Sloppy Joes on Caramelized Onion Sprouted Wheat Bun
Would you believe that in 28 years of cooking and loving food, last week was the first time I ever made Sloppy Joes? If I am going to make a sandwich out of ground beef, my husband would much prefer a hamburger, hence no Joes of any kind, sloppy or otherwise. Growing up in the Midwest, loose meat sandwiches were common, inexpensive, and filling, but not especially memorable (the school cafeteria variety we hope to forget).
This type of food always reminds me of our favorite restaurant in Hannibal, The Frost Top, now known as Mark Twain Dinette, where they served Made-Rites and root beer in a frosted mug. Truth is it was the root beer we loved, the sandwiches were just the ticket to the prize. On a nostalgic whim, I called the restaurant to see if it was still as I remembered, the gal who answered the phone was Missouri-style personable, asking where I lived now, telling me about the menu, wondering if we planned a trip back anytime soon (sometimes I miss that). They celebrated their 70th anniversary this last year and their menu is pretty much the same.
Loose meat sandwiches have been around since before World War II, adding any number of vegetables or sauces to help stretch the meat with hungry mouths to feed. The no-sauce version was dubbed the Made-Rite, adding a ketchup based sauce turned it into Sloppy Joes. If there were ever a sandwich that needed a name, it is this one—no one wants a “loose meat sandwich”.
Nostalgia aside, neither had been created in my kitchen until last week when I noticed the recipe in The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Food From My Frontier. I liked the way she served it on buttered, toasted buns, which is brilliant. I realize they are called sloppy for a reason, but who wants a sauce soaked bun to fall apart in their hand? With Caramelized Onion Sprouted Buns already in my freezer, I was ready to go.
Ree’s Sloppy Joes recipe has a number of ingredients specified to taste, which is exactly what I would expect, as most folks would have an expectation that it taste a certain way. Sweet, spicy, tangy, tomato-y, there is plenty of room for putting an accent on the flavor you like best (I used yellow bell pepper over green). For me, the sweet-savory flavor of Caramelized Onion Buns is a perfect paring with a classic like Sloppy Joes, of course, sprouted wheat being the healthy way to go. 
What about you—are you a fan of old fashioned Sloppy Joes or Made-Rites?
Caramelized onions bring a sweet-savory flavor to these buns that will complement any sandwich.
Ingredients
- 2 large sweet onions -- sliced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 3/4 cups water 110-115°
- 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
- 1/4 cup honey
- 5 cups sprouted whole wheat flour
- 2 tablespoons butter -- melted
- 1 whole egg
- 1 whole egg yolk
- 1 1/4 teaspoons sea salt
- 1 whole egg white -- reserved, lightly beaten
- poppy seeds -- optional
- extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a cast iron skillet over medium heat until oil covers the pan evenly and is hot. Add the sliced onions and stir enough to coat the onions with the oil. Continue to cook onions over medium heat, stirring occasionally until onions begin to brown, about 10 minutes.
- Season with salt and spread onions evenly over bottom of skillet, reduce heat to low. Allow onions to gently caramelize for 30-45 minutes, stirring occasionally to ensure they brown evenly. Onions should be golden brown when done.
- Once done, allow onions to cool, then coarsely chop onions.
- While the onions are cooking:
- Mix the yeast and honey with the water and let yeast soften for 5 minutes. Mix in the butter, egg, egg yolk, salt, and half the flour until smooth. Let dough rest for 20 minutes.
- Mix-in chopped onions, then add enough remaining flour to form a soft dough (up to 5 cups), continue mixing 5-6 minutes in a stand mixer or by hand--dough will be sticky as compared to white flour dough. On a lightly floured surface, with floured hands, lightly knead dough to form a soft ball.
- Oil a bowl with olive oil, place dough in bowl and turn over so that oiled surface is face-up.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and then a towel, and let it rise in a warm spot (above 70°) for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or until nearly doubled in bulk. (The oven, with the oven light ON is a great place to let the dough rise if the room is cool.)
