As food culture in America becomes more sophisticated, pork’s place at the dinner table has been elevated.

As evident by the winners of the Alabama Pork Producers’ annual recipe contest, “The Other White Meat” can be dressed up or down and possesses the rare quality of being packed with flavor while simultaneously pairing well with just about anything.

Those facts often make pork the meat of choice for the creative cook, like this year’s contest winner, 17-year-old Katelyn Williams. She said cooking pork is a family tradition.

“My mom cooks pork a lot, and I’ve grown up watching her, so when the opportunity to submit a recipe for the Pork Recipe Contest came up, I jumped on it,” she said. 

In addition to her other studies at Citronelle High School in Mobile County, Williams said she enjoys her home economics class, where she learned about the contest and pork cooking techniques. 

Her winning recipe shows off pork’s compatibility with fruit.

In addition to her recipe, which features pork and peaches, try pairing bacon with cheese and grilled apples or bacon with apple butter on a sandwich to create a gourmet grilled cheese.

The honorable mention recipe by Linda Loveless shows off pork’s ability to hold its own when paired with strong spices. Bold rubs and spicy sauces enhance pork’s flavor, making it a perfect choice for the grill or smoker.

For more delicious pork recipes, visit PorkBeInspired.com.