Sloppy Joe's (Lentil Style)

I found this recipe in Veganomicon, The Ultimate Vegan Cookbook and it so surprisingly tastes just like a Sloppy Joe that you’ll never miss the meat (don’t worry, it’s just as sloppy as the meat-version).

Wanting a little more of a kick I added in cayenne and black pepper (which is surprising since I’m not one for “kick” in my food).

If you have a good gluten-free bun then you’ll be taken back to childhood. Or, you can do it like I do and forgo the bun (In the not-so-pretty picture it’s on a piece of gluten-free bread, open-face style…oh, and I didn't have any green peppers so that's why it looks so blah & mono-color).

What’s Amazing About This Dish?

Lentils--For those of us with blood sugar issues, lentils are our best friends! Their protein content and soluble fiber trap carbohydrates slowing down digestion so we don’t have crazy blood sugar plummets. And that keeps ups Smart and Sexy all day long!

Cayenne Pepper--Rumor has it that cayenne is a great metabolic-booster, aiding the body in burning of excess amounts of fat. If you have excess fat you want to release, start adding cayenne pepper to your foods.

Sloppy Joe's (Lentil Style)

[Serves 6]

1 cup Green or Brown Lentils (uncooked)
2 cups Water
1 tablespoon Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
1 medium onion, diced small
1 green pepper, small dice (a little extra for garnish)
1 red pepper, small dice (a little extra for garnish)
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons oregano (dried)
½ teaspoon sea salt
Pinch of cayenne pepper
Pinch of black pepper
8 oz. tomato Sauce
6 oz. tomato Paste
3 tablespoons maple syrup (organic, grade B)
1 tablespoon yellow mustard

Rinse lentils.

Pour the lentils and water into a large saucepan.

Cover and bring to a boil.

Once the mixture is boiling, lower the heat and simmer for about 20 minutes, until the lentils are soft.

Drain and set aside.

In a large skillet, on low heat, sauté’ the onion and peppers in the oil for about 7 minutes, until softened. Add the garlic and sauté’ for a minute more.

Stir in the cooked lentils, chili powder, oregano, sea salt, cayenne & black pepper.

Add the tomato sauce and tomato paste.

Cook for about 10 minutes.

Add in the maple syrup and the mustard and heat through.

Turn off the heat and let the “Sloppy Joe’s” sit for about 10 minutes so the flavors can meld. Enjoy!