Lentil SLOPPY JOES
/
(inspired by Katie Lee)
3 cloves garlic
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 Tablespoon olive oil
One 4 ounce can mild chopped green chilies
One 8 ounce can tomato sauce, I like Muir Glen
1/2 cup ketchup, organic if possible, Heinz of course
1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 Tablespoon dark brown sugar, or honey
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, regular or vegan (Annie's)
1 Tablespoon chili powder
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar, I like Braggs
1/2 teaspoon celery seed
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 15 ounce can lentils, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup water
To serve:
6-8 hamburger buns, toasted
Toppings: sliced avocado, lettuce leaves, sweet or dill pickle slices
Make the sloppy joes:
With a food processor running, drop the garlic through the feed tube until finely minced. Add the chopped onion and green pepper into the bowl of the food processor and process until finely chopped.
Heat the olive oil in a large heavy bottomed pot over medium heat. Add the minced vegetables and sauté until softened and onions are translucent, about 5-7 minutes.
Stir in the green chilies, tomato sauce, ketchup, Dijon mustard, brown sugar or honey, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, vinegar, celery seed, black pepper, salt and the water. Combine well and cook for a minute or 2 to heat through. Add the lentils and reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes.
Serve the sloppy joes on toasted buns, with the toppings of your choice.
Makes 6-8 servings. YUM!
LESSONS Learned:
1. A food processor is the way to go, but you could also finely chop all of the veggies by hand.
2. Don't just grab a can of green chilies without checking the heat level on the can. I like mild. But you could accidentally grab a hotter one.
2. I like to butter my hamburger buns and toast them in a frying pan until browned. But you could just toast them in a toaster. I even like just a soft, untoasted hamburger bun as the base too.
3. If you use vegan Worcestershire sauce, like Annie's, and brown sugar or agave, it's a totally vegan recipe.
4. Don't want the bun? Serve it over steamed, grated zucchini, zoodels, or any pasta of your choice.