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
Categories: Local Food and Seasonal Ingredients, New York City