Sloppy Joes

Nothing says comfort food like Sloppy Joes. Why not make it healthier by substituting lean ground buffalo for the beef and serving it on homemade sourdough rolls? Grass-fed buffalo is higher in Omega-3s (an essential fatty acid) than grain-fed cattle, balancing your Omega-6s. Unbalanced levels of Omega-6s may lead to heart disease, inflammatory diseases, obesity, diabetes, cancer, and behavioral disorders. Sourdough rolls make a better alternative to white hamburger buns since the acid in the starter lowers the glycemic index rating. Some day, when I am feeling particularly ambitious, I will post a sourdough recipe.

For this dish, use a jalapeno if you like things spicy. To mellow your joe, choose a poblano or a green bell pepper instead. We like to grind our own spices, but you may use a pinch each of ground clove, allspice and black pepper. We served them with Molly Wizenberg's pickled carrots (pictured above). The combination was pure ecstasy.

Serves 2-4, depending on how sloppy you like your joe

1 teaspoon olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 jalapeno, finely chopped
1/2 pound ground buffalo
1 clove
5 allspice berries
1 teaspoon black peppercorns
1 tablespoon ground dried chili
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon mustard (we made our own - recipe to come)
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
3 roma tomatoes, cored and pureed in a blender
Salt and black pepper, to taste
2-4 sourdough or hamburger buns, split horizontally

1. Grind clove, allspice berries, and black peppercorns. Reserve.
2. In a heavy-bottomed skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Stir in onion, garlic, and jalapeno. Cook, stirring often, for 2-3 minutes or until vegetables begin to soften.
3. Add meat, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook, stirring often, for 5-7 minutes or until meat is browned.
4. Add ground clove, allspice, pepper, and dried ground chili. Stir.
5. Add honey, mustard, vinegar, and tomato puree. Stir well. Bring liquids to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer, and cook for 15 minutes, stirring often.
6. Taste for seasoning. Add more salt and pepper, if you like.
7. Distribute filling amongst buns.