'Fridge Trash - the Aftermath of Rotisserie Giant Pork Loin

A week ago, I bought a 10 pound pork loin.  It was on sale for $1.99 a pound.  

The thing was huge. I'd been wanting to rotisserie something I never had before on the BBQ, because the snow had melted off and I could actually get to the grill...  and it was warm outside.  Well, warm is relative, but when you've been hibernating near a ski resort all winter, 60 is virtually tropical.

I called the neighbors, and invited them to dinner at 5:30.  Then, I went out to check the grill at around 11am.  

Holy Cow!  It was filthy. A winter of sending my husband out in the snow drifts to grill ribs and tri-tip...  and never scrubbed the entire time!  UGH!  I hate dirty grills.  I took the thing apart, scrubbed it down inside and out, and 2 hours later, it looked pretty new inside... and ready for the loin!!!

The loin  was more than 2 feet long.  I chopped it in half, and put one half in the freezer.  I put the other half in a roasting pan.

Shredded Pork Sliders:  Derived from Cooking Light Magazine, Summer 2008

Rubbin' The Loin:  Smoked Paprika

I made a smoked paprika rub for the loin.   You can use a regular little loin from your meat dept, 1 or 2 lbs, doesn't have to be huge!   Since this is my first post, I will need to let you know that I don't measure anything...  and I NEVER follow the original recipes.   If you have questions, don't hesitate to post 'em!!

Here's what you'll need if you want to do this ():

-powdered smoked paprika

-cumin

-cayenne pepper

-sea salt (large grain), preferably smoked

-fresh ground pepper

-fresh minced garlic

-olive oil

-cider vinegar

Put the smoked paprika (very important that it is smoked - has a marvelous aroma and flavor) into the palm of your hand, filling it up, pour it in bowl.  If you are using a smaller loin, then a few tablespoons should do it.

For the huge loin, put about 4 teaspoons of cumin in the bowl.  You might want to use just 1 if you have a small loin.  I used both whole and powdered cumin.

Shake a bunch of cayenne pepper into the bowl (for big loin, 6 shakes, 1 or 2 for small loin)

Garlic:  the key to everything delicious, for a large loin mince 10 to 12 cloves, for a small, 3 should do it.  This ingredient was not in the original recipe.  I'm Italian...  and it goes in everything I cook.  I don't bake, so you are safe there.

Add in the garlic, then add olive oil slowly.  You won't need very much, just enough to make a paste.  Dash a bit of the cider vinegar in for tang, and whisk to thicken.  Neither the olive oil nor the cider vinegar were in the original rub recipe.    Use just enough to make it pasty and easy to adhere to the loin.

Stick your hand in, and rub it generously all over the loin until none of the rub is left in the bowl.  Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours until ready to rotisserie (or roast in the oven).

Roast or Rotisserie the Pork

To slow-roast in the oven:  

-preheat oven to convection roast, 300 degrees  

-always cook meats like this to temperature, not by time.  You will be rewarded with a juicy, delicious meal.  Pork cooks to 150-155 degrees.     If your oven sports a temp probe, set the temp to 150 or 155.  The oven will auto-shut off when that temp is reached.  If you don't have a probe, get an internal meat thermometer and check the temp every 30 minutes.

To rotisserie on the BBQ:

-if your BBQ is not gas, or does not have a rotisserie, roast this in the oven.  If you have a 1 or 2 lb loin, you can BBQ it on the grates, but it is very difficult to slow-roast something on the BBQ, and easy to overdo.

-if you have a rotisserie, stick the tine through the pork middle.  Attach the tongs and tighten well.

-preheat the grill to 300-400 degrees.  turn off the lower burners and ignite the rotisserie burner.

-put the rotisserie setting on slow-turn.  Check the meat temp every 30 minutes.

When the pork is done, allow to cool for about 15 minutes, the slice up into chops.  Put 2 to 3 chops in a food processor and shred.

Saucy:  Mustard BBQ Slider Sauce

You can make this ahead of time, or while the pork is cooking.   This sauce is a tangy version of regular old BBQ sauce, and has a lovely amber color when finished, thanks to the mustard.

The following is your shopping list...  most of which you may already have in your cupboard.  I have included descriptions for enough sauce for a 2 pound loin.   You can double or triple the recipe if you go out and get a Giant Loin!!!   Here's what you'll need (this is also derived from the Food & Wine Cookbook 2009):

-one whole onion, diced

-olive oil

-chopped sage (fresh), use one whole bunch

-yellow mustard, about 3/4 cup

-ketchup, 1/2 cup

-1 16 oz can of diced tomatoes, use liquid

-1/2 cup of cider vinegar

-molasses (1 tblspns)

-Honey (about 6 tblspns)

-smoked paprika (twice as much as the rest of the spice ingredients)

-cumin

-cayenne pepper

-sea salt

-fresh ground pepper

 

Use a large saute pan, because all of the above ingredients will end up in there.

Saute the chopped onion with olive oil until it is translucent.  add in the chopped sage.  add in the next 4 ingredients.  Simmer until liquid is reduce slightly.  Add in the next ingredients, bring to a boil.  Salt and pepper to taste.  When sauce has thickened, set aside to cool.  Store in the 'fridge until ready to serve after it is cooled.

Serve shredded pork and sauce on sliced, toasted dinner rolls, 2 to 3 a person.  I served the pork with rice and green beans with a french vinaigrette.

Napa Valley Inspired Luncheon for One (or more, if you multiply)

Here's what you'll need:

-2 slices of toasted french bread

-shredded pork

-goat cheese

-Spinach

-aioli (2 tblspons mayo, squirt of lemon juice, one minced garlic glove, mixed)

-tomatoes

Toast the bread, put pork, spinach and goat cheese on one bread slice, microwave until cheese is melty.  Spread ailoi on other slice, add tomatoes and MUNCH!

If you are really feeling decadent, have a glass of Rose with it.  ;-D

Burritos

Here's what you'll need:

-shredded left-over pork

-large tortillas

-salsa (garlic Killer Salsa is excellent, even if it does smell like Kim Chee)

-avocado, chopped

-cilantro

-red onion

-jalapeno peppers (either in jar or fresh - don't rub your eyes or nose after chopping!  Burns!)

-shredded cheese

-rice if you want

Put a tortilla on a plate.  Put a couple spoonfulls of pork, a spoonfull of salsa, sprinkle on the next ingredients, wrap up, microwave and EAT!  Repeat for as many as you need to make.

Sam I AM:  Green Eggs & Ham

Easy breakfast:

-2 eggs per person, fried

-shredded pork

-1/2 tablespoon cilantro per serving

-green salsa

Place shredded pork on a plate and sprinkle on chopped cilantro.  Microwave until warm.  Separate out on however many plates you need to serve your guests (or just yourself!), plop the fried eggs on top, smother with green salsa and mow down!

Goes really well with a bloody mary.