It is getting harder and harder to prepare low-cost and nutritious meals for our families for less than $5 or even $10. That is why I am excited to have created this easy recipe that everyone in the family loves. The best part? It takes less than 15 minutes to prepare and uses exactly two ingredients, not counting water, plus the buns or rolls to put the mixture on.
This recipe is so cheap, that you can add a side salad or vegetables and still come in under the $5. It fed my family of five, including two members of the family with larger appetites. My pickiest eater in the family thought it was yummy and finished the Sloppy Joe happily.
The main ingredient that makes this meal so inexpensive is TVP, or texturized vegetable protein. It is a nutritious protein that is derived from plants, usually soy. It is important to make sure that you select good TVP, preferably one than is non-GMO (not genetically modified) and is not processed with harmful chemicals. A health food store should be able to steer you in the right direction. A medium-sized bag of even good TVP will cost you less than $2, and can be used to make several meals.
On to the recipe.
Sloppy Joes with TVP
Depending on the size of your rolls and how much you want to stuff them, this recipe will make 6-8 Sloppy Joes.
1 can Sloppy Joe Sauce
1 cup TVP granules, dry
1/2 cup of water
Rolls or buns
Empty the Sloppy Joe sauce into a saucepan and being heating on medium low heat. Add in the 1/2 cup of water and the 1 cup of TVP. Stir.
Continue heating and stirring occasionally until the mixture starts to simmer. Simmer for 5-10 minutes until the TVP absorbs some of the liquid and expands, and the sauce is heated thoroughly. Serve on rolls or buns. Enjoy.