So here’s what I’ve concluded about trying to eat healthy: it sucks. You know what I like more than most healthy food? Cookies. Candy. Dishes with cream sauce. Fried food. Sides of french fries.
Alas, when you hit your mid 30s, your body basically becomes as angry about your regular habits as your credit score, and about as hard to restore to a decent condition. So in the interest of compromise, I try to find feeble substitutes for classics that still sound decent, which is why a healthy version of a sloppy Joe sounded intriguing.
Cut to: this recipe, which is allegedly healthy because it has “less beef” and fills in what’s missing with some beans. Here’s the thing: if you’re looking for heart-healthy stuff, GROUND BEEF AIN’T IT. However, how could I turn away from a classic, even though the last time I tried to make a sloppy joe, it was a bit of a shitshow?
Answer: ground turkey, which is apparently the solution to everything if you’re looking for an alternative to red meat and also turns this sandwich from a sloppy joe to a sloppy…jane. Because obviously, if it won’t put you on the brink of heart disease, it’s for girls.
Considering the recipe entails slathering the meat in sauces and adding black beans, I figured it could still be flavorful and tasty even though it’s not beef.
And I was right!
Is this recipe actually healthy? Who fucking knows? I tried to use low-sodium versions of everything. I swapped in turkey. I probably used slightly smaller amount of beans than the recipe called for because they weren’t low-sodium and I used a little more turkey. than the original recipe called for. Here’s what I know: it’s better for my heart than going to Taco Azul, ordering enchiladas absolutely smothered in sauce, and drinking two of the best margaritas I’ve ever had.
Of course, I couldn’t resist adding some sliced avocado on top because they were staring at me judgmentally from my counter and letting me know that the five second window where they were ripe and not rotten was quickly passing. They are optional, but definitely added some contrast in flavor to the otherwise savory sandwich.
Do you have a favorite healthy recipe that actually manages to be flavorful and filling? Hit me with ’em in the comments.
Turkey & Black Bean Sloppy Janes
Is this recipe actually healthy? Who fucking knows?
Ingredients
- 1 TBSP extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 lb (16 oz) ground turkey
- 1.5 C no-salt-added black beans, rinsed (this is most of 1 standard can of black beans)
- 1 large onion, diced (amounted to a cup or so)
- 2 tsp chili pwder
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- Pinch of cayenne pepper
- 1 C no-salt-added tomato sauce
- 3 TBSP no-salt-added ketchup
- 1 TBSP reduced-sodium Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tsp spicy brown mustard
- 1 tsp light brown sugar
- 5-6 hamburger buns (preferably whole wheat), split and toasted
- 3 ripe avocados, cut into slices (optional)
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add turkey and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until lightly browned and cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes.
- Using a slotted spoon, transfer the turkey to a medium paper-towel lined bowl
- Add beans and onion to the pan; cook, stirring often, until the onion is softened, about 5 minutes.
- Add chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder and cayenne; cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Stir in tomato sauce, ketchup, Worcestershire, mustard and brown sugar.
- Return the turkey to the pan. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring often, until the meat is thoroughly coated and the sauce has thickened slightly, between 5-10 minutes. At some point in this process, stick the buns in the toaster or the broiler if your toaster doesn’t fit hamburger buns.
- Serve on buns, topped with sliced avocado.
Notes
Serve these with a side of your choice! Ours should have been salad but I was tired and forgot.
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