SOUTHERN SLOPPY JOE SLIDERS

Southern Sloppy Joe Sliders image

Provided by Damaris Phillips

Time 55m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 16

2 tablespoons coconut oil
1 medium red bell pepper, medium diced
1 medium onion, medium diced
1 1/2 pounds ground beef or ground meat substitute (soy crumbles)
One 6-ounce can tomato paste
1/4 cup bourbon
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons whole-grain mustard
2 tablespoons sorghum syrup
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons liquid smoke
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
3 cloves garlic, chopped
12 slider buns
Unsalted butter, for toasting buns

Steps:

Heat the coconut oil in a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the red peppers and onions and saute until just beginning to turn translucent, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the ground beef, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Saute until browned all the way through, about 5 minutes. (If using ground meat substitute, just heat until warmed through, about 2 minutes.)
In a medium bowl, whisk together the tomato paste, bourbon, soy sauce, cider vinegar, mustard, sorghum, cumin, liquid smoke, red pepper flakes and 1/2 cup water.
Stir the bourbon mixture and the garlic into the skillet. Simmer, covered, for 15 to 20 minutes. Season with more soy sauce as needed.
Toast the slider buns with a little butter in a cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Spoon the sloppy joe mixture onto the buns.