LOW SODIUM PULLED PORK RECIPES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix together the sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper.
• Brush the pork with the liquid smoke and then roll in the bowl with the spices to coat. Set aside.
• Place the onion wedges in the Instant Pot, round sides down. Add the soda and lay the pork pieces on top of the onion.
• Secure the lid, move the valve to the sealing position, and hit Manual or Pressure Cook on High Pressure for 60 minutes. When done, allow a 10-minute natural release, followed by a quick release.
• Transfer the pork and onion to a mixing bowl. Reserve 1/4 cup of the juices from the pot and discard the rest.
• Shred the pork and onion with a pair of forks or a hand mixer, and mix in the reserved juices and barbecue sauce before serving with some slaw in rolls or buns.

Steps:

• Trim off any large pieces of fat from the surface of the pork. Sprinkle the salt, sugar, and pepper evenly over all sides of the pork, then pat the seasonings into the meat. If not cooking immediately, place in a large bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight.
• When ready to cook, place the pork shoulder (and any accumulated juices if seasoned overnight) in a 6-quart or larger slow cooker. Pour the water, around, but not on top of, the pork. Scatter the garlic and onion around the pork.
• Cover and cook on the LOW setting until the meat is tender and can be easily shredded, 10 to 12 hours. Transfer the pork to a clean cutting board or rimmed baking sheet. When it is cool enough to handle, use 2 forks or your fingers to shred the meat into bite-sized pieces. Discard the bone (if present) and any large pieces of fat.
• Pour the cooking liquid through a fine-mesh strainer into a measuring cup or bowl and discard the solids. Skim the fat from the surface of the cooking liquid. Reserve the cooking liquid to keep leftovers moist. Transfer to a serving bowl if serving as-is. If serving as tacos or barbecue sandwiches, transfer back to the slow cooker for seasoning.
• Option 1: TacosSprinkle the pulled pork with the low-sodium taco seasoning mix and toss to coat. Serve on warm tortillas with jalapenos, tomato, and onion, or your favorite taco toppings.
• Option 2: Barbecue SandwichesAdd barbecue sauce to the pulled pork and toss to coat. Serve on hamburger buns with pickles, more barbecue sauce, and coleslaw, if desired.