Long time, no talk, y’all! I am back from my conference in South Dakota, which feels nice. It was a great experience and I learned a lot (plus, being away from the office can be so nice sometimes), but being able to relax and chill at home feels great. I am ready to get back into the swing and things and back into some “normalcy.” And what could be more normal than food blogging?!? Let’s get to it!
In case you had not noticed, lately I have been a bit obsessed with Thai-inspired foods. So, let’s keep the trend rolling with this next recipe. While working on my Magazine Monday recipe clean-up project, I came across a recipe for Thai Sloppy Joes in the March 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times magazine. I loved the idea of using Thai flavors in sloppy Joes, but wanted to make a twist on the recipe (which originally calls for using tempeh), and was inspired by Chelsey’s recipe for lentil Sloppy Joes (which are amazing, by the way!). This recipe turned out to be incredibly tasty, so I am thinking that my adaptation was a mighty fine one!
Thai Lentil Sloppy Joes
Adapted from Vegetarian Times magazine.
Servings: 2 sandwiches
Ingredients
1/2 cup dry lentils
1 1/2 to 2 cups water (for cooking lentils)
water, for cooking
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 yellow onion, diced
1/4 cup bell peppers, diced (I used red and green)
1/2 cup coconut almond milk (or light coconut milk)
3 tsp Thai red curry paste
1 tsp low-sodium soy sauce
2 tsp light brown sugar
1/2 TB fresh lime juice
1/4 tsp curry powder
salt, to taste
black pepper, to taste
4 slices of whole wheat bread or 2 whole wheat buns
Directions
1. Cook lentils according to package directions.
2. Once the lentils are cooked, line a large skillet with a thin layer of water and heat over medium-high heat. Once hot, lower the heat to medium and add garlic, onions, and peppers. Cook for approximately 6 to 8 minutes, or until softened.
3. Add cooked lentils, coconut almond milk, curry paste, soy sauce, brown sugar, lime juice, and seasonings. Stir until well-combined.
4. Lower the heat to medium-low and simmer for approximately 5 minutes, or until the lentil mixture is at your desired consistency.
5. Serve the Thai Lentil Sloppy Joes mixture on 2 slices of toasted whole wheat bread or on a whole wheat bun.
Now, of course, you must serve your Thai Lentil Sloppy Joes with a side of your favorite vegetables (and a dill pickle spear, too! ;)). I served my sandwich alongside The Happy Herbivore’s spinach saag, which I slightly adapted by adding mushrooms and peppers. Why not combine the flavors or Thai food and Indian food all in one meal? I am definitely known to not keep it to one “type” of food.
I really love eating Sloppy Joe-type sandwiches on toast (as opposed to on a bun), but in all honesty, the carbs are not even necessary. I ate my second serving as leftovers for lunch the next day and ate them with a spoon and without the extra carbs. So, if you are someone who is watching their carb intake (definitely not me!), you can eat them plain, or they would be fabulous in the form of cabbage rolls or lettuce wraps. Be creative!
This twist (both with the use of lentils and Thai flavors) on the traditional Sloppy Joe sandwich turned out to be amazingly delicious. I was already a convert to the idea of using lentils in the place of ground beef, and now that I added the spicy (but do not worry…they are not that spicy!) and flavorful Thai spices to this dish, I am not sure that I will ever go back to the more “traditional” Sloppy Joe sandwich.
Lentils are amazing and Thai flavors are amazing. If you have never cooked with either, then this very well may be the perfect recipe for you to give them a try. The flavors that result from such an easy dish are truly remarkable. I hope you enjoy these as much as I did! 🙂
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This is such a great alternate recipe to actual sloppy joes. Me and my husband love thai food, can’t wait to try these! thanks
I hope you and your hubby love them! Please let me know what you think :).
I’m glad your back, I was worried when you hadn’t blogged since Tuesday. Was going to email you to make sure everything is okay but didn’t see it on here. These lentil sloppy joes sound amazing! I have a bag of lentils that have been waiting to be used. I got yellow coconut curry sauce in my foodie pen pal box, do you think that would work in place of the red curry paste?
Aww, thank you for your concern! 🙂
I think that the yellow coconut curry sauce would be delicious in this! You would likely need to experiment a bit with how much to add since it is a sauce, instead of a paste, though. If you give it a try, please let me know how they turn out!
