Description
A delicious and hearty vegan twist on the classic sloppy joes, using cauliflower as a nutritious and plant-based ground meat substitute, simmered in a flavorful tomato sauce and served on gluten-free buns. Perfect for a quick and healthy weeknight meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables & Aromatics
- 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons fresh garlic, minced
- 1/2 green pepper, diced
- 1/4 large onion, diced (plus additional for garnish, optional)
- 4 cups cauliflower, chopped into small pieces (about 1 pound)
Sauce & Seasonings
- 3/4 cup tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup reduced-sodium vegetable broth
- 1 tablespoon + 2 teaspoons coconut sugar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon gluten-free Worcestershire sauce (vegan option if desired)
- 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon yellow mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (omit if you don’t like spice)
- Generous pinch of black pepper
To Serve
- Chopped parsley (for garnish, optional)
- 4 gluten-free buns
Instructions
- Heat oil: Heat the extra-virgin olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat until hot and shimmering, preparing the pan for the aromatics.
- Sauté vegetables: Add minced garlic, diced green pepper, and diced onion to the pan, cooking for about 2-3 minutes or until they are lightly golden brown and fragrant.
- Cook cauliflower: Add the small chopped cauliflower pieces to the pan. Cook while stirring frequently for 2 minutes until slightly softened but still retaining some texture.
- Combine ingredients: Stir in tomato sauce, vegetable broth, coconut sugar, tomato paste, gluten-free Worcestershire sauce, red wine vinegar, chili powder, salt, yellow mustard, red pepper flakes, and black pepper. Mix well, breaking down the tomato paste into the sauce evenly so all flavors meld.
- Simmer: Increase heat to high and bring the mixture to a rapid boil. Then reduce heat to medium and let it simmer, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid evaporates and the mixture thickens but remains saucy and moist, about 10 minutes.
- Assemble: Spoon the cauliflower sloppy joe mixture evenly onto gluten-free buns. Garnish with chopped parsley and additional diced onion if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Use vegan Worcestershire sauce to keep the dish fully plant-based.
- Adjust the red pepper flakes according to your spice preference or omit altogether for a milder flavor.
- Chop cauliflower finely to mimic the texture of ground meat for the best sloppy joe experience.
- Serve with a side salad or your favorite steamed veggies for a balanced meal.
- Can be made ahead and reheated gently on the stovetop; add a splash of vegetable broth if mixture thickens too much.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: vegan sloppy joes, cauliflower recipes, gluten-free, plant-based sloppy joes, easy vegan dinner, healthy sloppy joes
