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picture of prepared pulled pork bowl w/ cilantro maple dressing. a small bowl of dressing in the top corner of the photo as embellishment.
Makhaya Shea

Pulled Pork Bowls w/ Cilantro Maple Dressing

5 from 16 votes
A sweet, savory, nutritious pulled pork power bowl.
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Prep Time 40 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 40 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Equipment Method

Ingredients
  

Cilantro Maple Dressing
  • 1/2 cup Cilantro fresh and chopped
  • 3/4 cup Cottage Cheese
  • 1/4 cup Maple Syrup
  • 1 Lemon (juiced)
  • 1 tbsp Avocado Oil olive oil works too
  • 1 tbsp White Wine Vinegar
  • 1 Shallot cut into 4 pieces
  • 2-3 cloves Garlic
  • 1/2 tsp Coriander
  • 1/2 tsp Cumin
  • 1-2 tsp Sea Salt to taste
  • 1/2 tsp Black Pepper
Pork Shoulder/Roast Ingredients
  • 2 Lemons juiced(discard peels)
  • 1 Orange juiced(discard peels)
  • 1 cup Apple Juice Fresh squeezed, not from concentrate
  • 1/3 cup Maple Syrup
  • 1/2-3/4 cup Cilantro chopped roughly into small pieces
  • 1/2 cup Avocado Oil olive oil works as a substitute
  • 1 Shallot diced
  • 8 cloves Garlic minced, crushed, or zested
  • 1 tbsp Ranch Seasoning
  • 1 tbsp Garlic Salt (garlic powder+sea salt works too)
  • 2 tsp Black Pepper
  • 1 tsp Paprika
  • 1 tsp Cumin
  • 1 tsp Coriander
  • 1 tsp Sea Salt
Rice and Toppings List
  • 2 cups Jasmine Rice uncooked(plus 1/2 tsp paprika, 1/2 tsp coriander*optional)
  • Yellow Bell Pepper chopped or sliced thinly
  • Kale washed, prepped with a small amount of olive oil and sea salt
  • Cherry Tomatoes or any kind of tomatoes
  • Cucumber
  • Avocado
  • More Fresh Cilantro
  • Fresh Feta
  • 4 1/2-5 cups Chicken Broth optional *see notes

Equipment

  • blender or food processor
  • slow cooker
  • medium sized pot

Method
 

Pork Shoulder Prep and Cooking Instructions
  1. In your crockpot/slow cooker you will add lemon juice, orange juice, apple juice, maple syrup, chopped cilantro, avocado oil, chopped shallot, garlic cloves, ranch flavor, garlic salt, pepper, paprika, cumin, coriander, and sea salt. Use a large spoon or ladle to stir the ingredients and incorporate everything evenly through the mixture.
    a picture of pot roast mixture
  2.  Next, take your pork roast out of its packaging, and pat dry with a paper towel. Place roast on a cutting board horizontally. Then, take a knife, and slice about half an inch down into your roast from the top of the roast to the bottom(see pictures below). Depending on how long your roast is, you will make about 5-7 slices, about an inch apart. You will then flip your roast over and perform the same slicing technique so that both sides of your roast has slits.
    example picture of how to slice pork shoulder
  3.  Then, place the pork roast in the slow cooker. Ladle the juice mixture up on to the roast. Try to get as much juice/onions/garlic etc. into each of the slices.
    picture showing prepped pork shoulder ready for cooking
  4.  Turn your slow cooker on high, and cook for 4 hours.
  5. Thirty minutes before your roast is complete, take two forks and shred your roast. Then add your sliced purple onion to the pot.
    picture of pork shoulder being shredded
  6. Cook for thirty more minutes, until onions are tender.
    picture of shredded and cooked pulled pork
Preparing Cilantro Maple Dressing
  1. Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor, and blend until smooth. That's it! 
Rice prep, and Power Bowl Assembly
  1. Cook rice as instructed on the package. If you choose to use chicken broth instead of water its 1:1 ratio of what whatever water is called for in cooking instructions. I also added 1/2 tsp paprika powder+1/2 tsp coriander powder to my liquid as well.
  2. To assemble your cilantro pulled pork bowl, begin with a warm bed of rice at the bottom of your bowl. I like to add a little bit of butter, salt and pepper at this time, because it allows the butter to melt. Then you can mix it around to distribute the butter evenly thought your rice. Top your bowl with fresh cilantro or green onions.
  3. Next, you can add some of the shredded pork shoulder to your bowl.
  4. Then, the fun part begins! Have fun piling high all of the delicious topping you have selected, and get ready to fill your belly with so much goodness!
  5. Top your bowl with fresh cilantro(or green onions), and cilantro maple dressing.
  6. Mix it all up for flavor in every bite, and enjoy!
    picture of prepared pulled pork bowl w/ cilantro maple dressing. a small bowl of dressing in the top corner of the photo as embellishment.