Combine one cup of cashew milk and 1/2 teaspoon vinegar into a small bowl. Slice the onion thin (about 1/2 inch) and to the milk and vinegar mix. While the onions are marinating in the cashew milk, add the cooking flour blend to a bowl. Add the onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper, and mix to combine.
Heat the sunflower oil in a heavy pan or dutch over high heat. Once the oil temps at 375 degrees, you are ready to fry the onions.
Grab a small amount of onions from the milk, shake off the excess moisture, and dredge in the flour blend. Shake off the excess flour and add to the pot of heated oil. Cook until golden brown and the onions float to the surface. Remove from the oil with a spider skimmer spoon onto a paper towel-lined pan. Sprinkle with kosher salt. Repeat until all the onions have been fried. Set onions aside for garnish.
Mise en Place
Measure all the sauce ingredients into prep bowls. Mince the onion, green pepper, and garlic and place into prep bowls.
Cook the Meat and Veggies
In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil on medium-high. Add the ground beef. Cook until done, breaking up the meat as you cook. Remove the meat from the pan, drain off the fat, and transfer to a bowl. Set aside.
Add a tablespoon Earth Balance to the skillet and once melted, add the onion, green pepper, and garlic. Sweat the veggies until soft.
Add the tomato paste, mix with the veggies, and let cook for about 2 minutes. Add the ground beef back to the pan and mix to combine with the veggies.
Make the Meat Sloppy
Add the crushed tomatoes, ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, red wine vinegar, smoked paprika, black pepper, kosher salt, and chili flakes (if using) to the pan and mix to combine.
Add the beef stock, Worcestershire sauce, and fish sauce and cook on medium for 10-15 minutes to thicken and meld the flavors.
Building the Joe
Add a good amount of Sloppy Joe mix to your bun and enjoy! )See the link to our recipe in the ingredients.)
If using frizzled onions, add the Sloppy Joe mix to the bun and top with frizzled onions and enjoy!
Victoria loves to add coleslaw (see the link to her recipe in the ingredients.), dill pickle chips, and frizzled onions. Enjoy!