Almost Meatless Sloppy Joes

This is my adaptation of a Cooking Light recipe that follows my approach to healthy eating to a "T". Meat is too delicious for me to become a vegetarian but I am trying to eat way more vegetables than meat. This recipe delivers on that and tastes fantastic. I bet you'll never miss the additional meat! Note: when I made it I doubled the recipe (makes great leftovers) and used 1 can of vegetarian baked beans (for a nice sweetness, this was the can I mashed) and 1 can of kidney beans, which I left whole. I love making my own burger buns with my bread machine and this recipe is so easy and the results taste terrific: "Whole Wheat Hamburger and Hot Dog Buns (Bread Machine)".

• Ready In: 35 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 2  tablespoons olive oil
• 1⁄2 cup  white onion, finely chopped
• 1  tablespoon garlic, minced
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄4 ground black pepper
• 6  ounces  ground sirloin
• 1⁄2 cup  grated carrot
• 2  teaspoons chili powder
• 1  teaspoon brown sugar
• 1⁄2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1⁄4 teaspoon  ground red pepper
• 2  cups  canned crushed tomatoes
• 1 (15 1/2ounce) can  low-sodium  red beans, rinsed, drained, and divided
• 4  whole-wheat  sandwich buns, split and toasted
• 4  red onions, slices 1/4-inch thick, separated into rings

Directions

1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, garlic, salt, black pepper, and beef to pan; cook 5 minutes or until meat is browned and vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally to crumble beef.
2. Add carrot, chili powder, sugar, oregano, and red pepper; cook 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in tomatoes; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium; cook 10 minutes or until thickened and carrot is tender, stirring occasionally.
3. Partially mash 1 cup beans with a fork or potato masher. Add mashed beans and remaining whole beans to pan; cook 1 minute or until thoroughly heated. Spoon 1 c bean mixture onto bottom half of each roll; top each serving with 1 red onion slice and top half of roll.