Today’s greens were just the same-old same-old roasted Brussels sprouts (paired with roasted sweet potatoes, my winter vegetable obsession). What I really want to tell you about is this shredded pork roast we’ve been enjoying.
It’s super easy – but more importantly, it’s super good.
I didn’t really learn to cook until after I was a vegetarian. In fact, becoming a vegetarian is The Reason I learned how to cook. If we’re not eating meat, WHAT THE HECK ARE WE GONNA EAT?!
So until recently, the only meat I’d ever cooked as an adult in my own kitchen was chicken patties and pot stickers. OK, maybe I made a meatloaf once or twice, and I do remember making lots of boneless, skinless chicken breasts too. Needless to say, we use to eat very, very differently than we do now.
But me? Cooking a pork roast? Really? Yes, really! A few months ago I had some awesome homemade pulled pork and I realized I wanted to make something similar myself. After looking at a number pork recipes (some that were very complicated!) I finally found a method that is simple, works well for me and is totally delicious too.
I’ve been making this with bone-in pork loin, for the same reasons I make chicken soup with bone broth. The vitamins and minerals found in (quality) animal bones are believed to be good for our own bones, joints and ligaments too.
Crock Pot Bone-in Pork Roast
serves 3 – 4
1 – 2 lbs bone-in pork loin
1/2 c apple cider vinegar
1/2 c water
2 Tbsp tomato paste
1 Tbsp dijon mustard
1 Tbsp olive oil
cumin powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper to taste
2 bay leaves
Combine sauce ingredients, put pork loin in crock pot and pour sauce over meat and add bay leaves. Put lid on crock pot and cook on high for about 4 hours. That’s it!
I’ve been using a meat thermometer to check meat to be sure it’s done – the internal temperature of pork loin should reach 145 degrees according to the USDA.
When the meat is done, use a fork to “rake” the pork into strands and then pour the sauce from the crock pot over the meat before serving.
As a born-again omnivore (should I be baptized with gravy?) this is my new favorite meat dish, Ava and Kaz enjoy this as well. This would make a great sandwich – but it’s plenty good with a heaping side of roasted vegetables too. The slow cooker makes it so easy, even a newbie meat eater can do it!
It’s so weird to see you posting ‘meat’ recipes…but in a really good way! The pulled pork looks amazing. It’s hard to find humane-certified pork around these parts, but maybe I’ll get lucky at the Farmer’s Market this summer.
ha, thanks Chelsea! It’s still weird for me too, although it’s feels a little more “normal” with each post I put up!