Hearty High-Protein Lentil Sloppy Joes
Gushing with goodness kids of all ages will love, our Hearty High-Protein Lentil Sloppy Joes are a healthy, quick-to-make answer to weeknight dinner woes. Fast-cooking lentils make this a nutrient dense dish you can have on the table in under 40 minutes. Don’t have that kind of time? For nights where even a quick make isn’t quick enough to feed the kids, this make-ahead mainstay shines. Kids of all ages will enjoy pitching in to build their own joes, just the way they like them. Feel good about the filling them up with plant-based protein. Slop the works atop our Sprouted Whole Grain Burger Bun with Sesame Seeds, and smile amidst the chaos knowing they’ll have fuel to keep going for hours.
Ingredients
For the Lentils:
- 1 cup red lentils , rinsed well
- 1 cup green lentils , rinsed well
- 4 cups vegetable broth
For the Sloppy Joes:
- 1 medium onion , diced
- 4 cloves garlic , minced
- 1 bell pepper (red or green), diced
- 4 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 jar (650ml) tomato sauce (2 ¾ – 3 cups)
- 3 – 4 Tbsp coconut sugar (or brown sugar), or to taste
- 3 – 4 Tbsp vegan Worcestershire sauce (we used The Wizards)
- 3 – 4 tsp chili powder (or more to taste)
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp smoked paprika (or substitute 1 tsp chipotle powder or 1 tsp additional cumin)
- to taste salt and pepper
For Serving:
- 6 Silver Hills Sprouted Bakery Organic Sesame Hamburger Buns (OR 12 slices Silver Hills Sprouted Power™ The Big 16 bread), toasted
- ½ sweet or red onion , thinly sliced (optional)
- ½ cup red cabbage , thinly sliced (optional)
- ½ cup dill pickles , sliced (optional)
Instructions
For the Lentils:
- Combine the lentils and broth in a pot and bring to a boil over a medium-high heat.
- Simmer on low for 18 – 20 minutes.
- Drain any extra liquid once lentils are tender.
For the Sloppy Joes:
Sauté the onions, garlic, and bell pepper in oil until tender. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- To the sautéed mixture, stir in the tomato sauce, sugar, vegan Worcestershire sauce, and spices. Adjust seasonings to taste.
- Add the lentils and cook on med-low until thick (5 – 10 minutes)
For Serving:
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Split Sprouted Whole Grain Burger Buns open and brush tops and bottoms with oil. (Or, if using The Big 16 bread, toast)
Place on baking sheet and warm in preheated oven for approximately 8 minutes.
- Spoon the sloppy joe mixture over bun bottoms and top with desired condiments and bun top.
Tips
- Love the red onion crunch but not the strong taste? Soaking the slices in ice cold water for about 10 minutes will ease the bite.
- For time savings, dice the veggies for sautéing while the lentils are cooking and toast the buns while the sloppy joe mixture is thickening.
- Our Hearty High-Protein Lentil Sloppy Joes recipe is a great make-ahead meal. Store in the fridge for 4 – 5 days, or in the freezer for up to six months.