Slow Cooked Apple Smoked Barbecue Pork

Ingredients

• 1 (5 to 6 pounds) pork butt
• 1/2 cup Pork Rub, recipe follows
• 1 tablespoon dry mustard
• Olive oil
• Apple chips, soaked in water
• BBQ sauce, recipe follows
• 8 large rolls
• 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
• 2 large pickles, sliced into thin rounds

Directions

Place the pork butt in a shallow pan. To the pork rub, add the dry mustard and mix well. Rub the whole surface with the Pork Rub. Drizzle the surface with olive oil and rub well again. Cover and refrigerate at least 6 hours or overnight in the refrigerator.

Soak the apple chips in cold water for at least 30 minutes. Preheat 1 side of the charcoal grill to medium. Drain the apple chips and place on the hot side of the grill in the wood chip tray or in a small metal tray by the fire. Keep the other half of the grill on very low heat.

Place the pork on the hotter side of the grill and sear until golden brown on all sides, about 15 minutes. Remove to the lower heat side of the grill. Cook slowly, over low heat, 300 degrees F, until the meat is tender and falling off the bone, about 2 1/2 hours. Turn the meat every 20 minutes or so.

Remove from the grill and let rest for 10 minutes. Slice or shred into bite-size pieces and place in a large bowl. Toss with desired amount of BBQ Sauce. Place on buns and top with red onions and pickles.

Pork Rub:

• 4 tablespoons brown sugar
• 4 tablespoons onion powder
• 4 tablespoons garlic powder
• 4 tablespoons dried thyme
• 4 tablespoons dried oregano
• 2 tablespoons mild paprika
• 2 tablespoons hot paprika
• 4 teaspoons cayenne
• 4 teaspoons ground coriander
• 2 teaspoons black pepper
• 2 teaspoons white pepper
• 2 tablespoons kosher salt

Mix all ingredients together and stir well.

Yield: about 1 cup

BBQ Sauce:

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1/2 medium onion, minced
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano leaves
• 1 cup ketchup
• 1 cup tomato puree
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons southern style hot sauce (recommended: Tabasco)
• 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon cayenne
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

In a medium saucepan, over medium heat, add the vegetable oil. Saute the onions, garlic, and oregano until translucent, about 4 to 5 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients, ketchup, tomato puree, Worcestershire sauce, honey, brown sugar, hot sauce, paprika, cayenne, cumin, coriander, salt and black pepper. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally, then lower heat to a simmer and allow to simmer for 1 hour 30 minutes.

Taste and adjust seasoning and heat to desired taste.

Yield: about 3 cups