Best 5 Italian Pulled Pork Recipes

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Take a culinary journey to Italy with this tantalizing recipe for Italian Pulled Pork. This dish combines the robust flavors of Italian herbs and spices with the tender, succulent texture of slow-cooked pork shoulder. Indulge in a symphony of flavors as the pork absorbs the rich aromas of garlic, oregano, basil, and fennel, creating a taste experience that will transport you to the heart of Italy. Served with a side of crusty bread or creamy polenta, this mouthwatering pulled pork promises to be a hit at any gathering.

Explore variations of this classic dish with a selection of three delectable recipes. The Traditional Italian Pulled Pork recipe embodies the essence of Italian cuisine, featuring a blend of aromatic herbs and spices that elevate the pork to new heights of flavor. For a spicy twist, try the Calabrian Chili Pulled Pork recipe, where the heat of Calabrian chili peppers adds a fiery kick to the succulent meat. If you prefer a smoky and tangy flavor profile, venture into the Smoked Paprika Pulled Pork recipe, where smoked paprika lends its distinctive smokiness to the tender pork.

No matter which recipe you choose, you're in for a culinary treat that showcases the versatility and richness of Italian cuisine. So, gather your ingredients, fire up your slow cooker or smoker, and embark on a culinary adventure that will leave your taste buds craving more.

Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!

PORCHETTA - ITALIAN MARKETPLACE SLOW ROAST PULLED PORK SANDWICH



Porchetta - Italian Marketplace Slow Roast Pulled Pork Sandwich image

This is JUST gorgeous! A domestic take on the classic Italian marketplace or street food, Porchetta, which is actually roast suckling pig. Porchetta is thickly sliced and served in ciabatta bread as a delectable hot sandwich throughout Italy. My recipe is a much-adapted recipe taken from one of Nigella Lawson's cookbooks, and it is SO easy to make at home. I cook mine in the crock-pot for meltingly soft and tender pulled pork - however, I have also given traditional roasting directions in this recipe. Preparation time includes the 24 hour period required for the pork to marinade in its herbed and spiced rub.

Provided by French Tart

Categories     One Dish Meal

Time P1DT6h

Yield 10 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 11

2 kg pork shoulder, boned, trimmed of fat and butterflied
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, peeled and finely diced
6 garlic cloves, peeled and finely minced
2 tablespoons fennel seeds
2 -3 tablespoons fresh rosemary leaves, finely chopped
4 fresh bay leaves, finely chopped
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons fresh ground black pepper
10 ciabatta rolls

Steps:

  • Lay the pork on a large chopping board and cover with cling film. With a rolling pin, mallet, or other suitable blunt object, pound the meat as close to an even 1" thickness that you can manage.
  • Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a frying pan over a medium high. Add all of the chopped onion, half the minced garlic, half the fennel seeds, all of the rosemary and bay, half of the ground cloves, salt and pepper, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, or until all the fragrance has been released from the herbs and spices. Transfer to a plate to cool.
  • Spread and rub this mixture over and into the pork, then roll the meat up as tightly and neatly as you can. Tie with kitchen string at intervals.
  • Mix the remaining ingredients (minced garlic, fennel seeds, ground cloves, olive oil) and rub it over the outside of the pork. Cover it with cling film and refrigerate 24 hours, or at least overnight.
  • Remove the meat 40 minutes before cooking to allow it to return to room temperature. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 150C/300F Take the cling film off the pork and place the pork joint in to a roasting tin.
  • Cook the pork for 4 hours to 5 hours, until it is falling apart when you test it with a knife or fork. If the spices on the surface start to char too badly (a little blackness is a good thing), tent foil loosely over the roast. (I find I need to cover it for the last hour of cooking.).
  • CROCK POT - at this stage, cook the pork in a crock pot for 4 to 5 hours on high, or on automatic for up to 8 hours.
  • Remove from the oven and leave to rest at least 30 minutes to one hour. Slice, pull or shred the meat and serve in warmed ciabatta rolls.

PORCHETTA - ITALIAN MARKETPLACE PULLED PORK SANDWICH (CROCK POT)



Porchetta - Italian Marketplace Pulled Pork Sandwich (Crock Pot) image

Tender succulent boneless pork roast is rubbed with olive oil and seasonings and slowly roasted to perfection in the crock pot until it is falling apart, then stuffed into warmed and buttered Italian ciabatta rolls. A wonderfully simplified version of the classic Porchetta Italian Market Place Sandwich by Nigella Lawson.

Provided by BecR2400

Categories     One Dish Meal

Time 12h15m

Yield 10 Porchetta Sandwiches

Number Of Ingredients 12

4 1/2 lbs boneless pork roast, trimmed of fat
3 tablespoons olive oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons fennel seeds, lightly crushed
1 1/2 tablespoons finely minced fresh rosemary leaves
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2 teaspoons fresh coarse ground black pepper
2 large bay leaves
1 large white onion, chopped
10 italian ciabatta rolls
softened butter, to serve

Steps:

  • Rub the roast all over with the olive oil, then rub with the seasonings. Place roast in bottom of crock pot, and top with the bay leaves and chopped onion.
  • Cover and cook on HIGH for 1 hour, then reduce heat to LOW and cook 10-12 hours more until meat is falling apart, yet tender, and done.
  • Remove to a large cutting board and let cool slightly, then use two forks to pull apart the meat into chunks, discarding the bay leaves.
  • Stuff into warmed and buttered Italian ciabatta rolls, and dig in!

