What’s for dinner? Sloppy Joes, of course

Everyone has a tale about what the lunch ladies ladled up in the school cafeteria: Chicken nuggets so rubbery you swear they’d bounce if you threw one on the floor. Mystery-meat tacos. The dreaded (in our house, anyway) brunch for lunch. And, of course, greasy, tomato-y, oozing-from-the-bun sloppy Joe sandwiches.

Love ’em or hate ’em, the messy chopped meat and tomato sauce sandwich — I dare you to try eating one of those babies without staining your fingers or shirt — are for many an iconic lunch food of childhood. For meat eaters of a certain age, they also showed up fairly often on the dinner table at home, too, usually with tater tots and sometimes an iceberg-lettuce salad, if my mom was feeling especially fancy.

I grew up in the Manwich era, so forgive me if I wasn’t always a fan of the sloppy Joe. I always found the canned sauce, introduced by Hunt’s in 1969, a bit too sweet and soupy — more like an unsuccessful marriage of barbecue sauce and ketchup than the slightly tangy, slightly spicy sauce that the kitchen gods intended. But I could be in the minority: The sandwich is so beloved that it merits its own National Food Holiday (March 18), and somehow, I don’t think everyone who celebrates is cooking from scratch: ConAgra sold more than 70 million cans of Manwich last year.

But a homemade Joe? That can be a beautiful thing, not to mention a quick and easy way to get a filling (and inexpensive) dinner on the table.

The origins of the sloppy Joe sandwich is almost as messy as the dish itself, in that nobody knows for sure where or how it arrived on American tables. Some food historians believe the lunchroom staple — typically made with ground meat, tomato sauce or ketchup, onions and spices and served on a toasted hamburger bun — as American as apple pie. Noting that “similar beef concoctions” have graced the pages of cookbooks since the turn of the 12th century, “The Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America” reports it may have evolved from a popular dish first served in Muscatine, Iowa, during President Calvin Coolidge’s administration. In 1926, a butcher by the name of Floyd Angell opened Maid-Rite, a walk-up eatery that eventually would become a chain of restaurants specializing in loose meat sandwiches. Also known as a Tavern or a Tastee, the Maid-Rite was made from steamed, lightly seasoned ground beef served on a warm bun.

Others, however, insist the sandwich was inspired by two famous restaurants named Sloppy Joe’s Bar — one in Havana, Cuba, owned by Jose Garcia, and another in Key West, Fla., that was a favorite haunt of the novelist Ernest Hemingway.

“The Encyclopedia of American Food and Drink” dates the sandwich to about 1935, but can’t pinpoint its exact birth. “There is probably no Joe after whom it is named — but its rather messy appearance and tendency to drip off plate or roll makes ‘sloppy’ an adequate description and Joe is an American name of proletarian character with unassailable genuineness.”

Or perhaps the messy-to-eat sandwich was simply named after the type of restaurants that commonly served it. In the 1940s, any inexpensive eatery or lunch counter serving cheap food was known as a “Sloppy Joe.”

However the sandwich came to be, by the late 1930s it was a popular dish on dinner tables across the United States because it helped home cooks stretch scant meat supplies during the Great Depression and World War II. So many of our relatives ate so many sloppy Joes that the dish even was mentioned in several 1940s movies, including “Citizen Kane.”

For people who don’t like or think they’re too busy to cook, there’s always Hunt’s Manwich sauces, of course, which now come in Bold and Thick &Chunky flavors in addition to the 1960s original. If you absolutely, positively don’t want to lift a finger except to push the microwave “on” button, there’s also a pre-mixed, pre-cooked Manwich product that comes in a heatable plastic container. (A lunch lady hairnet to wear while serving it is optional.)

But really, wouldn’t that be a mistake when the real deal is so easy to prepare?

Traditional Sloppy Joes

1 pound lean (at least 80 percent) ground beef

1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)

1/2 cup chopped celery

1 cup ketchup

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon ground mustard

1/8 teaspoon pepper

6 burger buns, split

Directions:

In 10-inch skillet, cook beef, onions and celery over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until beef is done. Drain.

Stir in remaining ingredients except buns. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer uncovered 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender. Spoon into buns.

Makes 6 sandwiches.

