Not So Sloppy Joes ! Guest post for Bindi and Jeans

Makes 8 sandwiches

I was thrilled when Deepthi of Bindi and Jeans, asked me to write a guest post about  Indian fusion potluck dishes.What a wonderful site Deepthi, Ramya, Shweta and Kuki have created, that is dedicated to women! Women like us, who understand the trials and tribulations of immigrating to a foreign land and making it our home.

I am lucky to live in a multi-cultural town where I have met many such women who have become my friends and my support system. Many years ago we started a beading and crafts group where we would each bring a potluck dish . Pretty soon we realized that we had become an eating group 😉 Our group still continues to meet with a dazzling array of foods from various cultures! It is like the world on a plate!

This is my group of friends who love my Indian and fusion dishes. They encouraged me to start my cooking classes, which I continue teaching to this day. My mother taught cooking classes in India and published two cook books of her own. Based on the solid foundation she gave me in cooking, I feel confident in getting creative with fusion dishes too.

So when I make something for the potluck table, it is an authentic Indian recipe that I make to suit the western palate, like the Malvani Chicken or Murg Saagwala, a fusion recipe where I use ingredients available here like in Fiesta Samosas and Avocado Chutney or introducing the Indian flavors to an American favorite like the Tantalizing Tostada bar or Sloppy Joes.

One common factor in all my cooking is that I strive to make my recipes easy, healthy and delicious.

So here is my recipe and step by step instructions on how to make-Not So Sloppy Joes!

Ingredients-

• 1 teaspoon oil
• 1 pound ground chicken. I used Purdue fresh ground chicken
• 1 medium sized red onion, diced
• 1 medium sized green pepper, diced
•  2 cloves of garlic, diced
• 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
• ½ teaspoon red chili powder(or to taste)
• 1 teaspoon garam masala. I used MDH brand garam masala
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar. I used Trader Joe’s aged balsamic vinegar
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste. I used Trader Joe’s Italian, double concentrated tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 2 cups water or low fat, low sodium, all natural chicken stock
• Sea salt to taste

To serve-

• Bread rolls- I used the Scali crusty rolls with soft chewy insides.
• Butter and/or olive oil to brush the rolls before toasting.
• Pickles of your choice
• Cheese. I used grated sharp cheddar
• Quickly pickled Indian style onions- Mix sliced onion, sea salt and chili powder to taste!

To make Not So Sloppy Joes-

1. Heat the oil over medium heat and add the ground chicken. Stir the ground meat, breaking the lumps, until the meat is browned about 5 to 6 minutes.
2. Add the diced onion, green pepper and garlic and stir until the onion is translucent and the green pepper is roasted, another 6 minutes or so.
3. Turn down the heat to low, add turmeric, chili and garam masala powders and the all-purpose flour. Roast for another minute.
4. Add the brown sugar, balsamic vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste and ketchup. Stir and add the water or stock and the sea salt.
5. Cover and let the mixture cook for about 5 minutes or until the ground chicken is cooked.
6. Butter and toast the bread rolls. Serve with all the fixings!

Notes-

• This is a great do ahead dish that can be served at parties with bread rolls or as sliders with a fixings bar.
• Slow roasting the ground chicken gives this dish a deep flavor.

•  The flavors marry and the chicken ‘kheema’ tastes even better the next day. Refrigerate and reheat the next day.

I hope you all enjoy the recipes and are waiting for that next potluck to make an Indian or Indian fusion dish! Do let me know about the oohs and aahs you get 🙂

Love,

Sandhya