I had been thinking about Sloppy Joes (which happens sometimes… or it might be milk shakes, fish tacos, or other food items that I just get a craving for.)

Not only did I want a Sloppy Joe, I wanted a Goat Sloppy Joe.  So what did I do?  I headed down to the Union Square Greenmarket on a Saturday and found the exact ingredient I was seeking.

I have tried a few Sloppy Joe recipes in the past and am never quite satisfied.  Some call for brown sugar which adds a sweetness that isn’t my favorite.  Some call for ketchup and while I’m not opposed, I wasn’t in the mood for it.

I ended up modifying a recipe from the Martha Stewart site which came out really well.  I used stewed tomatoes in place of tomato sauce and added a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar towards the end which added some acidity and tanginess that balanced out the dish.  In place of a sweetener, I decided to use King’s Hawaiian Sweet Rolls.  This last step made the dish.

I recall these rolls from picnics growing up.  They were a great roll for any bbq dish, ham sandwich or just as a snack.  I haven’t had one in years but found them in my local grocery store and picked up a package.

Included below is my recipe for Goat Sloppy Joes on Hawaiian Sweet Rolls.  Try them out on your friends the next time they come over for a party.

Ingredients:

1 lb ground goat
15 oz can whole stewed tomatoes (and then broken apart with a spoon or by hand)
1/2 cup diced celery
1/2 cup diced green bell pepper
1/2 cup diced yellow onion
2 garlic cloves – finely diced
1 tbsp diced chili (anaheim) – optional
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 package Hawaiian sweet rolls
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Salt and pepper

Directions:

Drizzle a saute pan over medium heat with extra virgin olive oil. Add diced onion, bell pepper, celery, chili pepper (optional) and cook for 5-7 minutes. Add garlic and cook for additional 1-2 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Add ground goat and with a spoon break into pieces as it cooks. Brown goat for 3-5 minutes. Add a little salt and pepper to taste.

Add crushed stewed tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar. Simmer for approximately 15-20 minutes (uncovered) until goat is cook through and tender and mixture has slightly thickened.

Remove from heat and serve on sweet Hawaiian rolls.

Goat Sloppy Joes with Hawaiian Sweet Rolls