Vegetarian Sloppy Joes

Black Bean Sloppy Joes/Photo Courtesy Stacy Spensley

Meatless mondays meals shouldn't turn into packaged monday meals. Nix the frozen stuff and inspire your taste buds by making sloppy joes from scratch. Okay, not entirely scratch. Vegetarian Sloppy Joes uses canned beans to speed up the process. After all, the recipe is from Vegetarian Express : Easy, Tasty, and Healthy Menus in 28 Minutes(or Less!), but you can make the beans from scratch, too if you are up for it. In fact, Serious Eats has a terrific post called Can I Substitute Dried Beans For Canned. Hint: Of course!

FYI-This cookbook is currently available on Amazon for under $4.00!

Frugalistas, want to make your own healthy burger buns? Try these: Holy Cow's {Vegan} Whole Wheat Burger Buns, The Clever Carrot's Light Brioche Hamburger Buns {Whole Wheat}, or Eating Well's Whole Wheat Burger Buns.

Serves 6
Per Serving (without cheese & pickles)
Calories: 263  ♥ Fat: 4g ♥ Carbs: 46g ♥  Protein: 10g ♥ Sodium: 427mg ♥ Cholesterol: 0mg 

 Bean Sloppy Joes

Vegetarian Express : Easy, Tasty, and Healthy Menus in 28 Minutes(or Less!)

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• ½ medium green bell pepper, finely diced
• 1-pound can pinto or black beans, drained and rinsed (such as Eden Organic Pinto Beans)
• ¼ cup wheat germ (Easy Substitutions For Wheat Germ)
• 1 cup thick tomato sauce or pureed tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon honey or brown rice syrup
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• ½  teaspoon dried basil
• pickles (optional)
• reduced fat cheese, 2 percent for best flavor~Suggested Brand-Sargento (optional)
• 6 whole-grain rolls

Preparation

1. Heat the oil in a large, heavy saucepan.
2. Add the onion and bell pepper and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes.
3. Add the remaining ingredients except the rolls and bring to a gentle simmer.
4. With a Potato Masher, mash the beans until coarsely and evely mashed.
5. Simmer over medium-low heat, loosely covered, for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
6. Serve immediately on whole-grain rolls.

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