North Carolina barbecue can be split into two halves – in the east, they use the whole hog, while in the west, also known as Lexington-style barbecue, smokes only the pork shoulder. Eastern barbecue is usually chopped with a vinegar-and-spices-based sauce, while Lexington-style is typically used for sandwiches with a tomato-based sauce.
This is probably the oldest type of American barbecue, and the wood used for it is often hickory or oak.
MOST ICONIC North Carolina-Style Barbecue
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Pulled pork is an American barbecue technique of cooking pork meat slowly over low heat, resulting in tender meat that can easily be pulled into small pieces. It is a specialty that originates from the western part of North Carolina, traditionally using shoulder cuts of pork which are dressed with a vinegar, pepper, and tomato sauce.
In the eastern part of the state, the whole pig is cooked and pulled, while the sauce usually doesn't contain tomatoes. Over time, it spread throughout the United States, and pulled pork can be found in many variations, ranging from different cuts of meat and cooking times to marinades and sauces.
MOST ICONIC Pulled Pork
View moreSouth Carolina barbecue is mostly based on pork. Sometimes it's pulled from a whole hog and sometimes the meat is chopped from a shoulder or ham. The meat is traditionally cooked and smoked over hardwood such as oak or hickory. What sets apart South Carolina barbecue from North Carolina-style barbecue is the yellow Carolina Gold sauce in the Midlands, consisting of cider vinegar, yellow mustard, spices, honey, and brown sugar, while the Pee Dee region uses a fiery sauce based on vinegar and pepper.
MOST ICONIC South Carolina-Style Barbecue
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Fatback is firm and dense fat taken off the back of a pig, and can be bought with or without the skin. It can be used to make salt pork or lard, and it is sometimes used for techniques such as larding and barding. Fatback is also the name of a traditional dish that is served for New Year's Eve in the American South, when it is fried until golden-brown and crunchy, accompanied by black eyed peas and greens.
The dish is supposed to bring luck and wealth in the year that follows. Originally, fatback became popular in the South during the Great Depression because it was the only cut of meat that hungry families could afford.
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Smothered pork chops is a traditional dish from Louisiana consisting of pork chops smothered in rich gravy. Although there are many versions of this dish (and just as many recipes), it is usually made with pork chops, onions, celery, bell peppers, garlic, flour, water, and Creole seasoning.
The pork chops are fried (often in bacon grease), smothered in gravy, then served, either as a dish in itself, or accompanied by rice, field peas, or smothered potatoes.
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Stuffed ham is an American delicacy originating from a small area in southern Maryland (the counties of St. Mary's, Charles, and Calvert) and dating back to the 17th century. The ham is brined in salt, trimmed, sliced, then stuffed with a combination of kale, cabbage, onions, celery, hot peppers, and various spices.
It is traditionally wrapped in cheesecloth, boiled for a few hours, then served cold as a main dish or tucked into potato rolls or between slices of bread. The dish is usually prepared for the festive Christmas season. Although not much is known about the origin of stuffed ham and there are numerous variations on the dish, it appears to combine British and African traditions – the ham is similar to Lincolnshire stuffed chine, while the hot peppers suggest a possible Caribbean and African influence.
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