Guest Post: Pork with Creamy Chimichurri Sauce

I first started reading Alisa’s blog (PaleoinPDX.com) for the delicious paleo recipes — and because she tells funny stories and seems to have endless energy, which I kind of hoped would rub off on me.
But I was also intrigued because she lived in Portland.  If I ever leave Denver, it will be to move to Portland.

My sister Lauren lives in Portland and loves it so much she swears she will stay forever. Lauren and I would like to live closer to each other. Ideally, close enough we can swing by to borrow clothes or watch Glee together. Or maybe go to CrossFit followed by a long chat over coconut milk lattes. Our imaginary plans always take place in Portland.

I have been to Portland half a dozen times to visit. During my days there, I’ve noticed a few differences between the largest city in Oregon and my home town.  Denver is a casual city. Jeans and some cute shoes will get you through most any social situation. But somehow Portland manages even more casual. It seems that jeans and Keens are appropriate for fine dining.  My theory is that it’s hard to wear too many cute shoes because they just get ruined in the rain.

That brings me to another obvious difference — the climate. I know Portland folks like to talk about the perfect weather from June through September but that falls way short of the 300 days of sunshine we get on average each year in Denver.

The plus side of all the moisture is obvious every time I walk around Portland. It’s so pretty! The trees and bushes and yards are lush and green. My yard in Denver is xeriscaped with plants selected to require minimum moisture — but we still need to water them three times a week to keep them alive.
But, overall, I think there are more similarities than differences between the two cities. Residents of both cities like their bikes, their dogs and being active. Like Denver, Portland seems to have a good number of people who care about their health, the environment and the food they eat. In fact, Portland and Denver were two of the first cities to host paleo food trucks!

And this time of year in both Denver and Portland – and most of the rest of the country – it’s chilly outside. So here’s a recipe for an easy and flavorful recipe a dish that will warm up the house. The pork roast gradually cooks for hours, filling the house with heat and a wonderful scent.
Chimichurri sauce is an intensely flavorful sauce that is typically served with steak. I think it pairs well with pulled pork. The tang of the sauce plays off the fattiness of the meat for a treat you are sure to enjoy – no matter where you live.

Pork with Creamy Chimichurri Sauce

For pulled pork —

• Bone-in pork roast, about 2.5 pounds
• Coconut oil or beef tallow, 2 tablespoons
• Salt and pepper

For chimichurri sauce –

• Flat parsley, 1 bunch (about packed 2 cups chopped)
• Olive oil, 1 cup
• Garlic, 3 cloves
• Red wine vinegar, 1/2 cup
• Dried oregano, 1 teaspoon
• Crushed red pepper flakes, 1 teaspoon
• Salt, 1 teaspoon
• Coconut milk, 1/2 cup

1. Rub pork roast with fat. Sprinkle with salt and pepper then place roast in baking dish. Cover with tin foil and bake in oven at 300 degrees for 5 hours.
2. Pull all leaves from the parsley.  (Don’t worry if there’s a little stem in the pile.)  In food processor (or using hand blender), blend together all ingredients for the sauce.
3. When pork comes out of the oven, use two forks to pull it apart into chunks.
4. Top meat with generous spoonfuls of chimichurri sauce and enjoy!

Mary Catherinestarted dabbling in paleo eating in 2007 and transitioned to following paleo principles more each year since then.  She gets a kick out of putting together delicious paleo meals and sharing food with others through her blog, nourishpaleofoods.com.  Mary Catherine lives in Denver, Colorado, with her husband, Matt, and her all-American junkyard dog, Tour.  You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.