If you like Sloppy Joe, why not try a different take?
The juicy savory taste of a Sloppy Joe is addictive, but sometimes prefer to skip the bun. So, if you are looking for a dish that is a tad lower on carbs or just want to try something different, this is for you. A Sloppy Joe is basically umami and sugar, and mushrooms are great for umami as well – so why not combine them?
Ingredients
- 500 gr ground beef [1lb] (preferably from a fatty cut)
- 8 big portobello mushrooms
- ⅔ cup hickory barbecue sauce ( I love Hunt's or HP)
- ⅓ cup ketchup
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 4 cloves of garlic, minced
- tabasco/ other red hot sauce (optional – use your favorite)
- canola oil
- crushed roasted cashews / panko (optional)
- salt
Instructions
The Mushrooms
- Wash the mushrooms and gently take the stems out.
- Place them in an oven sheet with baking paper tops facing up and bake in an oven preheated to 180°C (360°F) for 20 minutes until they lose significant amounts of liquid.
- Take the mushrooms out and pat them dry with a paper towel. Arrange them on a dry oven sheet with baking paper with gills facing up.
Sloppy Sauce
- While the mushrooms are in the oven, combine the barbecue, ketchup, soy, and hot sauce if using in a bowl until homogenous.
Prepare the Meat
- Sauté the garlic in a small pan or saucepan over low heat for a minute, until fragrance turns from spicy to sweet.
- Heat a bit of canola oil in a different pan on high heat and cook the beef. Salt the beef generously. Use a spatula or a spoon to separate the meat into the smallest pieces you can. If water starts to pull use a spoon to take them out of the pan.
- Cook the meat until it's well-done and brown a bit for an extra umami flavor.
- Lower the heat and add the garlic and the sloppy sauce and combine. Let the sauce boil for a few minutes to lose excess liquids.
Finish the Dish
- Place the Sloppy meat on the mushrooms, creating a little mound on each.
- For crispiness, sprinkle the crushed roasted cashew or panko on top of the mushrooms.
- Place in an oven preheated to 180°C(360°F) for 7 minutes if all ingredients are still warm and 10-15 minutes if not.
Notes
For a classic Sloppy Joe, you can use the meat recipe here and place it on a fresh burger bun with lettuce and pickled cucumbers. Serve with mayonnaise.
