Are you looking for a delicious and impressive dish to serve at your next gathering?
Look no further than pickled pork cooked in a Weber!
This recipe starts with a pickled leg of pork roasted until the skin crackles, smoked, and then glazed with a sweet cherry glaze.
The result is a mouth-watering centerpiece that will have your guests coming back for seconds (and maybe even thirds!).
In this article, we’ll walk you through the steps to cook pickled pork in a Weber, including tips and tricks to ensure your dish turns out perfectly every time.
So fire up your grill and let’s get cooking!
How To Cook Pickled Pork In A Weber?
Step 1: Prepare Your Weber
Before you start cooking, you’ll need to prepare your Weber for indirect cooking over medium heat (190° to 230°C). If you’re using a gas Weber with a smoker box, soak wood chips in water for at least 30 minutes. If you’re using a charcoal Weber, add two to three wood chunks to the charcoal.
Step 2: Prepare The Pork
Ask your butcher to prepare a leg of pickled pork about 4-5 kg and let it hang in the cool room for a couple of days prior to you picking it up (this allows the pork to dry a little). With a sharp knife, cut the rind down each side of the pork, around the knuckle, and down the center to free it on all sides, ensuring that you have cut right through the rind to the fat, but not into the flesh.
Step 3: Roast The Pork
Place the pork on to the cooking grill. If the edges of the pork are hanging over the direct zone (above the fire), shield the sides with aluminum foil. Roast the pork over indirect medium heat for 2 1/2 hours to blister the skin. Once the pork has cooked for 2 1/2 hours and the skin has hardened and blistered, remove the skin with tongs. Score the fat in a diamond pattern, being careful not to cut into the flesh.
Step 4: Smoke The Pork
Now that the skin has been removed, you can add smoking woods to the Weber to smoke the ham. Continue to cook the ham for a further 30 minutes to 1 hour before glazing.
Step 5: Glaze The Pork
Combine all the glaze ingredients in a saucepan and place over high heat on the stove top; bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and continue cooking until the liquid has reduced, about 15 minutes. Take off the heat and leave to cool slightly. Blitz the glaze in a food processor until smooth. After 30 minutes to 1 hour, using a basting brush, apply a generous amount of glaze over the ham, decorate with star anise, securing with toothpicks if needed and continue to cook for 1 hour, glazing every 20 minutes.
Step 6: Rest And Serve
Once the ham is cooked and has reached an internal temperature of 68°C, remove it from the Weber. The internal temperature will continue to rise 3° to 6°C while it’s resting. Leave it to rest for 15 to 30 minutes before carving.
What Is Pickled Pork And Why Is It Delicious?
Pickled pork is a type of preserved meat that has been cured in a brine consisting of salt, sugar, vinegar, and other seasonings. This method of preservation dates back to a time before refrigeration, where pork was pickled to prolong its use and prevent spoilage in hot and humid climates like New Orleans. Pickled pork adds a unique vinegar flavor to dishes that cannot be achieved through any other method. It does not have a dill flavor like pickles, but it does add depth and seasoning to dishes like red beans, white beans, or even smothered cabbage. The process of pickling pork also tenderizes the meat, making it incredibly flavorful and tender when cooked. Cajun Country Richard’s Pickled Pork is a popular brand that uses a select blend of spices to give it a distinct Cajun flavor. This uncooked, cubed, boneless pickled pork contains 0g of trans fat and is a good source of protein with 80 calories per serving. When slow-cooked, pickled pork becomes incredibly tender and flavorful, making it perfect for dishes like red beans and rice or served as part of a sandwich. The leftovers can be used in various dishes and can last up to three days in the fridge or three months in the freezer. Overall, pickled pork is a delicious way to add flavor and seasoning to your meals while also preserving the meat for extended use.
Preparing The Pickled Pork For The Weber
To prepare the pickled pork for the Weber, start by rinsing the pork under running water for about a minute to remove any surface salt and pat dry. Lightly brush the pork with oil. Then, place the pork onto the trivet on the Weber Q and close the lid. Cook for about 30 minutes on high heat of about 250°C, then drop back to about 190°C (keep lid closed – no peeking either). All the heat will escape, and you need that heat in the first half-hour to get a nice crackle.
Do keep an eye on the pork through the side of your Weber Q (assuming you may be cooking on one as the results for roast pork and crackling is wonderful) so no flames come from fat that may drip near the flame. It does get very hot under the hood. In the event that any does drip and there was a flare-up – turn the gas off immediately. Allow about an hour per kg for the pork or a tad longer if you like that pork to be just perfect where it just melts in your mouth.
Once the pork has cooked to an internal temperature of 67°C-68°C, remove it from the Weber. Shooting for 71°C for cooked, so remove when it hits 67°C/68°C. It’s a very large piece of meat, so it takes a decent amount of time to reach that temperature. The resting time is crucial; at least 90 minutes are recommended, which makes it tender and holds its moisture well and will hit the 71°C target temperature.
