Sloppy Joe stuffed Zucchini

Sloppy Joe - is that a regional thing?

Have you ever heard of a “Sloppy Joe” Sandwich?

It’s a funny thing, I was reminiscing about childhood favorites, when my husband asked - you know I could go for a Sloppy Joe. I thought hum, we must be married for 25-years, thinking the same thoughts, grin.

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Why Sloppy Joe stuffed Zucchini?

So, when my husband asked for a Sloppy Joe for dinner, my first thought was - how can I recreate this old classic with ingredients on hand? I knew I had a zucchini that I have been lugging back and forth from camp for a few weeks now, yes it was on its way out, grin. I knew I had ground turkey in the refrigerator - and that’s how it all began.

What’s a Sloppy Joe you ask?

If you have never heard of the old classic “Sloppy Joe” Sandwich, there is a famous sauce named “Manwich” introduced by Hunt’s in 1969, a unique barbecue tomato sauce in a can. We grew up on it. It was a simple meal, that fed a crowd and inexpensive. You browned hamburger, mixed in the Manwich and served on a hamburger bun. Yum! It’s been a few years since we enjoyed one. Let’s say 10 or so, who’s counting, smile.

A “remix” on the Classic Sloppy Joe.

I believe ingredients are like a good song, smooth and savory, don’t you? This remix of the classic came out surprisingly tasty! I recommend you trying. By swapping the bun with zucchini, I am now dreaming of fresh zucchini from the garden in a few months. Looking forward to several zucchini recipes, zucchini is such a versatile veg, you can sauté it, salad it (is that a thing? who knows, grin), pickle it, relish it, you get the point.

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Okay, let’s do this - a Must Try, Absolutely Delicious, Sweet & Savory BBQ style Sloppy Joe stuffed Zucchini.

Sloppy Joe stuffed Zucchini

Sloppy Joe stuff Zucchini - picture by Wendy Henry

Serves 2 (just double or triple recipe for a crowd)

Ingredients for Sloppy Joe

1/2-pound ground Turkey (I used Aldi’s 93% lean - 7% fat, Kirkwood All Natural)

1/4 red onion diced

1/4 red or yellow pepper (I had yellow on hand)

1 clove of garlic sliced

1/2 diced tomato (I had a leftover beefsteak)

1/2 cup of catchup

1/4 cup of brown sugar

1 tablespoon Red Hot, hot sauce

1 tablespoon yellow mustard

1 teaspoon low sodium soy sauce

1 tablespoon olive oil for sautéing

1/4 cup of water (hold unless you need it)

2 tablespoons of grated Romano Cheese for top

1 zucchini

Directions

Sloppy Joe Sauce

Begin by sautéing your onion, pepper and turkey until turkey is browned and veggies are soft, about 5-7-minutes. Add the sliced garlic to the turkey mixture, cook just 1-minute longer, don’t burn. Then finish by adding the tomato, catchup, brown sugar, hot sauce, mustard, and soy sauce, simmer on low to thicken - if the sauce appears to thick and to sticky add 1/4 cup of water to loosen and more if needed. You want a thick barbecue sauce constancy.

Sloppy Joe Sauce - picture by Wendy Henry

Stuffing Zucchini’s

Slice your zucchini in half, remove the seeds with a spoon (scoop them out leaving a tunnel in your zucchini) - try not to get too close to the outer skin. Stuff your zucchini with the Sloppy Joe mixture and top with grated Romano Cheese. Bake at 375 degrees for 25-minutes, or until your zucchini is fork tender. Delicious!

Penny for your thoughts…

I believe when we let go and let God, new and wonderful moments happen.

God bless you and yours, until we meet again.

Enjoy,

Wendy.