Asian Sloppy Joe sliders

How sad your kids won’t find this Asian-styled sandwich on their school lunch trays, because this was one of our favorites. Pickles and lettuce add crunch.

2 tablespoons canola oil

2 medium red onions, finely chopped

1 cup finely chopped celery

3 tablespoons sambal oelek or other Asian chili sauce

2 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic

1 tablespoon peeled, minced fresh ginger

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1 pound ground chicken thighs

1 pound ground pork

1 cup hoisin sauce

1 cup drained canned diced tomatoes

1/2 cup fresh lime juice

20 brioche dinner rolls, split and toasted

Shredded iceberg lettuce and spicy pickles, for serving

Directions:

In a large, deep skillet, heat canola oil until shimmering. Add onions, celery, chili sauce, garlic, ginger and a generous pinch each of salt and pepper. Cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened, about 8 minutes.

Add ground chicken and pork and cook, stirring occasionally to break up the meat, until no pink remains, about 5 minutes. Stir in hoisin, tomatoes and lime juice and bring to a boil. Simmer over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

Spoon about 1/4 cup of sloppy-Joe filling on the bottom half of each roll. Top with shredded lettuce and pickles and serve.

Sloppy-Joe filling can be refrigerated for up to 3 days; reheat gently before serving.

Makes 20 sliders.

Tofu Sloppy Joes

Don’t eat meat? This vegan Joe substitutes tofu. But no worries — it’s just as flavorful and messy, thanks to a rich, delicious tomato-based barbecue sauce. Jalapeno slices add zing.

1 tablespoon virgin coconut oil (I used vegetable oil)

1 small sweet onion, diced (about 1/2 cup)

1/2 medium green bell pepper, ribs and seeds removed, and diced (1/2 cup)

2 small cloves garlic, minced

16 ounces extra-firm tofu, crumbled (2 cups)

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

3 cups Kansas City Barbecue Sauce (recipe follows; you’ll need to double it)

8 gluten-free (or regular) burger buns

12 jarred thin sweet pickle slices

16 pickled jalapeno slices

Directions:

In large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion and pepper and saute for about 6 minutes or until tender. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Remove vegetables from pan and set aside.

In same skillet, saute tofu and sea salt for about 8 minutes or until browned.

Add cooked onions, peppers and garlic to pan, and pour in Kansas City barbecue sauce. Stir to combine, reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes.

Divide tofu mixture among buns and top each with 2 slices sweet pickle and 2 slices jalapeno.

Serves 8.

Kansas City barbecue sauce

1/2 cup ketchup

1/2 cup water

1/8 cup apple cider vinegar

3 tablespoons maple syrup

1 1/2 teaspoons ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon celery salt

1/2 teaspoon ground allspice

1/4 teaspoon cayenne

1 teaspoon garlic powder

Directions:

In high-speed blender, combine ingredients and blend on high until completely smooth. Transfer to an airtight glass container and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.

Makes about 11/2 cups.

— “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Low-Fat Vegan Cooking” by Bo Rinaldi (DK, 2012, $18.95)

Veggie Sloppy Joes

This is the vegetarian answer to sloppy Joes, made with black beans and mushrooms.

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 medium onion, diced

1/2 cup diced carrots

1 cup trimmed and diced mushrooms

1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

1/4 teaspoon paprika

3 cups canned black beans, drained and rinsed

1 cup prepared tomato sauce

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon maple syrup

Salt and pepper

6 whole-wheat hamburger buns

1/2 cup shredded cheddar or Monterey jack cheese

Directions:

Heat olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add onion and carrots and saute until they begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Add mushrooms, cumin, and paprika. Stir everything together and allow mushrooms to soften, 2 to 3 minutes.

Add beans, tomato sauce, vinegar, mustard and syrup, and allow to simmer and thicken for about 15 minutes. Taste and add salt and pepper if you like.

Toast hamburger buns (to make Joes a bit less sloppy). Spoon a generous amount of bean mixture onto the bottom half of each bun and sprinkle with a good pinch of shredded cheese. Put hamburger lid on top and serve.

Serves 6.

— “How to Feed a Family” by Laura Keogh &Ceri Marsh (Random House, Sept. 2013, $27.95)

——

OPEN-FACE SLOPPY JOES WITH CRISPY SLAW

This is a fairly traditional recipe that’s a little on the sweet side until you add the Crispy Slaw.

