Pulled Pork Nachos

This recipe can be as simple or complex as you'd like. Feeling lazy? Just pick up some smoked pork at your favorite barbecue house and add your favorite sauce. If you only do one thing, though, by all means make the cheddar sauce from scratch. You'll never go back to the neon-yellow box again. Trust me, your conscience (and your taste buds) will thank you for it.

Recipe courtesy Nealey Dozier

Photo: Pulled Pork Nachos

TOTAL TIME: 3 hr 30 min
Prep: 30 min
Inactive Prep: --
Cook: 3 hr
 
YIELD: 4 to 6 servings
LEVEL: Intermediate

ingredients

FOR THE NACHOS:
  • 1 bag good-quality tortilla chips
  • 2 cups warm Pulled Pork (recipe below)
  • Barbecue Sauce (recipe below), to taste
  • Cheddar Cheese Sauce (recipe below), to taste
TO SERVE:
  • Pickled jalapenos
  • Queso fresco or Cotija cheese, crumbled
  • Cilantro-Sour Cream (recipe below)
  • Salsa verde
  • Hot sauce
PULLED PORK:
  • 2 tablespoons paprika
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon mustard powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
  • 3 1/2 to 4-pound, bone-in pork butt, fat intact (also known as pork shoulder)
  • 1/2 cup lager-style beer (like Budweiser)
  • 1/2 cup cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon liquid smoke
CILANTRO-SOUR CREAM SAUCE:
  • 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lime juice (about half a lime)
  • Kosher salt, to taste
CHEDDAR CHEESE SAUCE :
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup (8 ounces) evaporated milk
  • 1 teaspoon dry mustard powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon hot sauce
  • 8 ounces extra-sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon water
  • Kosher salt, to taste
BARBECUE SAUCE:
  • 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon liquid smoke
  • Generous amount of freshly ground pepper
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Directions

To assemble the nachos, arrange the tortilla chips on a large serving platter. Pile with warm pulled pork. Drizzle barbecue and cheddar sauce over the top, to taste. Garnish with pickled jalapenos and crumbled queso fresco. Serve with cilantro-sour cream, salsa verde and hot sauce on the side.
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

First, make the spice rub. Whisk together the paprika, kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, chili powder, mustard powder and cayenne. Massage the spice rub into the pork butt, coating on all sides.

Place the rubbed pork in a large Dutch oven; add beer, cider vinegar, and liquid smoke. Cover and cook for approximately 3 hours, basting occasionally, until the pork easily falls apart.

Remove the pork to a large cutting board while still hot. Cut off excess fat and carefully shred the meat; it is harder to pull once it has cooled. (I either wear heavy-duty rubber gloves on my hands or use my new "bear paws," but two large forks would work, too.) Place the shredded pork back into the Dutch oven and toss with its cooking juices. Cover and set aside until moving forward with the recipe. Yields: 1 to 1/2 to 2 pounds pulled pork, depending on the amount of fat and bone on the cut.

To reheat, cook the barbecue (in its Dutch oven) over medium-low heat until warm. If you want crispier shredded pork (more like your favorite barbecue house), reheat it on the stovetop first, then spread it on a sheet pan and pop it under the broiler for a few minutes, watching carefully so it does not burn.

In a medium saucepan, whisk together the eggs and evaporated milk. Turn heat to medium-low; add mustard powder, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce and half of the shredded cheese. Once the cheese sauce begins to warm, add the cornstarch-water mixture (aka the slurry). Whisking frequently, gradually add the remaining cheese and cook until the sauce reaches desired thickness, 10 to 13 minutes. (The sauce will continue to thicken as it cools. Stir in more evaporated milk if necessary.) Season generously with kosher salt.

To reheat the cheddar sauce, add additional evaporated milk to the cheese - one tablespoon at a time - while whisking over medium-low heat until desired consistency is reached. Yields: 2 cups sauce.

In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the remaining ingredients, whisking to combine. Bring the sauce to a boil; reduce heat and simmer. Cook until the mixture is thickened, approximately 10 minutes. (This barbecue sauce only gets better with time, so feel free to make it a few days in advance.) Yields: 2 cups sauce.
In a small bowl, mix the sour cream, cilantro and lime juice until well combined. Season with salt, to taste. Chill for at least one hour before serving. Add more lime juice and salt before serving, if desired.

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