Hawaiian Pulled Pork Sliders

Recipe for: Sweet and Sour Pulled Pork on Hawaiian Sweet Rolls with Spicy BBQ Sauce

A couple of years ago now Brent and I were going to a Hawaiian themed graduation party. We were asked to contribute a Hawaiian type dish and bring it along. I've never been to Hawaii, though I’d love to get there someday, but for whatever reason Sweet and Sour Pulled Pork seemed to fit the theme. Plus, pulled pork generally does well with large crowds.

While everyone at the party seemed to enjoy it, Brent really loved it and over the years he has asked me to make it again. Recently he had a potluck at work and asked for the recipe so he could bring it in.  Since the recipe was never posted here, I figured I would make it again so I could write it down and share it with you.

For his potluck we bought about 14lbs of pork butt, so I slimmed down the recipe for 4-8 pounds to post here. This gives you a little wiggle room in the recipe depending on how many people you’ll be making this for.

One addition I made this time was a spicy BBQ sauce to go on top and I really thought it brought the whole thing together. In fact, the BBQ sauce would also be great on grilled chicken, pork chops or maybe even grilled salmon.

Just a note: In the recipe below for the pork, I separated the ingredients between the cooking liquid and the sauce to pour on top afterwards. I think it makes it easier to follow, even though they use many of the same items.

Sweet and Sour Hawaiian Pulled Pork Sliders

*Makes 20 – 30 sliders or 6 – 8  sandwiches

(printable recipe)

Ingredients:

In the slow cooker

-          4-8 pounds Boston butt pork

-          1-2 tbls vegetable or canola oil

-          2 medium sweet onions, sliced

-          2 red bell peppers, sliced

-          1 can chunk pineapple, drained

-          2 tea garlic, minced

-          1 tbl ginger, minced

-          8oz pineapple juice

-          3 tbls rice vinegar

-          3 tbls ketchup

-          3 tbls soy sauce

-          2 tbls brown sugar

-          1 tea Worcestershire sauce

-          Salt and pepper

For sauce

-          1 cup pineapple

-          2 tbls brown sugar

-          1/3 cup ketchup

-          1/3 cup soy sauce

-          ¼ cup rice vinegar

-          1 tbl cornstarch

*Hawaiian sweet rolls for sliders or regular buns for sandwiches

Directions:

1-       Season the pork on all sides with salt and sear in a hot pan with oil until nice and brown. Place in crock pot. Top with sliced peppers, onions, and pineapple chunks. Mix all remaining ingredients under “slow cooker” list in a bowl and pour over the top. Cook on low for 8 – 10 hours.

2-       Once pork is cooked, remove from slow cooker and shred. Drain cooking liquid but reserve the peppers, onions, and pineapples. Toss together with shredded pork.

3-       In a small sauce pot combine sauce ingredient list except the cornstarch. Heat over medium low heat and bring to a simmer, whisking occasionally. Once mixture is hot create a slurry with cornstarch and a small amount of cold water and whisk into sauce mixture. Allow to simmer over low heat for a few more minutes to thicken. Once sauce has thicken pour over shredded pork and mix together.

If you’re taking this to a potluck or gathering, keep the crock pot on low or warm and serve with Kings Hawaiian Sweet Rolls or small dinner rolls. If you’re making this as a main entrée serve with large hamburger buns or Kaiser rolls. Or you could still use the sweet rolls! I do because they make such cute little sandwiches!

Spicy Hawaiian BBQ Sauce

* Makes approx 1 ½ cups

(printable recipe)

Ingredients:

-          1 cup pineapple juice

-          ¾ cup teriyaki sauce

-          ¾ cup ketchup

-          3 tablespoons brown sugar

-          ¼ cup apple cider vinegar

-          1 tablespoon ginger, minced

-          1- 2 teaspoons chili garlic sauce

Directions:

Place all ingredients except chili garlic sauce into a small pot and bring to a small boil. Lower heat to low and reduce for 15 - 25 minutes, or until sauce thickens and coats a spoon. Stir in chili garlic to taste. **Chili garlic sauce can pack a lot of heat so start small and test between each addition.

What I love about these little sliders is the perfect marriage between the sweetness of the rolls, the spiciness of the BBQ sauce, and the sweet and slightly tangy pulled pork. They balance each other out and come together to make a very tasty couple of bites.

Pulled Pork adapted from Sweetbay

BBQ Sauce adapted from Food