Spicy Dr. Pepper Shredded Pork

This week, we have a special cinco-de-mayo inspired dish: carnitas (pulled pork). This is a simple recipe that slow cooks pork shoulder for 6-7 hours in onions, smoked chipotle, and Dr. Pepper. It seems odd at first, but makes a lot of sense when you smell it and ultimately devour it all. 

Recipe: http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2011/03/spicy-dr-pepper-shredded-pork/

Dan's Version and Comments

Pork shoulder nicely trimmed.

Smoked chipotles added. 

And the final product. Excess fat was not drained here. Lets pretend that was on purpose.

Breakfast carnitas. Yum.

Have you ever tasted something so good, so juicy, so moist, you thought to yourself, damn, maybe there is a God? That is how I felt after trying this dish.

For those who think that the Dr. Pepper will provide an overwhelming sweetness factor of "23 distinct flavors," I can assure you, this is not the case. The chipotle pepper provided the perfect level of heat intensity, but did not overwhelm the subtle sweetness of the Dr. Pepper. 

What is super important with this dish is to make sure it is properly rubbed prior to cooking, also,  it must be cooked in a pot not a large turkey tray. Why you ask? The pot will more effectively caramelize the side of the pork shoulder giving you that all too familiar crispy piece of juicy pork that everyone craves. 

For a quick and healthy sour cream alternative I used Greek yogurt with some chopped up cilantro and lime juice. 

Finally, it is a rarity, and I think Moe will agree with me on this one, that we admit something is better than Chipotle, but , this just may be one of those times.   

Mo's Version and Comments

Onion foundation. 

Pork shoulder trimmed and seasoned. 

Chipotles added. In my case I pulled them apart a bit to really let them incorporate into the braising liquid. 

Dr. Pepper added before covering the dutch oven pot. Hour 0.

2.5 hours. Liquid reducing. 

4 hours.

6.5 hours. Yeah. 

Absolutely falling off bone. No structural integrity!

Shred with a fork. 

Skim the fat from the braising liquid, then add the shredded pork. 

Serve with your favorite fix-ins and corn tortillas. 

Keep it simple. 

Or load it up. 

Glorious. Delicious. Easy.

The hardest part will be restraining yourself for 6-7 hours as the pork shoulder slow cooks and makes your place smell temptingly spicy and sweet. This can also be cooked in a crock pot, and can go a long way in the form of leftovers. It's hard to mess up, and great for those who like to take a lot of liberties when following recipes (*cough cough*). If you're adventurous try adding oregano, chili powder, garlic, and other latin flavors. 

And definitely use the Dr. Pepper. 

Next week we'll be making something that pays tribute to our mommas for Mother's day!