Here is an all-American, heart-healthy dish to make for the giggling kids at your teenager’s sleepover or for a Saturday book club meeting.
BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders
for the pulled pork
1-1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2-1/2-3 pounds lean, cut pork loin roast (all visible fat discarded)
1/2 cup unsweetened, plain applesauce
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons honey
1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1/2 cup water
1 small onion (coarsely chopped)
for the bbq sauce and sandwiches
1/4 cup unsweetened, plain applesauce
2 tablespoons sugar-free peach preserves
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
12 whole-wheat slider buns
12 slices thinly sliced green apple (about 1 apple)
12 slices thinly sliced red onion (about 1/2 an onion)
For pork: In a small bowl, combine thyme, garlic powder, 1 teaspoon chili powder, paprika and pepper. Rub evenly over pork. Set aside. In a small bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup applesauce, 1/4 cup vinegar, honey, chicken broth and water. In crock-pot, scatter onions to cover the bottom of dish. Place pork on top of onion and pour applesauce mixture over pork. Cook on low setting for 6 to 7 hours. Remove meat from crock-pot and discard remaining cooking liquid. When cool enough to touch, shred pork by hand or with two forks, discarding any fat or bones. (Optional: Remove onions with serrated spoon.)
For sauce: Whisk together applesauce, preserves, chili powder and vinegar to make BBQ sauce. Toss sauce with pulled pork. Fill each slider bun with about 1/4 cup pork, apple slices and red onion slices. Serves 6
From American Heart Association News
