The Ultimate Tailgate Snack

Along with the onset of fall, football season is upon us - a fantastic, weekly excuse to devour a bounty of less than healthy snacks smothered in buffalo sauce and nacho cheese.  I recently found a recipe on PaleOMG (a fantastic collection of paleo friendly and gluten free recipes if you haven't checked it out) that just screamed out to me as the ultimate pre-game, post-game, during game or sad that your team is on a bi this week food.  On top of that, it involves a crockpot, making it amazingly easy to pull together.

Sweet Pulled Pork and Savory Waffle Sliders
Recipe adapted from PaleOMG

For the pulled pork:
2 lbs of pork butt
1 yellow onion, sliced
1/2 cup diced fresh or frozen pineapple
1/4 cup pineapple juice
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon kosher salt
8-10 grinds of freshly cracked black pepper

- Place your pork in the crockpot and top with sliced onions and spices
- Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or until it falls apart


For the waffles:
2 cups almond meal
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
5-6 grinds of freshly cracked black pepper
3 eggs, whisked
1/2 cup coconut milk
2 tablespoons bacon fat, melted
3 slices of cooked bacon, chopped
2 tablespoons chices, chopped

- Preheat your waffle maker
- Combine almond meal, baking soda and seasonings in a large mixing bowl
- Whisk together your eggs, coconut milk and bacon fat
- Incorporate the egg mixture into your dry ingredients and mix until well blended
- Fold in chives and chopped bacon until evenly distributed
- Pour about 2 tablespoons of batter into the center of your waffle maker and cook until crispy and golden brown


For the aioli:
2/3 cup avocado oil (you can substitute olive if you like)
1 egg
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
3-4 grinds of freshly cracked black pepper
2 teaspoons of maple syrup

- Whisk together all ingredients, except the maple syrup, with an immersion blender until the mixture thickens
- Once it reaches a mayonnaise-like consistency, fold in the maple syrup and refrigerate


To create your sliders, add toppings of your choice such as bacon slices, cornichon pickles and coleslaw.

Photo courtesy of PaleOMG