Sloppy Joe recipe

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A Sloppy Joe is an American dish of ground beef, onions, sweetened tomato sauce or ketchup and other seasonings, served on a hamburger bun. Contradictory lore suggests that the Original Sloppy Joe Sandwich was invented at Sloppy Joe's Bar in Key West, Florida, or by a cook named Joe at a cafe in Sioux City, Iowa, as a variation of the popular "loose meat" sandwich (which does not contain tomato sauce).

There are numerous variations of this recipe, this is my favourite. I add lots more chilli so it becomes chilli con carne in a roll.

Other names

Sloppy joes can also referred to as:

• Yip Yips in Southern Illinois near St Louis.
• Yum Yums in parts of the Midwest USA, particularly in Nebraska
• Wimpies in parts of the Northeast USA, especially Northeastern Pennsylvania
• Slushburgers in parts of the Upper Midwest, particularly in Eastern Montana and Western North Dakota
• Barbecues in other areas of the Upper Midwest, and also in some parts of Southeastern Pennsylvania.
• Taverns in parts of northwest Iowa and Minnesota.
• Sloppy Janes in parts of central Minnesota.
• Steamers in parts of Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland.
• Gulash (not to be confused with Goulash) in parts of the Upper Midwest.
• Dynamites in northern Rhode Island.
• Manwich in parts of Northern New Jersey, after the popular name brand sauce, as a distinction from the local variant also known as a "sloppy joe".

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil for frying
• 450 g (1 lb) minced beef
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 small sweet pepper, chopped
• 4 tablespoon tomato purée
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 142 ml (¼ pint) water
• 2 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• ½ teaspoon chilli powder
• ½ teaspoon paprika powder
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• ½ teaspoon ground cumin
• ½ teaspoon cider vinegar
• sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

to serve:

• 4 bread rolls, halved

Method

1. Heat the oil in a large frying pan or wok to medium/high and brown the minced beef for 5 minutes.
2. Lower the heat to medium, add the peppers, onions and garlic and stir-fry for a further 5 minutes. Drain any excess fat at this stage.
3. Mix the remaining ingredients with the water and add to the pan.
4. Cook for 10 minutes or until thickened enough to just about hold together.
5. Spoon on to lightly toasted bread rolls

Serving suggestions

Serve on their own or with one or two of the following:

• Chips
• Green salad
• Tomato & onion salad
• Red onion and orange salad
• Fennel, red onion and orange salad
• cole-slaw
• Sour cream