Smoked Pork Steak

I grew up in the midwest and pork steaks were something that we grilled often.  I was probably 25 years old when I realized that people elsewhere in the country didn't know what a pork steak is. I was reminded of this again last month when I was in Murphysboro, IL for the Business of BBQ with OnCue Consulting at 17th Street Barbecue.  Dinner that evening was lightly smoked pork steaks finished over a high heat grill, but not everyone was familiar with a pork steak.  These pork steaks were tasty, but I like them dry rubbed and smoked until they're so tender that they almost fall apart.

But I digress.  For the unitiated, pork steaks come from pork butt sliced into steaks.  They are very common at bars, restaurants, and backyard cookouts in the midwest.  I grew up eating them grilled hot & fast, but a few years ago I began cooking them low & slow on the smoker. 

I've experimented with a couple of different flavor profiles, but we prefer them seasoned with a basic grill seasoning and smoked until they are melt-in-your-mouth tender.  Here are a few shots of the smoked pork steaks that I did last week.

Your typical pork butt But this one is "sliced" A Pork Steak Pork Steak on the Backwoods Fatboy The finished product

Is this cut of meat available where you live?  Leave me a comment and let me know.

Cheers,
Braddog