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 tablespoon salted butter

1 cup chopped yellow onion (about 1/2 onion)

1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper (about 1/2 pepper)

12 ounces lean ground beef

2 cups tomato sauce

1/4 cup ketchup

1 to 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

4 small hamburger buns, toasted and buttered

Crispy Slaw (recipe follows)

Directions:

Warm oil and butter in a 10- or 12-inch cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onions and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Add bell pepper and ground beef, stirring to crumble and brown the meat. Add tomato sauce, ketchup and Worcestershire sauce and simmer for 15 minutes.

Place a toasted bun, open face, buttered side up, on each plate, and spoon the meat mixture over top. Spoon crispy slaw on top or serve alongside the sloppy Joes.

Makes 4 servings.

— “Cast Iron Skillet Cookbook” by Sharon Kramis and Jule Kramis Hearne (Sasquatch, 2013, $)19.95

CRISPY SLAW

1/2 head green cabbage, finely sliced

1/4 cup white wine vinegar

3 tablespoons mayonnaise

1 tablespoon sugar

2 large carrots, peeled and grated

1/4 cup red bell pepper, seeds and ribs removed and cut into thin strips

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

Place cabbage in a large bowl. Cover with cold water and 8 to 10 ice cubes. Let crisp for 15 minutes. Make dressing by mixing vinegar, mayonnaise and sugar together. Drain cabbage in colander. Transfer to a serving bowl, add carrots and bell pepper and gently toss with dressing to coat. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.

Makes 4 to 6 servings.

— “Cast Iron Skillet Cookbook” by Sharon Kramis and Jule Kramis Hearne

——

VENISON SLOPPY JOES

This recipe is extremely rich, but a great way to introduce your family to eating game. You can find venison at Strip District Meats ($7.99 and up, depending on the cut) as well as at Giant Eagle Market District stores. I cut up loin chops.

3 tablespoons olive oil

4 pounds venison meat from the leg, shoulder, and/or shank, cut into 1-inch cubes

Kosher salt

2 cups small-diced red onion

4 garlic cloves, minced

1 tablespoon chipotle powder

2 teaspoons cayenne pepper

2 teaspoons smoked paprika

2 teaspoons cumin seeds, toasted and ground

2 teaspoons coriander seeds, toasted and ground

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground allspice

2 tablespoons tomato paste

750-milliliter bottle dry red wine

6 tablespoons sherry vinegar

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

2 tablespoons sriracha sauce

1/2 cup packed light brown sugar

24-ounce can crushed San Marzano tomatoes, with their juice

1/4 cup chopped fresh oregano

1 tablespoon granulated sugar

10 to 12 soft buns

Directions:

Put a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil to the pot and let it get hot. Pat the venison meat dry and season liberally with salt. Begin browning the meat, about 2 minutes per side. You may need to do this in batches so as not to crowd the pot. When browned on all sides, remove the meat from the pot with a slotted spoon and set aside.

Reduce the heat to medium-low, add the onion and garlic along with a pinch of salt, and cook for 2 minutes. Add the chipotle powder, cayenne, paprika, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, and allspice and cook for 2 minutes. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes.

Add the red wine, being sure to scrape up the browned bits on the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon. Once it has reduced by half, about 5 minutes, add the vinegar, Dijon, sriracha, and brown sugar and simmer until the sugar is dissolved, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes and their juice and bring to a simmer.

Return the meat to the pot and add the oregano and granulated sugar and simmer until the meat is tender, 3 to 4 hours. If the sauce still is a little loose, continue simmering until it reaches optimum sloppy-Joe consistency! Serve on buns.

Serves 10 to 12.

— “Carnivore: 120 Recipes for Meat Lovers” by Michael Symon (Clarkson Potter, 2012, $35)

——

©2014 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Visit the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette at www.post-gazette.com

Distributed by MCT Information Services

———

PHOTOS (from MCT Photo Service, 202-383-6099):

—————

Topics: t000035105,t000171568,t000154742,t000035070,t000035109,t000035107,t000035091,t000035116,t000035108,t000035066,t000037813,t000002705,t000140171,t000002537,t000040350,t000033770,t000040585,t000170797,t000179147,t000035098,t000167143,t000201913,g000362659,g000364554,g000362661,g000066164