Vegan Lentil Sloppy Joes

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Vegan Lentil Sloppy Joes

Hearty, tangy, and sweet vegan sloppy joes made with protein-packed lentils simmered in a rich, savory tomato-based sauce.

  • Prep 10m
  • Cook 35m
  • Serves 4
  • By Adam Schoen

Ingredients

Dry

  • 1 cup Brown or green lentils (dry, rinsed and sorted)
  • 1 qty Yellow onion (finely diced)
  • 1 qty Green bell pepper (finely diced)
  • 3 cloves Garlic (minced)
  • 1 tsp Chili powder
  • 1 tsp Smoked paprika
  • 0.5 tsp Salt
  • 0.25 tsp Black pepper
  • 4 qty Vegan hamburger buns (toasted)

Wet

  • 1 Tbsp Olive oil
  • 2.5 cup Vegetable broth
  • 15 oz Tomato sauce (canned)
  • 2 Tbsp Tomato paste
  • 2 Tbsp Maple syrup
  • 1 Tbsp Apple cider vinegar
  • 1 Tbsp Yellow mustard
  • 1 Tbsp Vegan Worcestershire sauce (ensure it is vegan/anchovy-free)

Method

  1. 1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or pot over medium heat. Add the diced onion and green bell pepper. Sauté for 5 minutes until softened.
  2. 2. Add the minced garlic, chili powder, and smoked paprika. Stir and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  3. 3. Stir in the rinsed lentils, vegetable broth, tomato sauce, tomato paste, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, yellow mustard, vegan Worcestershire sauce, salt, and black pepper. Mix well to combine.
  4. 4. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 25-30 minutes, or until the lentils are tender. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
  5. 5. If the mixture is too liquidy after the lentils are cooked, remove the lid and simmer uncovered for another 3-5 minutes until it reaches your desired thick, sloppy joe consistency.
  6. 6. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary, adding more salt, pepper, or maple syrup to taste. Scoop a generous amount onto toasted vegan hamburger buns and serve hot.

Chef's notes

For a quicker version, use 2.5 cups of pre-cooked/canned lentils and reduce the vegetable broth to 0.5 cups. Simmer the mixture for just 10 minutes until thickened.

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