I know- vegetarian Sloppy Joes sounds like an oxymoron. As everyone knows Sloppy Joes are traditionally made with ground beef, but when you’re trying to maintain a healthier, meat-free diet and crave the taste you have to find other ways to satisfy that little voice and grumble of your tummy. I was able to do so by using Seitan as the meat substitute and then making my own sauce. A lot of the recipes I’ve seen online either have sugar in them, which I don’t want, or use store-bought ketchup (more sugar.) This recipe is tangy and sweet without the sugar using crushed tomatoes, seasonings, vinegar and worcestershire. Technically, I can’t call this vegetarian and it should be called pescatarian since worcestershire has a small amount of anchovy in it, but let’s just go with it.

Ingredients:

1 yellow onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
28oz can crushed san marzano tomatoes
2 8oz packages of seitan
2 TBSP Worcestershire sauce
2 TBSP red wine vinegar
1/2 tsp cayenne
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp dried thyme
1/4 tsp ground mustard
olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
Sandwich rolls

Heat a large pot or dutch oven on medium heat and add about a tablespoon of olive oil. Add the onions and garlic and cook until translucent- about 4 minutes. Add worcestershire, vinegar, and spices and mix thoroughly. Add crushed tomatoes. Add salt and pepper to taste (I added approximately a tsp salt, but be sure to taste as it cooks.)

Reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer.

Meanwhile, chop  up the seitan into fine pieces. Add it to the sauce and mix thoroughly. Simmer, covered, about 15 minutes until heated through. Serve on sandwich rolls.

*Note: this would also be great with the addition of diced green bell pepper, sauteed with the onions and garlic in the first step.

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