Name: Vegan Sloppy Joes
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 65 min
Yield: 14 servings
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; 2-1/2 cups reduced-sodium vegetable broth; 1 cup dried red lentils, rinsed; 5 plum tomatoes, chopped; 1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce; 2 tablespoons chili powder; 2 tablespoons yellow mustard; 4-1/2 teaspoons cider vinegar; 2 teaspoons vegan Worcestershire sauce; 2 teaspoons maple syrup; 1-1/2 teaspoons tomato paste; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/8 teaspoon pepper; 14 whole wheat hamburger buns, split and toasted; Vegan coleslaw, optional

These vegan sloppy joes are made with red lentils instead of ground beef. They are saucy, smoky and delightfully messy!

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

2-1/2 cups reduced-sodium vegetable broth

1 cup dried red lentils, rinsed

5 plum tomatoes, chopped

1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce

2 tablespoons chili powder

2 tablespoons yellow mustard

4-1/2 teaspoons cider vinegar

2 teaspoons vegan Worcestershire sauce

2 teaspoons maple syrup

1-1/2 teaspoons tomato paste

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

14 whole wheat hamburger buns, split and toasted

Vegan coleslaw, optional

Instructions

1 Saute the vegetables

2 In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion, peppers and carrot, and cook until crisp-tender, six to eight minutes. Then add the garlic and cook for one minute longer. These sauteed veggies will form the foundational flavor of the vegan sloppy joes.

3 Add the lentils

4 Add the broth and lentils, and bring to a boil. Then reduce the heat and simmer uncovered until the lentils are tender, about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

5 Simmer and serve

6 Lastly, stir in the chopped tomatoes, tomato sauce, chili powder, mustard, vinegar, vegan Worcestershire sauce, syrup, tomato paste, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Then reduce the heat and simmer until thickened, about 10 minutes more. Divide the lentil mixture among buns and top with coleslaw, if desired. Serve immediately.