pork Archives -

Sometimes when it comes to entertaining, I fall into the trap of thinking that a meal needs to be complicated and time-consuming in order to be special. I forget that the most important part of getting together are the people, and while food plays an important role in gathering us around the table, I find that most people are just as appreciative of a simple meal as they are with a more elaborate one. So lately in order to keep the stress levels low when we have friends over, I’ve been trying to plan meals that are crowd-pleasing but also manageable and straightforward. I think most would agree that tacos makes excellent party fare- a taco bar set out with bowls of salsas, guacamole, cheeses, and a variety of fillings can be so festive and colorful, and there are endless possibilities.

The best recipe for pulled pork that I’ve come across is from David Chang’s Momofuku. It’s simple, uncomplicated, and results in meat with a clean flavor which is versatile enough to be used in raman, sandwiches, tacos, and rice bowls of all sorts. A long and slow roast yields meat that’s crisp on the outside and juicy and tender on the inside. Most recently I served it alongside some garlic-sauteed greens, fresh corn, pickled red onions and jalepenos, and a drizzle of sriracha tahini dressing. The dressing is creamy, a bit tangy, and has just the right amount of heat to keep it interesting. I like using this dressing for kale salads as well, and it also works as a dip for crudités. Note that the pork requires an overnight refrigeration and about six hours in the oven, so plan ahead accordingly, but there is very little hands-on time so don’t let that scare you off. There will be quite a bit of pork leftover if you make the amount specified in the recipe, which means you’ll have easy dinners for the rest of the week.

Grilled Pork Tenderloin Tacos

Pulled Pork Rice Bowls with Sriracha Tahini Dressing