Neelys Pork Shoulder Recipes

APPLE INJECTED SMOKED PORK

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk together all the ingredients for the marinade.
• Put the pork into a casserole dish. Fill a syringe with the marinade and inject 3/4 of the way into the pork. Inject the meat in several places with the marinade. Pour the remaining marinade over the meat. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 to 12 hours, so flavors can permeate.
• Preheat a grill to 275 degrees F, using indirect heat and applewood soaked chips.
• Drain off excess liquid from the meat and pat dry with a towel. Season the pork with Neely's Dry Rub seasoning, to taste, making sure you cover the sides. Arrange on the grill with the fat side facing up. Grill until the meat is tender, about 6 hours. Transfer to a serving platter and serve.

PULLED PORK SANDWICHES

Steps:

• If using a gas grill, preheat to high on one side; put soaked wood chips in a smoker box. Once smoking, reduce the heat to maintain a temperature of 275 degrees F and cook the pork, covered, on the cooler side of the grill.
• Rub the pork
• Make the Neelys' go-to barbecue seasoning: Mix the paprika, sugar and onion powder in a bowl. Transfer 3 tablespoons seasoning to a separate bowl, add 2 tablespoons salt and 3 tablespoons pepper, and massage onto the pork. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 2 hours or up to 1 day. (Reserve the remaining barbecue seasoning.)
• Prepare the wood chips: Soak 6 cups wood chips in water, about 15 minutes, then drain. Don't oversoak, or the wood will snuff out the fire.
• Light the grill: Fill a smoker or kettle grill with charcoal and light. (Pat uses lighter fluid; you can also use a chimney starter.) When the coals are mostly white, spread them out with tongs. Spread 1/2 cup of the wood chips over the coals (use 1 cup for a kettle grill). The temperature of the grill should be about 275 degrees F.
• Cook the pork: Place the pork fat-side down on a rack in the smoker or on the grill. Cover and cook, rotating the pork every hour or so, until a thermometer inserted into the center registers 165 degrees F, about 6 hours total.
• Feed the grill: As the pork cooks, add more charcoal and wood chips to keep the temperature between 250 degrees F and 275 degrees F and to maintain the smoke level.
• Make the sauce: Meanwhile, mix the ketchup, 1 cup water, both sugars, 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper, the onion and mustard powders, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, corn syrup and 1 tablespoon of the reserved barbecue seasoning in a saucepan over high heat. Bring to a boil, stirring, then reduce the heat to low and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, at least 2 hours. Let cool, then reheat on the grill when ready to use.
• Shred the pork: Transfer the pork to a rimmed baking sheet (you'll want to catch all the flavorful juices) and let stand until cool enough to handle. Shred into bite-size pieces, pile on a platter and pour any juices from the baking sheet on top.
• Make the sandwiches: Mound the pork on bun bottoms, paint with a little barbecue sauce, top with slaw and cover with the bun tops. The best sandwich ever!

NEELYS' IF-YOU'VE-GOT-A-SMOKER BBQ PORK

Steps:

• Mix together the Neely's barbecue rub, pepper, and salt.
• Rinse the shoulder or butt thoroughly, pat dry with paper towels, and massage the seasoning mixture into the meat. Cover the meat with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or up to 1 day in advance.
• Following the manufacturer's instructions, and, using lump charcoal and 1/2 cup of soaked and drained wood chips for the smoker (or 1 cup for the kettle grill), start a fire, and bring the temperature of the smoker or barbecue grill up to 275 degrees F.
• Place the pork on a rack in the smoker or on the grill. Cover, and cook the meat until a thermometer inserted into the center registers 165 degrees F, turning the pork every hour or so, about 6 hours total. Add more charcoal as needed to maintain the temperature, and more drained wood chips to maintain the smoke level.
• Transfer the pork to a rimmed baking sheet (this is important-you'll want to catch all the flavorful juices), and allow it to stand until cool enough to handle. Shred the pork into bite-sized pieces, and mound on a platter. Pour any juices from the baking sheet over the pork. At this point the pork can be served immediately, or covered with foil and refrigerated for a day.
• If you chill the pork, rewarm it, covered, in a 350-degree oven for about 30 minutes.