Sloppy Bombay Joes

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Try these wonderful Sloppy Bombay Joes from Aarti Sequeira for a great spin on the classic Sloppy Joe. Step away from the canned sauce and give these homemade sloppy joes a try! This delicious sloppy joe recipe is such a simple recipe and so inexpensive to make, a budget-friendly family dinner. If you have some ground turkey in the freezer and need an easy meal idea, this is a must-try.

This is weeknight comfort food at its finest. This recipe creates a wonderful homemade sauce that is not only tangy and flavorful but also very quick and easy to prepare. They’re truly the best version of a childhood favorite! Once you make this amazing homemade Sloppy Bombay Joe recipe, you will not go back to store bought sauce, high in fructose.

Aarti Sequeira proved she could seamlessly fuse Indian flavors into any dish when she won The Next Food Network Star. And on her show, Aarti Party, she revealed her Sloppy Bombay Joe recipe which incorporates warm spices into this classic American dish. Served messy on purpose, over hamburger buns. It’s a mess. Intentionally so. Even though it’s in a bun, it must be eaten with a fork.

Yummy, scrumptious comfort food…to the max! Traditionally, a sloppy joe is a sandwich consisting of ground meat, onions, tomato sauce or ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and other seasonings, served on a toasted hamburger bun. The dish originated in the United States during the early 20th century. Wikipedia

Serve these Sloppy Bombay Joes with Quick Southern-Style Baked Beans from Pioneer Woman, String Bean and Potato Salad or Broccoli Salad.

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Sloppy Bombay Joes

Try these wonderful Sloppy Bombay Joes from Aarti Sequeira for a great Indian spin on the classic Sloppy Joe.

Ingredients

Units Scale

Sauce

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon minced ginger
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 serrano chile, seeded and finely minced (save the other half for the turkey)
  • 1 teaspoon garam masala
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
  • 1 cup water

Turkey

  • 3 to 4 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • Small handful shelled pistachios, about 1/4 cup
  • Small handful raisins, about 1/4 cup
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 1/2 large white onion, finely diced
  • 1 red bell pepper, seeds and membrane removed, finely diced
  • 1/2 serrano chile, seeds intact (don’t chop it up unless you like things spicy!)
  • Kosher salt
  • 1 pound ground turkey
  • 1/2 teaspoon honey
  • 1/4 cup half-and-half
  • Small handful chopped fresh cilantro (soft stems included)
  • 4 to 6 hamburger buns

Instructions

  1. Begin by making the sauce: Warm the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat, until it shimmers. Add the ginger, garlic and serrano pepper. Saute until the ginger and garlic brown a little. Add the garam masala and paprika and saute for 30 seconds. Stir in the tomato sauce and water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, until thickened, about 15 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile for the turkey, in large skillet, warm 2 tablespoons of oil. When shimmering, add the pistachios and raisins. Cook until the raisins swell up and the pistachios toast slightly. Remove from the pan and set aside.
  3. Return the pan to medium heat, add 1 to 2 more tablespoons of oil, and warm until shimmering. Add the cumin seeds and allow them to sizzle for about 10 seconds, or until some of the sizzling subsides. Stir in the onions and bell pepper; saute until softened and starting to brown. Add the serrano pepper. Saute for another couple of minutes, seasoning with a little salt. Stir in the turkey, breaking up the big lumps. Cook until opaque, about 5 minutes.
  4. Meanwhile, your sauce should be ready. Pour the sauce into the skillet with the turkey. Stir and bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer until the mixture has thickened slightly, about 10 minutes.
  5. Once the turkey is cooked and the sauce has thickened a little, remove the serrano pepper (unless you want to eat it whole, like my Dad does!). Add the honey, half-and-half, pistachios and raisins. Stir through and taste for seasoning. Before serving, garnish with fresh cilantro.
  6. Toast the buns, fill with the turkey mixture and serve. Eat with your hands and enjoy!

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 6
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