Sloppy Joes – the mid-week dinner that’s a firm family favourite

Serves: 4
Course: Main Course
Cooking Time: 0 hr 20 mins
Ingredients
  • 1 tsp olive oil
  • 350g minced beef
  • ½ red pepper, finely diced
  • 1 onion,finely diced
  • 1-2 tsp smoked sweet paprika
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp brown sugar or treacle 
  • 1 tsp wholegrain mustard
  • 250ml tomato passata
  • 2 tbsp chia seeds (optional)
  • 4-6 bread rolls
  • To serve: green salad, gherkins, grated cheese (optional)
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1 Heat the oil in a wide heavy-based pan. Add the minced beef and fry for 10 minutes, stirring every so often. Add the onion and pepper, continue to move the mix around the pan so it cooks evenly.

2 Once the onions are soft add the paprika, mustard, Worcestershire sauce and brown sugar. Stir well to combine. Leave to cook for a minute before adding the passata. I usually add a little extra water at this stage when I add the chia seeds. But no need for extra water if you're not using the chia.

3 Stir it all together well and lower the heat to a simmer. Leave to cook for a few minutes while you toast the buns.

4 Toast the buns on the inside only so they don't get soggy. Spoon the Sloppy Joe mix into each bun along with grated cheese, if using, and serve right away.

Lilly Higgins

Lilly Higgins

Lilly Higgins, a contributor to The Irish Times, is a food writer