Slopppy Joes

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Re-Making an American Tradition: Sloppy Joes and Loose Meat Sandwiches

In the U.S., sloppy joes are usually hot sandwiches, comprised of ground

beef. It's cooked in a skillet with highly seasoned tomato sauce or tomato

paste

and spread over a bun. Commercially made sauces, such as Manwich, are also

available. Similar sandwiches may be filled with shredded beef, pork, or

chicken

in barbecue sauce.

It may also be served " open face, " with the bun halves or slices of bread

next to each other and the meat on top of each. The term " sloppy " comes from

the

fact that eating it as if it were a normal sandwich often results in the

meat and sauce spilling out.

In the Midwestern region of the United States, particularly in the state of

Iowa, a variant known as the " loose meat sandwich, " or a " Maid-Rite " is

found.

This version of the sandwich is made with only seasoned ground beef, and

does not include a tomato-based sauce. According to The Encyclopedia of

American

Food & Drink, it was created in 1934 at Ye Olde Tavern Inn by Abraham and

Bertha Kaled. 's Maid-Rite has their own history of the sandwich

listed at their site.

Some of you might remember that ABC's Roseanne show made these more popular

when The Conner Family opened their own diner where they served " loose-meat "

sandwiches.

In parts of New Jersey, sloppy joe refers to a completely different type of

sandwich. There are a handful of variations depending on the deli, but it

will

always include some sort of deli meat (turkey, ham, roast beef, etc), swiss

cheese, cole slaw, and russian dressing on rye bread. Legend has it, the

sandwich

was named after " Sloppy Joe's Bar " in Havana, Cuba. This is where

Sweeney, the mayor of Maplewood, first discovered a similar sandwich in 1934

and

created a new version which found its way onto the menu at the " Town Hall

Deli " in South Orange.

Where did the name come from? There seems to be quite a bit of debate about

that. During the Great Depression, and shortly thereafter, ground beef

gained

popularity in America because it was both economical and nourishing. Recipes

for hamburger steaks (aka hamburgers) were included in many popular American

cookbooks. Cooks often added inexpensive fillers (bread crumbs, ketchup,

tomato paste, etc.) to stretch the meat. This ground beef mixture was then

fashioned

into meatballs, meat loaves, hamburger stew, and loose meat sandwiches.

The origins of this dish are unknown, but recipes for the dish date back at

least to the 1940s. It dates in print to 1935. There is probably no Joe

after

whom it is named - but its rather messy appearance and tendency to drip.

No matter what its history, or what the details are, Sloppy Joes remain an

American Comfort-Food standard that low carb dieters clearly miss. It's an

often

requested recipe at Low Carb Luxury, and after experimenting with a lot of

variations, here's our favorite mix for the classic sandwich...

Low Carb Sloppy Joes

Sloppy Joe

List of 13 items

.. 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef

.. 1 small onion, chopped

.. 1 green bell pepper, chopped fine

.. 1 cup Heinz One-Carb Ketchup

.. 1/3 cup beef broth *

.. 2 cloves garlic, minced

.. 1 tablespoon chili powder

.. 1 teaspoon paprika

.. 1 teaspoon ground cumin

.. 1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar

.. 3 tablespoons Splenda granular

.. 1 teaspoon dried oregano

.. 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

list end

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, saute the ground beef for 5

minutes. Add the onion and green bell pepper; saute for 5 more minutes, or

until onion

is tender. Drain any fat.

Mix in Heinz One-Carb Ketchup and beef broth, stirring until well-mixed.

Stir in garlic, chili powder, paprika, cumin, vinegar, Splenda, oregano and

pepper.

Continue to heat for 5 to 10 minutes, or until mixture is thick and stewy.

Serve over lettuce cups, or over low carb bread/buns as desired.

* There's also a variation where instead of beef broth, you use Diet Cola

(only Splenda sweetened like Diet Rite or Pepsi One, etc.) Cut the Splenda

in

the recipe to 1 Tablespoon if you use the cola. It's different, but still

quite delicious.

Low Carb Loose Meat Sandwiches

Loose Meat Sandwich

List of 7 items

.. 1 pound ground beef

.. 1/4 teaspoon salt

.. dash ground black pepper

.. yellow mustard

.. minced onion

.. dill pickle slices

.. low carb bread/buns for 4

list end

Brown ground beef in a large skillet over medium-low heat. As the meat cooks

use a wooden spoon (or a potato masher) to chop the meat into fine,

rice-size

pieces. Drain fat.

Add salt and pepper and continue to stir over low heat for 5 more minutes.

Build each sandwich by pressing the hot ground beef into a 1/2 cup measuring

cup. Dump the meat onto the bottom of a low carb hamburger bun. Add mustard

on the top bun, along with pickles and minced onion if desired. Top off the

sandwich, then heat it up in your microwave oven for 10 seconds to warm the

buns. Serve with a spoon.

Copyright © April 2006 Low Carb Luxury

http://www.lowcarbluxury.com/magazine/lclnewsvol07-no4-pg6.html