Name: Lentil Sloppy Joes
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 1 cup green lentils -; 1/4 teaspoon salt -; 2 tablespoons olive oil -; 1 medium yellow onion, diced small -; 1 green pepper, diced small -; 2 small carrots, diced small -; 3 cloves garlic, minced -; 1 tablespoon mild chili powder -; 2 teaspoons paprika -; 1/2 cup ketchup -; 1 cup tomato sauce -; 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar -; 2 tablespoons brown sugar -; 1/2 cup water -; Salt and pepper, to taste -; Buns, for serving -; Sliced red onion, for serving -; Pickles, for serving -

Ingredients for - Lentil Sloppy Joes

1. 1 cup green lentils

2. 1/4 teaspoon salt

3. 2 tablespoons olive oil

4. 1 medium yellow onion, diced small

5. 1 green pepper, diced small

6. 2 small carrots, diced small

7. 3 cloves garlic, minced

8. 1 tablespoon mild chili powder

9. 2 teaspoons paprika

10. 1/2 cup ketchup

11. 1 cup tomato sauce

12. 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

13. 2 tablespoons brown sugar

14. 1/2 cup water

15. Salt and pepper, to taste

16. Buns, for serving

17. Sliced red onion, for serving

18. Pickles, for serving

How to cook deliciously - Lentil Sloppy Joes

1 . Stage

Cook the lentils: Rinse the lentils well and add them to a pot along with 4 cups of water and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Bring to a simmer, cover, and continue simmering over low heat until lentils are tender but not mushy, about 20 to 25 minutes. Drain lentils and set aside.

2 . Stage

Make the sloppy joe filling: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, green pepper, carrots, and garlic. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook until vegetables soften, 5-6 minutes. Stir in spices, ketchup, tomato sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, 1/2 cup of water, and the reserved lentils. Stir well.

3 . Stage

Simmer the sloppy joe mixture: Simmer the mixture for a few minutes to combine flavors. Taste and adjust seasonings to your liking. It will probably need a pinch of salt and pepper. Add an extra tablespoon of brown sugar to make it sweeter or a dash of apple cider vinegar to make it a bit more tart.

4 . Stage

Make the sandwiches: Toast your buns and add thinly sliced red onions to the bottom half of the bun. Top with 1/3 to 1/2 cup of the sloppy joe filling. Add pickles and eat immediately. LEFTOVERS: Leftover sloppy joe mixture will store well in the fridge for a few days or it can be frozen in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Reheat sloppy joe mixture gently over the stove with a splash of water. Spoon it atop a baked sweet potato for lunch the next day if desired!