SUMMER VEGGIE LENTIL SLOPPY JOES

INGREDIENTS

• 1 15oz. can lentils, drained and rinsed
• 2 heaping Tbsp organic tomato paste
• 1/2 cup vegetable broth
• 1 small sweet onion, chopped
• 1 cup frozen or fresh corn
• 3 leaves collard greens, finely chopped
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 tsp chipotle powder
• salt and black pepper to taste (at least 1/4 tsp salt)
• optional: 2 Tbsp nutritional yeast + extra splash veggie broth for added savory flavor
• 4 vegan hamburger buns
• For pan: 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
• Optional: serve with toppings like avocado, sliced tomato, shredded carrots, additional greens, pickles, vegenaise and more!

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Turn oven to 300 degrees and place buns on top rack to toast, for about 5-10 minutes. Longer time if using frozen buns. Optional: rub bins in EVOO for extra yumminess.
2. Turn on stove to high and warm up a large skillet. Add the extra virgin olive oil.
3. When oil is hot, add the onions, garlic and corn. Saute for a few minutes until onions start to caramelize a bit.
4. Turn heat down to medium-high, and add the tomato paste, spice, veggie broth and optional nutritional yeast. Stir well until the mixture thickens into a red sauce with the veggies.
5. Add in the lentils and continue stirring gently to mix ingredients. This will only take about 3-4 minutes until flavors mesh together and lentils cook through.
6. Lastly, fold in the collard greens. If desired, you can add another splash of veggie broth for a wetter texture to your mixture, but you want the thickness to be scoopable so that the sloppy joes do not get too sloppy.
7. Pull your buns from the oven and fill them with the warm and steamy sloppy joe filling. Serve right away. Store leftovers, sealed in the fridge – delicious as leftovers too or a make ahead meal. Tip: If you filling gets too dry, just add a few splashes of broth and some more tomato paste. You could also add in some mild salsa or BBQ sauce to “wet” your filling.

Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: 00 hrs. 03 mins.

Cook time: 00 hrs. 12 mins.
Total time: 15 mins.
Tags: entree,sandwich,easy,kids,dinner,sloppy joes,lentils,summer,family