Oct 02, 2013 Like, for example, Charleston Chews. They hold some magical appeal from my childhood – I have no idea what they taste like, and I haven’t had one since I was little, but I really want one. I have been craving sloppy joes for about two years, and finally got around to scratching the itch. The thing is, I didn’t really know what a sloppy joe was – I just had a flimsy memory flitting around in my brain from some time when I ate one and it made me really happy. I knew they were… sloppy. And I remembered a sticky tomato sauce. So if you’re looking for a classic joe, stop right here. (Or keep reading, maybe I hit the nail on the head). I didn’t consult cookbooks or other blogs before I tugged my apron strings around my waist – I just went by personal taste. So I don’t actually know (or care) how close I got to the original. But it doesn’t matter, because these are really yummy in their own right. Ground beef is browned with onions, garlic and ginger before being simmered in a thick tomato sauce with cider vinegar, brown sugar, a hint of cumin and a kick of cayenne. The result is tangy, spicy, sweet, and abundantly sloppy. Grated carrot and finely chopped celery round out the sauce with a bit of undetectable veggie. I would have added zucchini if I had it on hand, too – about 1/2 a medium zucchini, grated, would have been perfect. I bought the softest, pillowy rolls I was able to find to stuff with the saucy ground beef. Note that over-filling is a mandatory part of this experience. Pass the extra napkins, please!
Ingredients
2 tbsp olive oil, divided 1 onion, finely chopped 2 stalks celery, finely chopped 1 carrot, grated 2″ piece ginger, minced 3 cloves garlic, minced 2 lbs lean ground beef 1 1/2 cups ketchup 1/4 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup tomato paste 1/4 cup cider vinegar 1/4 cup soy sauce 1-2 tsp cayenne (start with less and add more to taste) 1 tsp ground cumin 1/4 tsp ground cloves soft rolls, for serving
Preparation
