VEGAN SLOPPY JOES

By Peggie

These vegan Sloppy Joes are packed with the most amazing homemade vegan mince and make a simple, hearty, satisfying and delicious comfort food meal.

Ingredients

• For Serving:
• 1 8oz (~220g) Block Extra Firm Tofu (Pressed)
• 1 cup (100g) Walnuts (Finely Chopped)
• 1 Pack (8oz/226g) Brown Button Mushrooms (Finely Chopped)*
• 1 15oz (425g) Can Brown Lentils (Drained)*
• 2 Tbsp Olive Oil
• 1 Onion (Finely Chopped)
• 1 Tbsp Crushed Garlic
• 1 tsp Paprika
• 1 tsp Cumin
• 1/2 tsp Cayenne Pepper
• 1 tsp Oregano
• 1 tsp Dried Basil
• 2 Medium Stalks Celery (Chopped)
• 1 Medium to Large Red Bell Pepper (Finely Chopped)
• 1 Tbsp Dark Soy Sauce
• 1 cup (240ml) Marinara Sauce*
• 1/2 cup (130g) Tomato Paste
• 1 Tbsp Coconut Sugar
• 1/4 tsp Ground Black Pepper
• Salt (To Taste)
• Hamburger Buns
• Sliced Avocado
• Ground Black Pepper
• Fresh Basil Leaves

Details

Preparation time 20mins
Cooking time 40mins

Preparation

Step 1

Put your tofu on to press, ideally using a tofu press, or by placing it on a plate with another plate on top of it, and then placing something heavy on top like a heavy pot. Leave it to press for around 20 minutes while you prepare your other ingredients.

Add the walnuts to the food processor and process into crumbles. Place the walnut crumbs into a mixing bowl.

Add sliced mushrooms to the food processor and process until finely chopped. Add into the mixing bowl with the crushed walnuts.

Drain a can of lentils and add to the mixing bowl.

Prepare all your other ingredients, chop the onion, celery and red pepper.

By this time your tofu should be finished pressing, so mash it with a fork and then add it to the mixing bowl with the walnuts, mushrooms and lentils. Mix it all up together.

Add the chopped onions and crushed garlic to a pot with the olive oil and sauté until the onions are softened.

Then add in the paprika, cumin, cayenne pepper, oregano and dried basil along with the chopped celery and red pepper and sauté to soften the veggies slightly and toast the spices.
T
hen add in the walnut, mushroom, lentil and tofu mix along with some soy sauce, marinara sauce and tomato paste and fry until you have a mince consistency.

Add some coconut sugar (for flavor balance), black pepper and salt to taste.

Serve on fresh or toasted hamburger buns with some sliced avocado, black pepper and fresh basil.


NOTES:
*Brown button mushrooms are also called baby bella’s, cremini mushrooms or portobellini mushrooms.

*If you don’t have canned lentils, you can use any cooked lentils, the amount to use (equivalent to a can of drained lentils) would be around 1 and 1/3 cups (260g).

*You can use any marinara sauce that you like.

*Coconut sugar can be replaced with brown sugar.