My OCD is having major problems posting a recipe on Fashion Friday. But today is the 21st, which means it’s time for a Recipe ReDux! Here is this month’s theme:
A Food Memory For Which You Are Thankful
In the US, November marks the Thanksgiving holiday. But many of us are especially thankful for food memories we have shared with friends or relatives throughout our lives. Was it a special meal you ate as a child? Or, maybe it was a food you grew and harvested with your own children. Please share one of your favorite food memories and the healthier “redo” of the recipe.
I thought a lot about what to make for this one. I finally decided on an old food but new favorite of mine – sloppy joes! I’ve talked about my love for them here and here and I’m still a little mad at myself for spending so many years not eating them. It’s not even necessarily the meat I like, but Grandma’s combination of ketchup, mustard, brown sugar, and worchester sauce that makes me and the rest of the family in love.
Enter: Vegan Lentil Sloppy Joes!
These have the exact same flavor as Grandma’s sloppy joes, just without the meat! The lentils give it almost a meat texture. It’s tangy but not too much so from the vinegar and it’s perfectly sweet from the brown sugar. I will never need another sloppy joe recipe because this one is always going to be the my favorite!
Just buy (or make!) some whole wheat buns, maybe some corn on the cob or a salad, and you’ve got dinner! I loved mine topped with a little avocado because let’s be real, avo makes everything better.
Another quick note… I cooked the lentils right in the sauce which I would NOT recommend doing. They absorbed it way too much and these were a bit dry. I would say to cook the lentils separately then add them to the sauce and let it simmer. Next time I make these I will update how that turns out!
- 1 tbsp flour
- 2 tbsp vinegar
- 1 pound brown lentils
- 1 1.2 tbsp worchester sauce
- 1 tbsp mustard
- 4 tsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1/4 of a green pepper, whole (for flavor)
- Cook lentils. Bring 6-8 cups of water to a boil with the lentils then simmer until tender, about 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile in a small bowl, whisk flour and vinegar. Heat a large pot over medium heat and add the remaining ingredients. Once the lentils are done cooking add them to the pot and simmer for an hour, until all of the flavor are absorbed.
- Don't forget to take the green pepper out at the end! It will shrivel up and might break into smaller pieces.
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Apparently I have been living under a blogging rock, because I have never heard of fashion friday. I’ll have to make sure I come back next week for that surely. in the meantime. I LOVE these vegan sloppy joes. They look so good, and I totally love the way you dolled them up with some avocado on top. Yum!
Fashion Friday is just something I do where I post my outfits from the week! 🙂 Thanks, Katie!
Now you have me craving my vegan lentil sloppy joes recipe!
You should make a batch! 🙂
Good idea Leigha! I am working with lentils more and more, as I used to have a fear of them….well, an aversion haha! A fear makes me sound like a crazy lady! These sound and look good! I hope you join us for meatless monday this week 🙂
Thanks Tina! I never even knew what a lentil was until I started getting more into food! Now I love them!
Oh man, these look delicious. Sloppy joes were one of my favorite dinners growing up, too, so I must try this meatless version. Love it! (Also, with that avocado on top – perfect!)
You can’t go wrong with sloppy joes! (or avocado:)
This looks delicious! What a great way to omit meat, but still get that meaty texture! I wanna go make these “big gooey messy burgers!”
I myself am not a big fan of meat, but every once in awhile I get a craving for meaty texture.. lentils are perfect! Thanks, Rebecca 🙂
Mhmmmm sloppy joes are a HUGE comfort food for me! There’s something so delicious and hearty about lots of flavor between two buns :). Love that this version is healthier!
Grandma always makes sloppy joes with mac&cheese for the side.. it’s comfort food HEAVEN 🙂
These sloppy joes look great! Love this lentil version of it!
Thanks, Lisa! Glad you like them 🙂
I can’t wait to try this recipe! The only thing is I am traveling next week so I won’t get to make it until December! What a great use for lentils. I love how economical they are as well!
I LOVE how cheap lentils are! And they are so healthy, it’s a win-win! You will have to let me know how you like this 🙂
I’ve never had sloppy joes before but these sound delicious! Gorgeous photos, too 🙂
Oh you must! I don’t know why I love them so much but they are my ultimate weakness!
Aw, Recipe Redux sounds so nice, but unfortenately there is a long queue to get in 🙁 So it’ll probably take a while before I get to join. In the meantimeI’ll just enjoy all of the yummy recipes people make. Like this one. Sounds so delicious with lentil sloppy joes! And yes, avocado definitely makes everything better 😉
I can’t wait for you to get accepted! You will come up with some amazing recipes!
These look fabulous, Leigha!
Thanks Liz!
I have a lentil sloppy joe recipe but I think yours sounds better!
You’re right, avo makes everything better!
Thank you! I’m sure your recipe is still fantastic if it’s like any of your other recipes!
Leigha this looks delicious! Your photos are as usual, beautiful! Do you mind me asking what lens you use?
Thanks Arman! I use a 50mm f/1.8 II lens and it is my LOVE. Such a good deal too!
love this! perfect for a poor college student! Yum!
The leftovers have been great heated up 🙂
I love how healthy these are, but are super indulgent looking at the same time. So yummy!!
Thanks Katrina!
I love that you made Sloppy Joes (and a version that I’d eat today!) I have such fond memories of Sloppy Joes when we use to rent a lake house in the Finger Lakes with all my cousins. My parents, aunts and uncles would take turns making meals and Sloppy Joes were always on the menu – I haven’t had them in forever 🙂
Aww, that sounds like lots of fun 🙂 sloppy joes are my ultimate comfort food!
Thank you for sharing, Leigha! You get me. I’ve been desperately searching for tasty lentil recipes but have often gotten stuck at lentil soup. It’s awesome how you veganified Grandma’s home cooking into this yummy looking sammy. This sloppy joe looks like it needs to make its home in my belly ASAP! Avocado definitely makes everything better. Perhaps if one were trying to cut on carbs they could pit an avo and then spoon this delightful little mixture into the concave interior…I think I know what dinner is going to be;-)
Dulcie, that is GENIUS! Let me know if you try these.. I’d love to know how it goes 😀
Yum! I love the idea of using lentils!
Lentils are definitely becoming one of my favorites 🙂
Lentil sloppy joes is a seriously good idea that I need to make for myself and my vegetarian family. Thanks for sharing the delicious recipe!
It’s a great idea! Glad you like them 🙂