Vegan Sloppy Joes
Sink your teeth into the ultimate Vegan Comfort Food! This easy recipe for Plant Based Sloppy Joes will leave you feeling satisfied and nourished. Protein packed with lentils, cooked in a delicious homemade sloppy joe sauce...they'll be begging for more!
Servings: 6
Calories: 148kcal
Ingredients
- 1 red onion small dice
- 1 large carrot small dice
- 1 green bell pepper small dice
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon white pepper
- 4 cloves garlic grated
- 1 cup dry green lentils rinsed and drained
- 2 ½ cups water
- 1 15-oz can tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
Instructions
- Prep veggies: Small dice onion, carrot and green pepper. Grate the garlic and set aside.
- Heat a dutch oven over medium heat and saute onions, carrots and bell peppers with cumin, paprika, white pepper and salt. Use water, veggie broth or olive oil, as it fits in with your dietary needs. Add water 1 tablespoon at a time to keep pan from becoming too dry. Saute until veggies are beginning to soften, about 3 minutes.
- Mix in garlic and stir constantly (so it doesn't burn) for 30 seconds, until flavorful.
- Stir in lentils to coat with spices and then add tomato sauce, apple cider vinegar, mustard and maple syrup. Mix well. Then add the water and mix again. Turn up the heat and ring to a boil. Then, reduce heat to a simmer.
- Cook, uncovered, for 35 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lentils are tender, but still firmly holding their shape.
- Serve on toasted buns of your choice.
- Store any leftovers in airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. Reheat on the stove over low heat, until heated through....add up to ¼ cup water, as needed if the sauce has thickened.
Notes
I generally make this recipe exactly as written...it has universal appeal...and sprinkle some crushed red pepper just on mine, since I like spicy but here are a few other suggestions:
For even more flavor: dilute 1 Tablespoon light miso paste in ¼ cup water and add with the tomato sauce.
For even more sauce: double the tomato sauce.
For a spicy vegan sloppy joe: Add 1 Tablespoon your favorite hot sauce or sriracha, and/or one minced jalapeno pepper.
Pro tip: Toast the buns before ladling on the sloppy joes so the bread doesn't get too soggy.
Serve, Store, Reheat, Freeze
- Serve: Serve with some raw cabbage salad or some pickled onions inside the bun. Delish!
- Store: Use an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
- Freeze: Use freezer-safe container or freezer bag for best results. Freeze for 3 months.
- Reheat: Use a saucepan on the stove, with low-medium heat until heated through. Use up to ¼ cup water, as needed.
Nutrition
Calories: 148kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 239mg | Potassium: 428mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 2178IU | Vitamin C: 19mg | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 3mg