Lentil Sloppy Joes

This has got to be one of my favourite recipes. I think I've made it more times over the past couple years than anything else. Who could resist lentil-based sloppy joes, cleverly named Snobby Joes? Thank you Post Punk Kitchen. They are tasty, healthy and easy to make. I really hate the "Meat eaters will love them too!" slogans but it fits here.

There are two steps. First is to cook the lentils. This involves putting green lentils in a pot with a bay leaf or two, adding water, and boiling for about 20 minutes. I usually use red lentils for this recipe, they work well because they get mushy and sort of disappear with all the other ingredients. The green ones keep their shape.

Once the lentils are cooked, it's all about the one pan meal. Fry up some onion and some mixture of red/green bell peppers, add in some garlic and spices. The recipe calls for chili powder and oregano, but I usually throw in some extra spice for more heat. I used harissa this time.

Then I throw in the lentils, some tomato paste and some tomato sauce. This time I had Classico vodka sauce in the fridge, which is slightly cheesy. Yum. After everything simmers away into an awesome tomato-lentil mix, it's time for the secret ingredients. Maple syrup and mustard!

You do have to be patient and let it sit for a few minutes before serving - the flavours really do meld together. It's a great recipe for leftovers, because a day or two in the fridge = more tastiness. I can pretty much eat it with a spoon, but of course it's better thrown on top of a bun with some grated cheese on top. This recipe is a great and easy way to use up lentils - they're so cheap at the bulk store but I never know what to do with them. So... sloppy joes for everyone!