- With oiled hands, punch down dough and divide it into 8 pieces for large buns, or 16 for medium sized buns, on a lightly floured surface (a kitchen scale can be helpful to make sure they are even). Shape each piece into a round, smooth ball, place on a parchment lined baking sheet, and flatten with the palm of the hand to about 3" across (it helps to have oil on your hands when flattening the buns), it is best if the buns touch when flattened. Allow to rise uncovered in a warm place, away from drafts. If a cover is needed, use a lightweight smooth towel or tented aluminum foil, and let rise for about an hour, or until doubled in size. (Because the dough can be a little sticky, avoid using terry cloth or microfiber cloth which can "grab" the top of the dough.)
- Just before placing in the oven, brush the buns gently with the egg white on all exposed sides, sprinkle with poppy seeds.
- Bake the buns in a preheated 375°F oven until golden in color, about 15 to 18. Cool the buns on a wire rack. Slice once completely cooled.
- *Additional Options: For hotdog buns or hoagie rolls, shape the dough into a cylinder using approximately 2.25 ounces of dough per roll (less for smaller rolls). Substitute sesame seeds for poppy seeds, or simply use the egg wash alone.
Notes
If using a kitchen scale, each dough ball will be 2.65 ounces when dividing into buns to yield 16 medium sized buns. The egg wash helps the seeds to stick and give the buns a shiny crust. Brush with melted butter for a soft, matte finish.
Caramelized Onion Sprouted Wheat Buns –Split
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These rolls look delicious and would be perfect for the mess that is a good sloppy Joe.
Thanks, John, it was a delicious mess for sure, but the buns held up!
Your buns are just spectacular!! I love Sloppy Joe’s they’re comfort food and so quick to serve on a weeknight.. I’m going to have to make these buns to go with!
Aw, thanks Barb, I do a happy dance every time I make them. Baking is not my favorite thing, so when a recipe turns out like this, it’s a reason to celebrate.
Holy heck Judy, those buns are fantastic! They look very professional with all the good for you, fresh ingredients of homemade. WOW! I have still never made a Sloppy Joe if you can believe it. Maybe I should give it a go. Definitely, the buns will be on my list of “things to make soon.” Take care.
Thanks so much Geni for your sweet words! Funny how some staples for some folks don’t make into the dinner table of others — sloppy joes was definitely one of those for us too. I think whatever you decide to put on these buns will be a hit. Have a great weekend!
Your bread is stunning!!!! Is that weird to call bread stunning? Well, either way it is, and looks so delicious. Don’t even get me started on the sloppy joe.
Weird? NO! I’ll take it! Thanks so much for such an enthusiastic compliment, made my day.
I haven’t had a sloppy joe in so darn long. And now you’re making me want to go home and make this immediately
. However I must ask.. where is the cole slaw recipe? Girl that cole slaw is calling me too lol. Seriously 
Ha! You are funny, and very perceptive — that is some fab cole slaw right there. Here’s the recipe: http://savoringtoday.com/2010/08/24/coleslaw-with-celery-seed/ And if you’re in the mood for some non-traditional cole slaw, these are wonderful too: http://savoringtoday.com/2011/06/28/beyond-classic-slaw-test-kitchen-tuesday/ Have a great weekend!
There is nothing as nostalgic as sloppy joes! I have a recipe from years ago and now I want to pull it out and make a batch! BTW, your bread looks amazing.
Yum!!!! Can’t wait to try them… Maybe today!
I can’t believe that you’d have had sloppy joes until this recipe. however, this looks like a perfect joe to start with!
Have a great weekend Judy!
I haven’t had a sloppy joe in years. On one of your buns…it must have been great.
Caramelized onions make everything taste heavenly! However, those buns sound even better to me- Love the poppy seed finishing touch.
Those buns looks so perfect!
tad bit confused.Yield 16 buns. following the recipe- divide dough into 8 balls??? please clarify
Hi Marty, thank you so much for asking about that, I was proofing recipes last week and discovered this mistake, but hadn’t fixed it yet. I have updated the information for making 16 rolls, which is the size that we really prefer — works great for just about any sandwich. Please let me know if you have any other questions.
Thank you very much for the recipe, I am not an American citizen, but I’m taking this recipe looks delicious!