Let’s make some vegan comfort food shall we? These Vegan Lentil Sloppy Joes epitomize everything I think a comfort food should be, cozy, filling and packed with flavor – not to mention they go great with a brioche roll and some chips!
Here’s the great thing about this meatless version though – they’re still packed with good for you ingredients so you’re cheating but you’re also eating nourishing lentils and veggies. Lentils are a huge part of a healthy vegan diet because they contain tons of fiber and plant based protein. They also make for a quick and easy weeknight meal and unlike beans they do not require soaking.
Sloppy Joes are a great way to get veggies into your little ones, these yummy sandwiches also contain onions and carrots in addition to lentils. Top them with a light, crunchy and refreshing cabbage slaw to really up the plant power! I love using pre-made bags of coleslaw from either Whole Foods or Trader Joes.
Trader Joes even makes pre-made cooked lentils in the refrigerator section if you’re looking to really save time with this meal. If not you’ll want to cook up your lentils about 20-30 mins before you start cooking your sloppy joes.
You can use any kind of lentils you have on hand in this recipe, I like brown, green or puy lentils because they keep the sandwich looking like “meat” when you pile it on your roll. But really any kind works.
How to prep your Lentils for Vegan Sloppy Joes
- Cook the lentils by rinsing first to remove any debris, then pick through any bad ones and discard.
- Add 1 cup lentils to 3 cups water and bring to a boil, once boiling cover and reduce heat and simmer for approximately 15- 20 mins.
- For this recipe I rinsed my lentils in cool water after cooking to stop the cooking process and then added them to a bowl of food processor. I like to give them a whirl with 5-6 pulses just to break up the perfect disc shape of the lentils and give them a slightly rougher texture in this recipe similar to that of meat.
They won’t all break up but some will and it’ll take on more of a meat-like appearance vs lentils which can be helpful if your feeding picky little ones. This step is however completely optional and the recipes will still be delish if you decide to skip this step. It will also save some dishwashing!
I hope you enjoy this recipe for Vegan Lentil Sloppy Joes as much as we do! It’s a great Meatless Monday option for dinner and makes excellent leftovers for lunches.
The Yummiest Vegan Lentil Sloppy Joes
Equipment
- Food Processor
- Cast Iron Skillet or other deep fry pan
Ingredients
- 1 cup Lentils
- 3 cups Water
- 2-3 Carrots Rinsed and finely diced
- 3/4 cup Yellow Onion diced
- .5 tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 tbsp Tomato Paste
- 1 8 oz can Tomato Sauce
- 1 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1.5 tsp Chili Powder
- 2 tbsp Ketchup
- 1.5 tsp Red Wine Vinegar
- 1 tbsp Dijon Mustard
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 1/2 tsp Pepper to taste
- 1/2 tsp Salt to taste
- 6 Brioche Rolls split
For the Slaw
- 1 pkg Coleslaw Mix
- 2 tbsp Olive Oil
- 3 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 tsp honey optional
Instructions
- Pick through 1 cup of lentils then rinse and drain and add to a saucepan with 3 cups water. Bring to boil, then cover and simmer for 15-20 mins.
- Make your slaw by adding the slaw mix, oil, vinegar and honey to a small bowl and toss to combine. Store in the fridge while you prep the rest of the meal.
- Dice your carrots and onion and gather your spices and condiments.
- Add the olive oil to your pan and toss in the onions and carrots and saute until tender 10-15 mins while your lentils finish cooking.
- When the lentils are done, rinse throughly to stop the cooking process and transfer to the bowl of your food processor and give the lentils 5-6 pules to slightly break apart the disc shapes.
- Add the lentils to the pan with the softened onions and carrots and add in the tomato sauce, ketchup, garlic powder, chili powder, red wine vinegar, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce and dijon mustard. Salt and pepper to taste.
- Continue to cook the lentil and veggie mixture another 5 mins to bring all the flavors together. When ready to serve add a heaping portion on top of the sliced brioche roll and top with cold cole slaw. Serve warm with chips or french fries if desired.
