Messy Lenny

Sloppy Joes. They're the things of childhood. I have fond memories of Manwich and ground beef on a soft, white hamburger bun, dripping all over my plate.


Manwich, however, contains ingredients that I don't want to consume. Take a look:

Ingredients



Tomato Puree , (Water , Tomato Paste) , High Fructose Corn Syrup , Distilled Vinegar , Corn Syrup , Less Than 2% of: Salt , Sugar , Dehydrated Onions , Dehydrated Red and Green Bell Peppers , Chile Pepper , Tomato Fiber , Spices , Guar Gum , Xanthan Gum , Dehydrated Garlic , Carob Bean Gum , Natural Flavors



No, thanks.

And I love beef. I really love beef. It's the only meat I have a love affair with. However, I'm in my 30s, and I need to eat less of it. I'm striving for a mainly plant-based diet, so most beef has to go. My whole family benefits from eating a mostly plant-based diet. Enter the lowly lentil.

Lentils make wonderful ground beef stand-ins for several recipes: Meatloaf, tacos, and sloppy joes are three of my favorites. After reading mixed reviews on lentil sloppy joes, I decided to venture forth and create my own spin on this idea. I love sloppy joes, so it was worth the effort. What I got was a recipe that tasted so much like the Manwich of my childhood that I wouldn't have known the difference had I not been the chef.

This is not a Sloppy Joe. This is Messy Lenny. The Lentil.

Messy Lenny

What You Need:

• 1 cup brown lentils
• 2 1/2 cups water
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 a large onion, diced
• 1/2 a large red bell pepper, diced
• 1 cup ketchup (check for high fructose corn syrup!)
• 2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 2 Tbsp white vinegar
• 1 tsp sea salt
• black pepper to taste
• a few dashed of garlic powder
• buns for serving (I suggest this recipe)

How it's Done:

1. Cook lentils in water until tender. Some folks say they can be cooked in 30 minutes. I find that 60 is more realistic. Here's how to cook them: Add lentils to water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer until tender. Check the water level occasionally to prevent scorching. After cooking, if there is more than a couple tablespoons of water left, drain some out and proceed.
2. Add onion, pepper, and oil. Cook and stir until vegetables are tender.
3. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Cook and stir until thickened. Remove from heat and serve on buns.

PS Don't forget to enter to win a loaf of Rudi's Organic Bread!