SLOW COOKER PORK SHOULDER RECIPES

Steps:

• Rub the pork with salt and pepper, and then set aside while you prepare the remaining ingredients. (See notes below if you plan to sear the pork first).
• Heat oil in a wide skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic then cook, occasionally stirring, until they are sweet and browned around the edges. Stir in the tomato paste, chili powder, and cumin. Cook, stirring until the tomato paste turns from bright red to orange in color; about 3 minutes. Add the water, apple cider vinegar, and fish sauce and cook for about 1 minute, scraping up the browned bits on the bottom of the pan.
• Rest the seasoned pork in the bottom of a slow cooker then pour the onion and spice mixture on top. Wiggle the pork around the bottom of the slow cooker so that some of the onion and spice mixture slides underneath. Cover with lid and cook until the pork can be easily shredded; LOW for 6 to 8 hours or HIGH for 4 to 6.
• Turn off the slow cooker and transfer the pork to a cutting board. If the pork has a bone in it, remove and discard it. Use two forks to shred the meat, discarding any connective tissue, and large clumps of fat.
• Remove the cooking liquid and skim most of the fat from its surface. Discard the fat then set the cooking liquid aside.
• If using barbecue sauce, add it to the slow cooker and stir in the shredded pork. For even more flavor, add back some of the reserved cooking liquid. If you’re not using barbecue sauce, add the shredded pork and the cooking liquid back to the slow cooker. Taste and season with salt, additional vinegar, or hot sauce as needed.

Steps:

• If you can, marinade the pork overnight before you plan to cook it. In a large bowl, mix the sugar, Worcestershire sauce, spices, thyme and garlic together then stir in the vinegar to make a paste. Add the pork and rub all over. Cover with cling film and leave to marinade in the fridge overnight. If not marinating, mix the ingredients together with generous seasoning, rub over the pork, then put into the slow cooker.  
• If you have marinated the meat, lift the pork out of the bowl and add to the slow cooker, discarding the juices. Season the pork well. Pour in the barbecue sauce and toss the pork in the sauce to coat. Cook on low for about 8hr, or until the pork shreds easily. Halfway through the cooking time, quickly open the pot, turn the pork joint over and cover quickly with the lid again (don’t leave the pot uncovered for longer than necessary, as the meat will take longer to cook).  
• Transfer pork to a large board and shred with two forks. If you want a thicker sauce, pour the juices from the slow cooker into a large saucepan and boil until reduced down to a thicker consistency. Add the shredded pork to the pan and stir to coat. Serve in brioche burger buns with coleslaw, some coriander leaves and a few drops of hot chilli sauce.