Hope you have a case of napkins nearby! On the first day of TODAY's barbecue challenge, it's all about the barbecue styles of the Carolinas. Ed Mitchell from The Pit in Raleigh, N.C., shares his whole hog recipe while Jimmy Hagood of Blackjack Barbecue in Charleston, S.C., offers his pork shoulder recipe.
Recipe: Whole hog (on this page)
Recipe: Blackjack barbecue pork shoulder (on this page)
In a deep dish, place the shoulder with enough cider vinegar and water to cover (2:1 ratio vinegar to water). Season the marinade with S & P to taste and the cayenne. Marinate refrigerated overnight, or, in a pinch, at least 2-3 hours at room temperature. After removing the meat from marinade, soak the wood chips for about an hour before cooking.
Fully ignite charcoal. Allow to flame until briquettes become white and powdery in appearance (EXTREMELY hot). Place in a rectangular formation in your grill, just a bit larger than the size of your roast. Drain the wood chips and place on top of the charcoal. Place the butt in the center of the rectangle. The temp should be about 275° (if using gas, set to 250°).
Cook covered, for 3 1/2-4 hours, or until very tender. A knife inserted into center should easily pierce to the bone. Allow the meat to rest for about 30 minutes and pull pieces off by hand.
Vinegar sauce: Shake together cider vinegar, salt, pepper, crushed red pepper, and cayenne to taste. Use to accent the natural flavors of the pulled pork. Serve pulled pork, topped with a dash of pepper vinegar, with coleslaw on the sandwich or on the side.
Only difference in the whole hog and shoulder is time and amount of charcoal. For whole hog cooking time is approximately 1 hour for every 10 pounds. The charcoal should be 30-40 pounds of coal.
Blackjack barbecue's dry rub
Mix all ingredients in a bowl and whisk to blend.
Barbecue pork shoulder
Season the meat on all sides and leave at room temperature while starting the coals. Light half of the coals in the grill and wait until briquettes are covered with gray ash. Push majority of coals to two sides, leaving a small circle of coals in center, and place 2 chunks of wood on each pile. Place the seasoned shoulder fat side up on a grate in the center of grill. Place cover on grill with ventilation holes open. The grill temperature should range from 210-275 degrees. Add additional hot charcoal when temperature falls to 220 degrees. Add additional wood chunks every 3 hours. The cooking time will be approximately 9-10 hours. The internal temperature of the shoulder should reach 190-195 degrees. Remove from grill, allow meat to cool for 30 minutes, pull meat from bone, remove fat layers, chop with meat cleaver, and sauce with hot sauce to taste.
Yields 1 cup/ Serves 12
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