Instead of ground beef, red lentils are used to prepare these plant-based sloppy joes. They are deliciously spicy, smokey, and a complete mess to eat!
Sloppy joes will likely continue to be a much-loved comfort meal, especially if they were a staple in your childhood diet. The fact that you have to eat with your hands, which might be messy, combined with the irresistibly flavorful sauce, makes it difficult to dislike these foods. This vegetarian alternative to the traditional dish calls for ground red lentils rather than ground beef. It was discovered that vegan versions of conventional sloppy joes are just as satiating as their meat-based counterparts.
How to Make Vegan Sloppy Joes
Christina Rock, a contributor to Taste of Home, offered us these deliciously messy sandwiches.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large sweet onion, chopped 1 medium green pepper, chopped 1/2 medium sweet red pepper, chopped 1 medium carrot, shredded 6 garlic cloves, minced 1 large carrot, sliced 1 medium onion, chopped 1 medium green pepper 1 medium sweet red pepper 1 large carrot, chopped 1 medium sweet red pepper
- 2-and-a-half cups of vegetable broth with a lower sodium content
- 1 cup of dried red lentils, reconstituted with water
- 5 chopped plum tomatoes 1 can of tomato sauce (eight ounces total)
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons of mustard in a yellow color
- 4-and-a-half-tenths of a teaspoon of cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons of vegetarian or vegan Worcestershire sauce
- 2 milliliters of pure maple syrup
- 1/2 of a teaspoon and a half of tomato paste
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
- 14 hamburger buns made of whole wheat, cut in half and toasted
- Vegan coleslaw with an optional vegan
Tools
- Le Creuset skillet: This skillet has adequate space to accommodate the substantial amount of filling that is produced by the recipe.
- Wooden spatula with a slot An wooden spatula works great for stirring the lentils while they are simmering in their liquid.
- Bowls for preparation: due to their manageable size, they are ideal for accurately weighing various condiments and spices.
Directions
Step 1: Saute the vegetables
Prepare the oil by heating it in a large skillet over medium-high heat. After adding the onion, peppers, and carrot, cook for another six to eight minutes or until the vegetables are crisp-tender. After that, stir in the garlic and cook for another minute. These sautéed vegetables will provide the sloppy vegan joes with the primary flavor they require.
Step 2: Add the lentils
After adding the lentils and the broth, bring the mixture to a boil. After that, reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let it simmer for approximately 15 minutes, tossing it occasionally until the lentils are soft.
Step 3: Finish the sloppy joes
Last but not least, combine the finely chopped tomatoes, tomato sauce, chili powder, mustard, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, syrup, tomato paste, salt, and pepper in a mixing bowl. Bring the liquid to a boil. After that, lower the heat and simmer the mixture for about ten more minutes or until it has thickened.
Step 4: Serve on toasted buns
Distribute the lentil mixture among the buns and, if preferred, top each with some coleslaw. Immediately serve after cooking.
Tips for Making Vegan Sloppy Joes
Use red lentils
The supermarket shelves are stocked with a wide variety of lentils, and each variety produces results that are distinctive in their way. Red lentils are the best option for this recipe because they are the quickest to cook and break down almost completely as they are prepared, allowing them to successfully imitate the texture of a messy sloppy joe.
Store leftovers in an airtight container
You may keep any remaining vegan sloppy joe filling in a container that seals tightly for up to four days. Before serving:
- Reheat the dish either on the stove or in the microwave.
- Freeze the food in a container that seals tightly for up to three months to store it for longer.
- Before you reheat it, let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
Learn more: 12 Things to Do with Leftover Egg Yolks