Vegan Lentil Sloppy Joes

Hey guys! I am writing this post as I ride home to Ada after being in Dallas for the past few days. That was a very interesting trip… Dallas is quite the big city and is very stimulating. We walked all over downtown, went to the top of Reunion Tower, went to Galleria Mall, ate at the awesome Spiral Diner, and (possibly my favorite part!) walked in the botanical gardens. It was a fun trip, but I’m glad to be going home again. I’ve always been a homebody when all is said and done.

Before we left, I made this delicious dish by Gena Hamshaw: vegan lentil sloppy joes! My whole family and I loved this dish. In fact, I made it in the morning, and by 8:30 that evening, it was all gone! I think it’s definitely better than the non-vegan sloppy joes I’ve had. This version is bursting with flavor from the unique blend of seasonings, which include smoked paprika, chili powder, mustard, and plenty of onions and garlic. It’s also pretty simple to make: just cook the lentils, prepare and sauté the veggies, combine everything, and let simmer for a few minutes.

I ate the finished product in two ways: as the filling in a sandwich (pictured below), and mixed into sautéed zucchini with tomato sauce and hummus for a quick, filling dinner. I also think it stands alone very well. So go ahead! Make a versatile, delicious lentil dish that will not only taste good, but do your body, the Earth, and the animals a favor as well. 

Wait, one more thing: I just need to go on about one of my favorite sweeteners for a moment! I used maple sugar for the 1 tablespoon of sweetener called for in this recipe, and it reminded me how addictive the scent of maple is. In the U.P. of Michigan, there are many sugar maples (makes sense, given the proximity to Canada), and maple syrup, maple candy, and maple sugar are all popular gifts given in the community. You could buy locally made maple syrup at gas stations, health food stores, and other privately owned businesses. So, as much as I already love the smell and taste of maple sugar, I love it even more because it reminds me of home.