Tender, shredded, caramel-brown pieces of pork glisten with a light coating of tangy BBQ sauce, arranged in a half moon on the plate. Adjacent to it, a vibrant hash consisting of golden butternut squash, rich red bell peppers, and verdant sprigs of fresh thyme completes the plating, making an exciting color contrast.

Slow-Cooked BBQ Pork with Butternut Squash Hash

Name: Slow-Cooked BBQ Pork with Butternut Squash Hash
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 300 min
Total time: 320 min
Yield: 2
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: Boneless pork loin, 400g None; Butternut squash, 250g peeled and cubed; Red bell pepper, 1 diced; Thyme, 3 sprigs leaves plucked; BBQ sauce, 1/2 cup None; Olive oil, 1 Tbs None; Salt and Pepper, to taste None

Category Main Course

Prep 20 minutes

Cook 300 minutes

Style American

Technique Slow Cooking

Diet Friendly Gluten-Free

Daily Recipe: September 15, 2024

In this unique spin on classic American cuisines, we're combining the comfort of slow-cooked, melt-in-your-mouth pork with the sweet and hearty flavors of autumnal squash. The result is a delightful dish with a harmonious blend of flavors, textures, and colors - all in one pot!

Ingredients (for 2)

Boneless pork loin - 400g - None
Butternut squash - 250g - peeled and cubed
Red bell pepper - 1 - diced
Thyme - 3 sprigs - leaves plucked
Bbq sauce - 1/2 cup - None
Olive oil - 1 Tbs - None
Salt and pepper - to taste - None

Preparation

Step 1 - 🔪🐖

Score the pork loin and sprinkle it with salt and pepper. This will help the flavors penetrate deep into the pork and make it more flavorful.
Step 2 - 🥘🍖

Add pork loin in your slow cooker, slather it with BBQ sauce, and set it on high for 4 hours. This will make the pork tender and flavorful.
Step 3 - 🍴🔥

Once the pork is tender and shreds easily, remove it from the slow cooker and keep it warm. The meat will be incredibly tender at this point.
Step 4 - 🌶️🥘🌿

In the same slow cooker, add olive oil, butternut squash, diced bell pepper, thyme leaves, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook this on high for another hour, until the butternut squash becomes soft and slightly caramelized.
Step 5 - 🍽️🍖😋

Once everything is cooked, plate up! Layer the squash hash on one side of the plate, followed by a heap of that succulent slow-cooked BBQ pork. Finish with a drizzle of the remaining BBQ sauce from the slow cooker. Enjoy!

Additional

This dish is the very representation of comfort food but with a fresh, seasonal twist. You can swap out butternut squash for any other seasonal squash variety such as acorn or kabocha for a new experience each time. Be adventurous with the BBQ sauce too - a smoky, sweet, or spicy sauce could add an entirely new dimension to the dish!