Sloppy Buffalo Beans

This is a Sloppy Joe variation and a little spicy. If your family isn’t a fan of heat, use less hot sauce or a milder sauce in its place.

SOY-FREE OPTION*, OIL-FREE OPTION**, GLUTEN-FREE OPTION***

TOTAL PREP TIME: 20 minutes

TOTAL COOKING TIME: 10 to 15 minutes

YIELD: 4 servings

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/2 cup (115 g) unsweetened vegan yogurt (*use soy-free)
• 3 tablespoons vegan mayonnaise (*use soy-free or **use oil-free mayo substitute)
• Juice of 1/2 lemon
• 1 teaspoon agave
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder or 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 3 cups (531 g) cooked kidney beans or 2 cans (15 ounces, or 425 g each), rinsed and drained
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup (60 to 120 ml) cayenne pepper sauce or Buffalo hot sauce
• 2 tablespoons (32 g) tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup (115 g) vegan sour cream *or Cashew Cream
• 4 whole wheat buns, lightly toasted (***use gluten-free)
• Minced carrot and celery, for serving

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. In a bowl, mix together the unsweetened vegan yogurt, vegan mayonnaise, lemon juice, agave, garlic powder or minced garlic, thyme, salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and onion powder to make the ranch dressing. Store the dressing in the fridge until ready to serve.
2. In a saucepan, combine the kidney beans, cayenne pepper sauce or Buffalo hot sauce, tomato paste, thyme, liquid smoke, and minced garlic. Cook over medium heat until the garlic mellows, approximately 5 to 10 minutes. Stir in the vegan sour cream and heat thoroughly.
3. Serve the kidney bean mixture over the lightly toasted whole wheat buns, open-face style. Top with minced carrot and celery.
4. Drizzle the ranch dressing over the open-face sandwiches. Alternatively, if serving as regular sandwiches, spread the kidney bean mixture on the buns, add the carrot and celery mixture, and drizzle with the ranch dressing.
5. Enjoy the sandwiches while they’re still warm!

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION:

PER SERVING:

• 519.9 calories; 12.0 g total fat; 2.5 g saturated fat; 22.9 g protein; 81.5 g carbohydrate; 16.6 g dietary fiber; 0 mg cholesterol.

FANCY BEAN SUBSTITUTES:

• Vaquero, Borlotti