Pulled Pork Italiano

By polloazul

Ingredients

• 3 tbsp. ground fennel seeds
• 3 tbsp. dried parsley
• 1 1/2 tbsp. dried thyme
• 3 1/2 tsp. crushed red chile flakes, plus more
• 1 6-7-1b. pork shoulder, butterflied
• 3 sprigs rosemary, stemmed and finely chopped
• 1 head garlic, finely chopped
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 4 cups beef stock
• 1/2 cup red wine
• 1 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/2 cup canned crushed tomatoes
• 2 lb. broccoli rabe
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 32 slices sharp provolone
• 8 12″ crusty Italian rolls, split
• 24 roasted long hot peppers

Details

Servings 8
Adapted from saveur.com

Preparation

Step 1

1. Heat oven to 450°. Combine fennel, parsley, thyme, and 3 tsp. chile flakes in a small bowl; set aside. Open pork shoulder on a work surface, and spread with half of herb mixture, rosemary, ¼ of the chopped garlic, salt, and pepper. Roll up shoulder, tie with kitchen twine at 1″ intervals to secure, and season out-side with remaining herb mixture, salt, and pepper. Transfer to a roasting pan and roast until browned, about 40 minutes. Remove pan from oven, and heat broiler. Add remaining garlic to pan, along with stock, wine, onion, and bay leaf; pour tomatoes over top and sides of pork shoulder. Broil until tomatoes are caramelized, about 20 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 325°, cover pork with parchment paper, and cover roasting pan with aluminum foil. Cook until internal temperature of pork reaches 165°, about 2 hours. Set aside to cool.

2. Transfer pork to cutting board, and remove bay leaf from pan. Transfer juices to a blender and purée; transfer to a 4-qt. saucepan and keep warm. Pull pork apart into large pieces and add to pan juices.

3.  Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, and add broccoli rabe. Cook, stirring, until just tender, 2–3 minutes. Drain and transfer to a bowl of ice water to cool. Drain, and dry thoroughly with paper towels. Heat oil in a 12″ skillet. Working in batches if necessary, add remaining chile flakes and broccoli rabe and cook, stirring, until crisp and warmed through, about 4 minutes. Set aside.

4. Place 4 slices provolone on bottom half of each roll, and top with pork. Add broccoli rabe and peppers.