I just opened a packet of TJ’s precooked lentils this morning – I don’t have any of your suggested Thai spices but you have inspired me to try making my own spinoff… Thanks 😀
Awesome! I cannot wait to see what you come up with! 🙂
Thai flavored sloppy joe’s sound really tasty. Bob and I have been craving lentils like crazy lately–there’s something about them that’s been hitting the spot!
LOVE lentils! They are so darn tasty, and I love how much protein they have in just a single serving :).
Gaaaah I love sloppy joes. Seriously so good. My roommate made me some from a vegan packaged mix once, but these look even better. I love using clean ingredients in cooking and lentils are so delicious.
Lentils are just plain fantastic! I absolutely love using them in the place of meat :).
This looks yum. I’ve been told I can’t eat legumes anymore so I might try this with beef or chicken mince instead.
No legumes? What a bummer! 🙁 Yes, these would likely be good with beef or chicken, or even tofu!
I know right and I so love my chickpeas and lentils but my body doesn’t love them back 🙁
Tofu is a great idea too 🙂
Glad your back! Those look tasty!
Thanks!! SUPER tasty :).
I’ve made lentil sloppy joes in past but never thought to add some Thai flavors to it- great idea, Hannah 🙂
They were super tasty! I hope you give them a try!
This looks SO good. I love lentils and I love the (idea of) sloppy joe’s. Must try!
Thank you! Please let me know if you give them a try!
Thai flavors in a sloppy joe is a GREAT idea and I love the idea of eating them as lettuce wraps. Pinned it, can’t wait to try this out!
I am glad you think they sound good!! Please let me know what you think :).
Yum!!! I’ve only had one veggie sloppy joe and I think it was made with TVP. It was pretty good, but lentils are one of my favorite things!! I’m so trying this!
Lentil sloppy joes are amaaaaazing!!! They are a MUST make!
I wish lentils agreed with my belly. I’d eat them all the time. So yummy!
Aww, what a bummer!! I love lentils :(.
Oh this looks sooo good!!! And I love lentils! 🙂
How can you not?!? 😉
I’m really getting more into lentils, so I’m excited to try this out!
I think that I could eat lentils with every meal! 😉 Please let me know if you give it a try :).
What a great take on veggie sloppy joes! I’ve tried making them with beans and they’re just not quite right. Lentils are a fabulous idea – and Thai flavors too!
Lentils make for some amaaaazing sloppy joes!
These look awesome! Can you believe I have never made lentil sloppy joes before? What kind of vegetarian am I? Yeah, I’ll be picking up the ingredients for next week’s meal plan for sure. Thanks for the inspiration! 🙂
You have been missing out!!! Let me know what you think once you make them :).
Now I’m sold on the lentils! Thai flavors are the best. The more spicy, the better!! Welcome back to blogging! I missed your recipes lol!
Thank you!! And yes, lentils are seriously amazing. They make for some fabulous sloppy joes :).
Mmm I love a good sandwich
ME TOO! 😉
I love Thai food so I’m on board with your Thai foods lately. 🙂 Hope your conference went well- what do you do for your job?
Good to hear!! 🙂
I work as an academic advisor at a college!
Girl, you are an impressive never-ending wealth of recipes! And they’re always so darn good looking too! Never in a billion years would I have substituted lentils in for pulled beef/pork. Plus, Thai food is one of my new obsessions!
Thank you for the kind words! I am glad that you like them :).
Nummy, these sound AWESOME! I love sloppy joes and I love lentils! This looks like a winner!
They are SO good! You should definitely try using lentils for your sloppy joes next time!
Mmm I love the idea of jazzing up sloppy joe’s with Thai flavors! I’ve never met a Thai dish I didn’t like, so I’m sure I’d enjoy this recipe–especially alongside a side of Indian-inspired spinach saag. I’m a firm believer in mixing cuisines! 😉
Happy Monday, m’dear! <3 xoxo
Mixing cuisines is awesome! I am glad to hear that I am not the only one who does it :).
This is so great. One of my favorite friends-through-blogging makes a DELICIOUS Thai Curry that she uses lentils in, and this just takes it to a new level. I even have some green curry paste open in the fridge…wonder if GREEN ‘joes’ would work?
I bet green curry would be JUST as good!! Let me know if you try it out :).
I’m a traditionalist, I love the Apple (apple pie? apple cinnamon?) Larabar. But that tropical fruit one looks pretty awesome.