Setting Up Your Weber For Cooking Pickled Pork
To cook pickled pork in a Weber, you’ll need to set it up properly for indirect cooking over medium heat. This will help you achieve the perfect crackle on your pork. Here’s how to set up your Weber:
Step 1: Clean Your Weber
Before you start cooking, make sure your Weber is clean. Remove any ash or debris from the previous cook, and wipe down the grates with a grill brush.
Step 2: Prepare Your Charcoal
If you’re using a charcoal Weber, fill the chimney starter with charcoal and light it. Once the coals are hot and covered in white ash, dump them into the bottom of the Weber. Arrange them in a circle around the edge of the grill, leaving a space in the middle for your drip pan.
Step 3: Add Your Drip Pan
Place a drip pan in the center of the Weber, where there are no coals. Fill it with water or beer to keep the pork moist and to catch any drippings.
Step 4: Add Your Wood Chunks
If you’re using a charcoal Weber, add two to three wood chunks to the charcoal. This will add smoky flavor to your pork. If you’re using a gas Weber with a smoker box, soak wood chips in water for at least 30 minutes before adding them to the box.
Step 5: Set Up Your Trivet
Place a trivet on top of the drip pan. This will elevate your pork and allow air to circulate around it for even cooking.
Step 6: Place Your Pork On The Trivet
Place your leg of pickled pork on top of the trivet, making sure it’s centered over the drip pan. If any edges are hanging over the direct zone (above the fire), shield them with aluminum foil.
Step 7: Close The Lid And Cook
Close the lid of your Weber and cook for about 30 minutes on high heat (around 250°C) to get a nice crackle on the skin. Then drop back to about 190°C and continue cooking until the internal temperature of the pork reaches 68°C. Avoid peeking or opening the lid too often as this will cause heat to escape and affect your cooking time.
By following these steps, you’ll be able to set up your Weber for cooking pickled pork and achieve delicious results every time.
Cooking The Pickled Pork To Perfection
Cooking pickled pork to perfection requires careful attention to detail and patience. The pickled pork should be cooked over indirect heat in a Weber for several hours, allowing the meat to become tender and juicy. Here are some tips for cooking pickled pork to perfection:
– Make sure your Weber is set up for indirect cooking over medium heat. This will ensure that the pork cooks evenly and doesn’t burn.
– Before roasting the pork, remove the rind with a sharp knife. Score the fat in a diamond pattern to allow it to crisp up.
– Roast the pork for 2 1/2 hours over indirect heat until the skin has blistered and hardened. Remove the skin with tongs and add smoking woods to the Weber to smoke the ham.
– Glaze the pork with a sweet and savory glaze made from brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, and other ingredients. Apply the glaze generously every 20 minutes while continuing to cook the ham.
– Once the ham has reached an internal temperature of 68°C, remove it from the Weber and let it rest for 15 to 30 minutes before carving. This will allow the juices to redistribute throughout the meat and make it more tender.
By following these tips, you can cook pickled pork to perfection in a Weber, resulting in a delicious and flavorful meal that your whole family will love.
Making The Sweet Cherry Glaze
Making the sweet cherry glaze is an essential step in cooking pickled pork in a Weber. It adds a delicious sweet and tangy flavor to the pork, making it a perfect addition to any festive celebration.
To make the cherry glaze, you’ll need to combine all the glaze ingredients in a saucepan and place it over high heat on the stove top. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and continue cooking until the liquid has reduced, which should take about 15 minutes. Take off the heat and leave the mixture to cool slightly.
Once the mixture has cooled down, blitz it in a food processor until it becomes smooth. This will ensure that all the ingredients are well combined and that the glaze has a uniform texture.
After 30 minutes to 1 hour of cooking, use a basting brush to apply a generous amount of glaze over the ham. Decorate with star anise, securing with toothpicks if needed, and continue to cook for 1 hour, glazing every 20 minutes.
The cherry glaze will add an extra layer of flavor to your pickled pork, making it a crowd-pleaser at any festive gathering.
Glazing The Pickled Pork And Serving It Up
After following the steps above, it’s time to glaze and serve up your pickled pork. To glaze the meat, combine all the glaze ingredients in a saucepan and place over high heat on the stove top. Bring it to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and continue cooking until the liquid has reduced, about 15 minutes. Take off the heat and leave to cool slightly. Blitz the glaze in a food processor until smooth.
Using a basting brush, apply a generous amount of glaze over the pork, decorating with star anise and securing with toothpicks if needed. Continue to cook for 1 hour, glazing every 20 minutes.
Once the pork is cooked and has reached an internal temperature of 68°C, remove it from the Weber. The internal temperature will continue to rise 3° to 6°C while it’s resting. Leave it to rest for 15 to 30 minutes before carving.
When serving your pickled pork, slice it thinly and arrange on a platter. Serve with your favorite sides such as roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes or salad. The sweet and tangy flavor of the pickled pork pairs well with a variety of sides, making it a versatile dish for any occasion. Enjoy!