2 ½poundspork roast like pork shoulder or butt roast
Salt and pepper
1tablespoonoil
1-2teaspoonsliquid smoke
½cupwater
½cuppacked light or dark brown sugar
2 cans(15-ounces each)green enchilada sauce
½teaspoonchili powder
1teaspoonsalt
½teaspoonpepper
Dash of hot sauce, optional
1 (15-ounce)canblack beans, rinsed and drained
½cupchopped cilantro
8ouncesMonterey Jack or cheddar cheese, or a combination, grated
6-8whole wheat or white flour tortillas, burrito-sized
For Cilantro Lime Rice:
½tablespoonbutter
1cuplong-grain white rice
2cupslow-sodium chicken broth
¾teaspoonsalt
¼teaspoonfreshly ground black pepper
Juice and zest of 1 lime
2tablespoonschopped cilantro
¼teaspooncumin
Instructions
Trim any excess fat pockets from the pork roast (it's ok to leave a bit here and there just trim the large pieces off). Cut the pork into 2-3 large pieces. Season each piece on all sides with salt and pepper.
In a large nonstick skillet, heat the oil until rippling and hot. Add all the pieces of pork and brown on each side, 2-3 minutes total. Transfer the pork to the insert of a 5-6 quart slow cooker.
Add the liquid smoke and 1/2 cup water. Cook on high for 4-5 hours or on low for 8 hours.
While the pork is cooking, prepare the rice. In a skillet or medium saucepan, melt the butter and add the rice. Stir, letting the rice and butter cook for 1-2 minutes. Add remaining ingredients (broth, salt, pepper, lime juice and zest, cilantro and cumin) and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and cook for 15-16 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 10 minutes. This can be made ahead and refrigerated until ready to assemble the burritos.
Remove the pork from the slow cooker and shred into bite-sized pieces (discarding the bone, if needed, or any large pieces of fat). In a large bowl, toss the shredded pork with the brown sugar, 1/2 cup of the green sauce, chili powder, salt and pepper (add more salt and pepper to taste if needed). Add the hot sauce, if using.
Stir in the beans, rice and cilantro to the pork mixture.
Lightly grease a 9X13-inch baking dish with cooking spray and spread about 1/2 - 3/4 cup of the green sauce on the bottom.
Warm the tortillas lightly in a skillet or in the microwave. Scoop about 1/2 cup of the meat mixture into each tortilla and sprinkle with a bit of cheese (you'll want to leave some cheese for the top of all the burritos before they bake). Roll up burrito style (folding the ends in and rolling).
Place the burritos seam-side down in the prepared baking dish. Pour the remaining sauce over the burritos and sprinkle with remaining cheese.
Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes until heated through and the top is bubbly and slightly golden. Serve immediately.
Notes
Pork: you'll get more flavor if you use a pork roast that has a bone in - it can easily be removed once the pork is done cooking; however, this could also be made with boneless pork loin or a leaner cut of pork. Just keep in mind that it might not be quite as tender as a roast that has darker meat also. Enchilada Sauce: a note about the enchilada sauce, not all brands are created equal. I love the Herdez brand of green salsa or enchilada sauce (which I use interchangeably) so make sure you find a brand that tastes good (with a heat level you prefer).