Sloppy Joe's

When I was a kid my mom would make Sloppy Joe’s as a quick weeknight meal and we all loved them. I have been thinking about trying to make a vegan version for some time now. The thing is, I’m not hugely into meat substitutes. When I decided to go meatless I didn’t want to eat anything that resembled meat so I’ve stayed away from most of the meat substitutes. Therefore these “Sloppy Joe’s” are all vegetable and bean and the dish resembles a thick vegetarian chili. I’ve eaten this like a traditional Sloppy Joe and in a bowl by itself, both great.

Vegan  “Sloppy Joe’s”

1/2 cup lentils

2 cups water

2 tbsp olive oil

1 medium onion

1 red bell pepper

2 cloves garlic

salt and pepper

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

2 tbsp brown sugar

8 oz can tomato sauce

2 tbsp tomato paste

1 tbsp Dijon mustard

2 tbsp chili powder

¼ cup water

Hot sauce

Step One: In a small saucepan bring the water to a boil, add some salt and the lentils. Cover and reduce to a simmer. Cook until tender, about 20-30 minutes. Drain any excess liquid and set aside.

Step Two: In a large pan heat the oil and cook the onion for about 5 minutes or until soft. Add the bell pepper and cook an additional 5 minutes. Season the vegetables with salt and pepper. Add the garlic and cook one more minute.

Step Three: Add the beans and lentils and mix.

Step Four: Add the brown sugar, tomato sauce, tomato paste, mustard, and chili powder. Mix in about ¼ cup water to loosen the mixture. You may need more or less. Add as much or little hot sauce as you like. Cook for 10 minutes and serve.