Taste, To Go: Barbecue Pulled Pork

Menu: Pulled Pork Nachos, Tacos and Pizza • Coleslaw • Potato Salad • Baked Beans

Southern barbecue, with its tender, smoky pulled pork, barbecue sauce, coleslaw and potato salad, is perfect takeout food. It's casual, hearty fare that travels well, can be easily reheated and offers versatility. There’s no better way for the sports fan to throw a culinary long bomb and score at a Grey Cup or Super Bowl party. Instead of ordering pulled pork sandwiches to go, order the ingredients separately — you can then offer guests not only pulled pork sandwiches, but nachos, tacos and even a pulled pork pizza.

How To Order: For every 4 guests, order about 1 1/2 lbs. of pulled pork, 1 cup of barbecue sauce and 4 sides of coleslaw, potato salad and baked beans.

TIP: Ask to have pulled pork wrapped tightly in aluminum foil. Keep warm in a 200°F oven.

Pulled Pork Tacos

For these you will need corn tortillas, pulled pork, coleslaw, fresh cilantro sprigs and store-bought salsa.

Twenty to 30 minutes before serving, heat oven to 350°F. Lay a damp paper towel on a 24-by-18-inch piece of heavy-duty foil. Warm tortillas in groups of 8; set 2 stacks of 4 tortillas each side by side on the paper towel. Cover with another damp paper towel and seal foil completely. Bake until steamy.

Pull tortillas from oven as needed and let guests fill them with pulled pork, coleslaw, cilantro sprigs and salsa. For extra flavour, add guacamole, sour cream and fresh lime wedges.

Memphis Blues Pulled Pork Nachos

This recipes comes from Memphis Blues Barbeque House by George Siu and Park Heffelfinger (Whitecap, $30).

• 329 g corn chips
• 2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese or mozzarella
• 1 lb. pulled pork, warmed
• 3/4 cup barbecue sauce
• 1 cup chopped tomatoes
• 1/2 cup chopped cilantro and/or green onions

Preheat oven to 400°F. Arrange chips in a circle on a baking pan. Sprinkle with cheese and bake until cheese melts, about 7 minutes. Slide chips onto a plate and cover with the pulled pork. Smother with barbecue sauce and sprinkle with chopped tomatoes, cilantro and green onions. Makes 2 servings.

Pulled Pork Pizza

Order a half-baked 14-inch thin crust pizza from your favourite pizzeria and place on a baking pan.

Spread 1 cup of barbecue sauce evenly over the crust, leaving about 3/4-inch dough uncovered around the edge and add 2 cups of pulled pork on top of sauce. Top with thinly sliced onions and chopped red bell peppers. Sprinkle 2 cups of grated mozzarella cheese evenly over the top.

Bake in a preheated 475°F oven for about 8 to 10 minutes. Cut into wedges and serve.

When to Serve Pulled Pork

For any casual event — Grey Cup or Stanley Cup party, pre-or-post-hockey games or a family reunion. You can also make all of these dishes with pulled chicken, using store-bought rotisserie chicken and your favourite barbecue sauce.

What to Serve with Pulled Pork

Root beer, iced tea and lemonade.

Suggested Wine Pairings

Longue-Dog 2008 Grenache Syrah, Languedoc, France

Louis Bernard 2008 Côtes du Rhône Villages, Rhône Valley, France