I’ve edited and refined this several times and it’s now in really great shape. Don’t skimp on the green bell pepper – it adds a sharp, fresh counterpoint to the heavy (and great) tomato and umami flavor. Delicious and great for a few days in the fridge.

For dinner, this should be accompanied by a side of vegetables or, if you’re aiming to dive fully into comfort-food, oven fries or other potato product. (And the filling would be great on top.)

Black caviar lentils are great in this because they hold their shape well and provide a great flavor. French green are also great, if you make sure you don’t overcook them by cooking them lower and slower than you would cook black caviars.

Print Recipe

Sloppy Sams (Lentil Sloppy Joes)

Quick meatless comfort-food meal

Prep Time15

Cook Time30

Total Time45

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American, Comfort Food

Keyword: Dry Beans, Lentils

Servings: servings

Calories: 649kcal

Ingredients

4 buns

Lentils

1 cup water
1 cup vegetable broth
1 cup black or green lentils

Sauce

1 medium white onion
3 cloves garlic
1 large green bell pepper or 2 small
1 jalapeño
1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp olive oil
15 oz tomato sauce, passata or marinara
1 tsp sugar
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp ground cumin
1 tbsp smoked paprika
1 tsp dry mustard
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp salt

Instructions

Rinse lentils. In a medium saucepan, add the lentils and the 1 cup water and 1 cup vegetable broth. Bring to a low boil and then cook, uncovered, for 18 minutes or until tender. Drain excess liquid when done. (Add more liquid if they aren’t tender and are looking dry, which is unlikely.)
While that cooks, peel and trim the onion and cut out the middle third, for rings to top the sandwiches. Take the other two thirds and chop finely, adding to a bowl, along with 3 cloves garlic (minced), 1-2 green bell peppers (chopped) and the jalapeno (finely chopped).
Heat butter and olive oil (2 tbsp total) in a skillet on medium-high. Add the onions and peppers and cook until they are fragrant and starting to brown. Then, add the tomato sauce or passata, the 1 tsp sugar, 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 2 tsp ground cumin, 1 tbsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp dry mustard and 1 tsp oregano. Add salt to taste.
When the lentils are done (and drained), add them to the mix and continue cooking over medium-low heat until cooked through and fairly thick. Taste and adjust flavoring as needed.
Serve on toasted buns with rings of white onion.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Sloppy Sams (Lentil Sloppy Joes)

Amount Per Serving

Calories 649 Calories from Fat 243

% Daily Value*

Fat 27g42%

Saturated Fat 13g81%

Trans Fat 1g

Cholesterol 151mg50%

Sodium 1880mg82%

Potassium 644mg18%

Carbohydrates 80g27%

Fiber 14g58%

Sugar 9g10%

Protein 25g50%

Vitamin A 2494IU50%

Vitamin C 51mg62%

Calcium 155mg16%

Iron 9mg50%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.