+SFO
The very first time I ate a sloppy Joe was when the cookbook Veganomicon came out, if memory serves right. What a blast it was to find out it was socially acceptable to eat like a mess, like I usually do in a more covert manner. This one is my own homage to Italian food, loaded with Italian herbs, pesto, olives and everything you’d expect to find in something Italian. Buonissimo! —CS
SERVES 6
1½ tsp (8 ml) olive oil
4 oz (113 g) fresh cremini mushrooms, stems removed, gently brushed clean and minced
1 shallot, minced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups (400 g) cooked brown or green lentils
4 quarters marinated artichoke hearts, chopped
1 tbsp (17 g) double-concentrated tomato paste
1½ tsp (3 g) maca powder
1½ tsp (2 g) dried porcini powder
1½ tsp (2 g) dried Italian herbs
2½ tsp (13 ml) sherry vinegar or apple cider
vinegar
1½ cups (360 g) fire-roasted crushed tomatoes
½ tsp coarse kosher salt, to taste
Freshly cracked rainbow peppercorn, to taste
Aleppo-style pepper flakes, to taste
Favorite vegan pesto, homemade or store-bought
6 vegan burger buns or Kaiser rolls, well toasted (use soy-free)
Pitted and sliced olives of choice (optional)
In a large pot, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms, shallot and garlic. Sauté until the mushrooms have released their moisture and are browning, about 5 minutes. Stir occasionally and adjust the heat as needed. Add the lentils, artichokes, tomato paste, maca powder, porcini powder and Italian herbs. Cook for another 2 minutes. Add the vinegar to deglaze the pan, stirring well. Add the crushed tomatoes, salt, cracked pepper and pepper flakes. Bring to a low boil, turn down the heat and simmer, partially covered, for 15 minutes, until thickened and not overly moist. Stir occasionally.
Apply a thin layer of pesto on both sides of the toasted buns. Top with a generous ½ cup (150 g) of sloppy filling, or however much will fit well without falling out too much (for there is only so much sloppiness a person can take).
Add as many olives as desired and top with the other side of the bun or slice of bread. Mangia!
*SEE PHOTO INSERT