Carolina Pulled Pork Sandwich

Ingredients

• 1 bone-in pork shoulder (about 6 lb)
• 2 tbsp kosher salt
• 2 tbsp packed brown sugar
• 1 tbsp paprika
• 2 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 1/2 cups apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tbsp granulated sugar
• 1 tbsp crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 tsp hot sauce
• 4 cups finely shredded green cabbage
• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tbsp cider vinegar
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 8 soft hamburger buns

Before you cook

• Mix the salt, brown sugar, paprika, black pepper, cayenne, and garlic powder in a bowl.
• Pat the pork shoulder dry and rub the spice mixture over every surface, working it into the crevices.
• Let the pork sit uncovered in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or overnight, then bring it to room temperature for 1 hour.
• Heat the oven to 300 degrees.
• Toss the cabbage with the mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon sugar, and a pinch of salt, then refrigerate the slaw.

Steps

1. Set the pork fat side up on a rack in a roasting pan and pour a cup of water into the bottom of the pan.
2. Roast the pork uncovered for 6 hours, until the outside is dark mahogany and a thermometer in the thickest part reads 200 degrees with no resistance.
3. Move the pork to a board and tent it loosely with foil for 30 minutes.
4. Stir the 1 1/2 cups cider vinegar, 1/2 cup water, granulated sugar, red pepper flakes, hot sauce, and a teaspoon of salt together in a jar until the sugar dissolves.
5. Pull the meat apart with two forks or your hands, discarding large fat pockets and shredding the dark crusty bark along with the pale interior meat.
6. Chop the bark pieces roughly with a knife and mix them back through the pork so every serving gets some.
7. Pour about a cup of the vinegar sauce over the pork and toss until the meat is moist but not swimming.
8. Pile the pork onto the bun bottoms, about three quarters of a cup each.
9. Spoon cold slaw directly onto the hot pork.
10. Close the sandwiches and serve the remaining vinegar sauce at the table for people to add more.