SLOW COOKER ASIAN CARAMEL PULLED PORK

 INGREDIENTS

• 4-5 lbs. pork shoulder/pork butt trimmed of excess fat
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

WET RUB

• 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seed oil
• 2 tablespoons ginger powder (sounds like a lot but it's amazing)
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 tsp EACH salt, onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

SLOW COOKER SAUCE

• 1/2 cup coconut milk
• 1/2 cup reduced sodium soy sauce
• 1/3 cup Japanese sweet rice wine/mirin (may substitute dry sherry)
• 1/4 cup Asian sweet chili sauce
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 1 tablespoon Sriracha/ Asian hot chili sauce
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch

CARAMEL SAUCE

• 1 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup water

INSTRUCTIONS

• Lightly spray a 6 qt + slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
• Whisk together all of the Wet Spice Rub ingredients together in a medium bowl then massage it evenly all over the pork. Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil over high heat in a large cast iron skillet. Using tongs or 2 forks, sear pork on all sides until lightly browned. Place pork in prepared slow cooker.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together Slow Cooker Sauce ingredients (not Caramel Sauce) and pour all over pork.
• Cook on LOW for 8 to 10 hours or on HIGH for 5-6 hours OR until pork is fall apart tender and easily shreds with a fork. At this point, remove pork to a cutting board until it is cool enough to shred.
• Meanwhile, remove all of the sauce left in the slow cooker to a measuring cup. If there is less than 2 ½ cups then add enough water to equal 2 ½ cup. Set aside. You can add shredded pork back to the slow cooker now that you have removed the sauce.
• To make the Caramel Sauce, add brown sugar and water to large skillet and boil over medium heat for 1 minute, whisking constantly. Don’t overcook or it will harden! Slowly whisk in the 2 ½ cups Slow Cooker Sauce and simmer over medium high heat, whisking constantly until reduced and thickened, approximately 7-10 minutes. Pour desired amount of Caramel Sauce over shredded pork and toss until evenly coated with a spatula. Add additional sriracha for spicier if desired.
• Serve with rice/veggies/etc. and my Slow Cooker Caramel Pork Tacos with Pineapple Snow Pea Slaw are coming soon!