ITALIAN PULLED PORK SANDWICHES



Italian Pulled Pork Sandwiches image

Enjoy all the flavors of Italian sausage sandwiches with this healthier alternative. -Lia Dellario, Middleport, New York

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Lunch

Time 8h20m

Yield 12 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 tablespoon fennel seed, crushed
1 tablespoon steak seasoning
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
1 boneless pork shoulder butt roast (3 pounds)
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 medium green or sweet red peppers, thinly sliced
2 medium onions, thinly sliced
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
12 whole wheat hamburger buns, split

Steps:

  • In a small bowl, combine the fennel seed, steak seasoning and cayenne if desired. Cut roast in half. Rub seasoning mixture over pork. In a large skillet, brown roast in oil on all sides. Place in a 4- or 5-qt. slow cooker. Add the peppers, onions and tomatoes; cover and cook on low for 7-9 hours or until meat is tender., Remove roast; cool slightly. Skim fat from cooking juices. Shred pork with 2 forks and return to slow cooker; heat through. Using a slotted spoon, place 1/2 cup meat mixture on each bun.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 288 calories, Fat 8g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 56mg cholesterol, Sodium 454mg sodium, Carbohydrate 27g carbohydrate (7g sugars, Fiber 5g fiber), Protein 26g protein. Diabetic Exchanges

ITALIAN PULLED PORK



Italian Pulled Pork image

No barbecue sauce here! The pork is rubbed with a flavorful Italian-inspired paste made with toasted fennel, fresh herbs, garlic, dried chile, and lemon zest.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Ingredients     Meat & Poultry     Pork Recipes

Time 6h

Yield Serves 10 to 12

Number Of Ingredients 13

2 tablespoons fennel seeds
1 boneless pork shoulder (7 pounds)
2 cups packed fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
1/2 cup fresh sage leaves
1/4 cup fresh rosemary leaves
2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
6 cloves garlic, smashed
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1 small dried red chile pepper, crumbled
Finely grated zest of 1 lemon
10 to 12 ciabatta rolls, for serving
1 head fennel, quartered and thinly shaved, for serving

Steps:

  • Toast fennel seeds in a small skillet over medium heat until fragrant, about 4 minutes.
  • Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Using a sharp knife, score fat (but not meat) on pork in a diamond pattern. Pulse herbs, garlic, and fennel seeds in a food processor until combined. Slowly add oil and continue pulsing until a thick paste forms. Stir in 2 tablespoons salt, 1 tablespoon pepper, chile pepper, and lemon zest; rub mixture all over pork.
  • Place pork, fat-side up, in a roasting pan or a large Dutch oven; add 1 1/2 cups water. Cover and roast until meat is starting to become tender, about 3 hours. Remove lid and continue cooking until meat is fork-tender, 1 to 1 1/2 hours more. Carefully transfer pork to a large bowl, leaving juices in pan. When cool enough to handle, use two forks to shred meat into bite-size pieces, discarding any large pieces of fat. Transfer shredded pork back to pot and toss with juices. Serve on rolls with extra pan juices, topped with shaved fennel.

PRESSURE-COOKER ITALIAN PULLED PORK SANDWICHES



Pressure-Cooker Italian Pulled Pork Sandwiches image

Enjoy all the flavors of Italian sausage sandwiches with this healthier alternative. -Lia Dellario, Middleport, New York

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Lunch

Time 1h5m

Yield 12 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 tablespoon fennel seed, crushed
1 tablespoon steak seasoning
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
1 boneless pork shoulder butt roast (3 pounds)
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 medium green or sweet red peppers, thinly sliced
2 medium onions, thinly sliced
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
1/2 cup water
12 whole wheat hamburger buns, split

Steps:

  • In a small bowl, combine fennel seed, steak seasoning and cayenne if desired. Cut roast in half. Rub seasoning mixture over pork. Select saute or browning setting on a 6-qt. electric pressure cooker. Adjust for medium heat; add oil. When oil is hot, brown a roast half on all sides. Remove; repeat with remaining pork. Press cancel., Return all to pressure cooker. Add peppers, onions, tomatoes and water. Lock lid; close pressure-release valve. Adjust to pressure-cook on high for 45 minutes. Let pressure release naturally. A thermometer inserted in pork should read at least 145°., Remove roast; shred with two forks. Strain cooking juices; skim fat. Return cooking juices, vegetables and pork to pressure cooker; heat through. Using a slotted spoon, serve pork mixture on buns. Freeze option: Freeze cooled meat mixture and juices in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a saucepan, stirring occasionally and adding a little water if necessary.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 285 calories, Fat 9g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 57mg cholesterol, Sodium 483mg sodium, Carbohydrate 27g carbohydrate (6g sugars, Fiber 5g fiber), Protein 26g protein. Diabetic Exchanges

Tips:

  • Choose the right cut of pork. A pork shoulder or pork butt is best for pulled pork because it is a tough cut of meat that becomes tender when cooked slowly.
  • Use a flavorful rub. The rub is what gives pulled pork its flavor, so be sure to use a rub that you like. There are many different recipes for pulled pork rubs available online or in cookbooks.
  • Cook the pork slowly and low. Pulled pork is best cooked slowly and low so that the meat has time to become tender. The ideal cooking temperature is between 200 and 225 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Use a liquid to keep the pork moist. A liquid such as apple juice, chicken broth, or beer can be added to the slow cooker or roasting pan to keep the pork moist while it is cooking.
  • Shred the pork when it is done cooking. Once the pork is cooked, it should be shredded using two forks. The pork should be shredded into small pieces, about the size of a dime.

Conclusion:

Pulled pork is a delicious and versatile dish that can be served in a variety of ways. It can be served on a bun with barbecue sauce, or it can be used as a filling for tacos, burritos, or sandwiches. Pulled pork can also be served with rice, potatoes, or vegetables. No matter how you choose to serve it, pulled pork is sure to be a hit with your family and friends.

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