Sloppy Joes Plus

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup dry brown lentils
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 medium vidalia or sweet onion
• 1 medium green bell pepper
• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 15 oz can tomato sauce
• 3 oz tomato paste
• 3 Tbsp cider vinegar
• 3 Tbsp brown sugar
• 1/2 Tbsp dijon mustard, optional
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp chili powder
• 8 medium hamburger buns

Directions

1. Give the lentils a quick once-over first, pulling out any little stones or bits that don’t belong. Bring a large sauce pot to a boil over high heat, add the lentils, then turn the heat down to low. Cover the pot and let them simmer for 20 minutes. Check that the lentils are tender, then drain them in a colander and keep them nearby until the sloppy joes are ready for them. You can have the lentils going while you work on everything else.
2. Mince the garlic and chop the onion into a fine dice. Put them in a large skillet with the olive oil and cook over medium heat until they start to soften, about 3-5 minutes.
3. As the onion and garlic cook, finely dice the bell pepper. Add the pepper to the skillet and let it sauté for a few more minutes.
4. Add the ground beef to the skillet and keep cooking until the beef is completely browned, about 5-7 minutes.
5. Add the tomato sauce, tomato paste, cider vinegar, brown sugar, dijon, chili powder, and salt. Mix everything together well, then let it simmer for 5-10 minutes, until the sauce is as thick as you like it.
6. Stir in the cooked lentils and let everything heat through. Taste and add more salt if it needs it, then serve warm on a bun.