Lentil Sloppy Joes

Total Time: 1 hr Preparation Time: 45 mins Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• 1 cup uncooked lentils
• 4 cups boston lager beer or 4 cups dark ale beer
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, diced small
• 1 green pepper, diced small
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon ground mustard
• 1 (15 ounce) can crushed fire-roasted tomatoes
• 3 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 1/2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 4 whole wheat hamburger buns

Recipe

• 1 put the lentils in a small sauce pot and pour in 4 cups beer. cover and bring to a boil. once boiling, lower heat and simmer for about 20 minutes, until lentils are soft. drain and set aside.
• 2 about 10 minutes before the lentils are done boiling, preheat a medium sauce pan pot over medium heat. saute the onion and pepper in the oil (~ 7 minutes), until softened.
• 3 add the garlic and saute a minute more.
• 4 add the cooked lentils, and the the rest of the spices (except the maple syrup & dried mustard). stir gently until just combined.
• 5 add the tomato sauce and tomato paste. cook for about 10 minutes.
• 6 add the maple syrup and mustard and heat through.
• 7 turn the heat off and let sit for about 10 minutes, so that the flavors can meld, or go ahead and eat immediately if you can’t wait. i like to serve these open faced, with a scoop of sloppy joe on each slice of the bun.