Last week, I had a taste for Sloppy Joe Sliders.

I had all of the ingredients to pull this off but, no buns. So, I made some. Now, I know you are wondering, ‘just how long did it take me to make those buns?’ Not long at all. I will have to say, it took a little patience but once the dough was kneaded and proofed, it took no time at all.

This recipe makes 8 large sliders or 16 smaller (portioned) sliders

Ingredients for the Buns:

1 cup water

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 cup whole wheat flour (I always use King Arthur Bread Flour)

2 cups bread flour (I always use King Arthur Bread Flour)

1/4 cup sugar (Extra Fine Sugar)

1 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon yeast (fast acting)

Directions:

First heat water (filtered water) to 110 degrees f.
Mix in all dry ingredients
Add oil and water.
Mix until the dough is formed (If I have the time I do this with my hands. If I have little of no time because I have a little one on my hip, I get out the stand mixer and mix with the paddle attachment)
Scrape the dough off of the paddle attachment and let rest 5 minutes. (This is very important)

While the dough is resting, you can start the sloppy joe mix. The recipe follows.

Knead in a stand mixer using the dough hook for 3 minutes
Let rest for 5 minutes (this is also very important)
Knead an additional 3 minutes.
Place dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover and let rise until dough is doubled (about 1 hour). (Make sure your room is at least 68 degrees f. If not, you can proof the dough in an oven between 140 and 180 degrees f.).
Divide dough into 8 or 16  pieces, roll out to flatten each piece and then bring 2 opposite ends together and then bring the other 2 ends together, shaping into a ball.
Place seam side down on a oiled baking sheet (or place on parchment paper lined baking sheet. Do this only if you are cutting back on calories).
Cover with plastic wrap and let buns rise until quite puffy.
Bake in pre-heated 355 f convection oven for about 15 minutes.
Cool on wire rack.

Sloppy Joe’s

Ingredients:

1 lb meatless ground (I always use gardein)

1 onion, diced

1 large carrot, diced

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 jalapeno, minced

1 red pepper, diced

15 oz can no-salt-added tomato sauce

3 tablespoons tomato paste

1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

1 tablespoon molasses

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

2 teaspoon mustard powder

1 1/2 teaspoon salt

Freshly ground black pepper to taste

 Directions:

Heat olive oil in a large skillet or dutch oven, over medium high heat. Add onion and saute for 2-3 minutes. Add carrots, peppers and garlic and saute until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the meatless ground and all of the spices and stir in the rest of the ingredients, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes more. Place a half-cup scoop of the mixture onto each bun and serve. If using smaller buns, scoop 1/4 cup of the mixture onto each bun and serve.

Serve with a side salad. My favorite is the Emerald City Salad.

If you want to make this Sloppy Joe more of a Slider Treat…top with your favorite slaw or mac and no cheese!