Lentil Sloppy Joe's

Over the last year, I have definitely been cooking up a storm in the kitchen. Experimenting with some traditional Indian meals has been my favorite thing. Growing up Indian American, I am used to fusing my diverse cultural, so why not do the same with food.

Pav Bhaji is one of the most popular Indian street foods, but in this recipe, I am replacing the potatoes with lentils. My love for lentils runs deep, so this should come as no surprise. This is a slightly complex recipes so drop in your questions below on comment on the post.

Ingredients

1 1/2 C of Red Lentils (Masoor Dal)

1 C of Grated Carrots

1 C Grated Cabbage

1/2 C of Peas

1 small onion, finely chopped

4 Tbs of Tomato Paste

1 1/2 Tsp of Garam Masala

3-4 Tsp of Pav Bhaji Masala

1 Green Chili Finely Chopped

1 Tsp of Freshly Grated Ginger

1/2 Tsp of Turmeric

1 pinch of Asfoetida

1 Tsp of Cumin Seeds

1 Bay Leaf

Methods

• In an instant pot, add the lentils, carrots, and peas with 3 C of water. Let it pressure cook for 12 minutes. You can release the pressure manually.

• On the stove top, set a fry pan or Kadai at medium heat. Add sesame oil and let it heat for 20-30 seconds. Add the cumin seeds and roast till the color turns darker brown. Add the bay leaf and the asfoetida.

• Add the onions and cook till they are translucent.

• Add the ginger, and the remaining dry spices. Cook for 1-2 minutes.
  

• Add the tomato paste and cabbage, allowing everything to cook down. This will take about 4 mins. Add this mixture to the lentils in the instant pot. Quick Tip: Add a splash of water if the food sticks to the bottom of the pan.

• Turn the instant pot to the saute mode at low heat. Let everything cook down for 10 minutes. This is meant to have a thick consistency so add water as needed. This will also prevent your instant pot from burning.

• You can leave the Instant pot at the "keep warm" setting until you are ready to eat.

• Serve the bhaji with dinner rolls (these are our favorite) or you can make these into Sloppy Joe's! I garnished my Sloppy Joe's with onions, lemon juice, cilantro and cheese. Skip the cheese if you want to keep it vegan.

Notes:

You do not need an Instant pot for this recipe. Soak your lentils in water for 2-4 hours and cook it on the stove top with 3 cups of water for 20-25 minutes. At step 6, you can add everything to a larger pot and cook at medium heat. Once everything is combined you can keep it at a low simmer till it is ready to serve.

Make sure to follow me on Instagram! If you make this recipe, post a picture and use #boredscientistcooks so i can see your recreations!