Suck it, Manwich!

This is a recipe I make 2 or 3 times a year when we’re craving something old school for dinner. My generation grew up eating Manwich Sloppy Joes or Sloppy Joes from the school cafeteria, which as kids we probably thought were great, but who says they can’t be a bit more refined? And why is it called a MANwich?  How sexist!

This recipe from the October 2007 issue of Gourmet (R.I.P.) shows that they CAN be sophisticated and delicious, without using processed sauce.  I like to add a little bit of shredded cheese, too. We had these open faced with some oven baked sweet potato fries.

Sophisto Joes

Serves 4

Active Time: 25 minutes

Start to Finish: 35 minutes

These are the Jay Gatsbys of sloppy joes – suave, debonaire. But we’d be remiss if we let the black-tie frippery of these cosmopolitan joes belie their true nature: Just as with Fitzgerald’s famous hero, there’s substance underneath all that class. These civilized sandwiches are hearty, delicious, and perfect for a weeknight dinner.

1 14.5 ounce can whole tomatoes in juice, drained

1 large onion, chopped

4 garlic cloves, finely chopped

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 medium carrot, finely chopped

1.5 lbs ground beef chuck

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 teaspoon ground cumin

½ cup dry red wine

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

1.5 tablespoons packed brown sugar

4 kaiser rolls, split

1.                  Puree tomatoes in a blender

2.                  Cook onion and garlic in butter in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until onion begins to brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Add carrot, celery, and ½ teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are softened, 4 to 5 minutes.

3.                  Add beef and brown, stirring to break up lumps, 5 to 6 minutes. Add chili powder, cumin, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¾ teaspoon pepper and cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Add pureed tomatoes, wine, Worcestershire sauce, and brown sugar and boil, stirring occasionally, until sauce has thickened, about 6 minutes. Season with salt and sandwich inside rolls.



I dare you to not sing the Lunch Lady song by Adam Sandler!
Sloppy Joe, Slop, Slop-py Joe.....