the meat. This is where you can decide on how you are going prepare the roast for tonight’s dinner; Carnitas, Bar-B-Que Pulled Pork or Pork Roast with gravy and Mashed Potatoes.
* Carnitas, place some of your shredded pork in a cast iron skillet with crisco. Let the skillet get nice and hot. Place some pork in the skilled and fry until a nice crust forms on the meat. Serve with home made pico de gallo and rice and beans and your favorite tortilla.
* BBQ Pulled Pork - pour your favorite bbq sauce into a sauce pan and put some of your shredded pork into the pan. Warm through. Meanwhile you can prepare a fresh coleslaw or perhaps you have made a yummy potato salad earlier in the day. Once the pork is warmed, serve on a toasted roll and enjoy.
* Pork Roast and gravy. Hopefully you saved all that yummy broth from your crock pot. Ladle a couple spoons into a sauce pan and bring to a boil. Mix warm water and corn starch together until all of the corn starch is dissolved. Pour the corn starch mixture into the drippings and bring to a boil. Stir constantly. I love using corn starch instead of flour for my gravies as cornstarch has no flavor and does not clump. Don’t forget to add a splash of kitchen bouquet for color and a touch of seasoning to the gravy. Add your pork to the gravy and serve over mashed potatoes or warmed toast for a super yummy meal.
Now, my pork roast cost me about $6.00 for a 5lb roast. I happened to get mine on sale. So for less than $20.00 using ingredients you already have in your kitchen you just created three super delicious and healthy meals for your family.
Enjoy -
