Vegetarian Sloppy Joe

Yes, you read the title accurately.  There is such a thing as a Vegetarian Sloppy Joe.  Before you stop reading let me open by saying that the dish tasted AS GOOD, if not BETTER than any sloppy joe I've had before.  Honestly, you don't "miss the meat."  On to the details.

Vegetarian Sloppy Joe from College Vegetarian Cooking

Ingredients *original recipe was for 12, I halved it*
1 small onion
2 stalks celery
1/2 green bell pepper
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 6-oz can tomato paste
1/2 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon yellow mustard
1 tablespoon firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup textured vegetable protein
2 cups water
Salt & Pepper
Burger buns

I know what you're thinking - what is textured vegetable protein?  I know that's what I thought when I read this!

Textured Vegetable Protein aka TVP is a nutritious soy product made from defatted soy flour that has been dried.  It has all the nutrients and no fat.  Additionally, it's only $2.99 and I got it for free because it was my first time trying it.  One benefit to Whole Foods is that they will allow you to sample things if you mention it being your first time.

I LOVED this dish.  I did sub yellow mustard with spicy mustard and I added cheese.  I used whole wheat buns.  There was a lot of flavor and best of all, it took less than 30 minutes - total.  Additionally, the bf ate it AND gave it an 8 on a scale of 1 to 10.  Let me mention that bf is NOT a vegetarian.  I'm trying to convince my mom to try this one at home, I swear, with the flavors in the recipe - you wouldn't miss the meat! I'm sure this recipe still would be great with meat as well ;-)