3/03/2011

Sloppy Joe Spicy Casserole or Panade de Jean Inonde?

Someone better at French may have to correct that title translation. This dish began with an urge to make a panade, with a loaf of day-old (truthfully more) bread, and wanting at the same time to use up that hamburger in the fridge. Then, the idea came, as ideas will - Sloppy Joe meet Mr. Panade. After all, a Sloppy Joe is a spicy, meaty, saucy concoction mushed between layers of soft bread. A match made in heaven.

Usually, aside from the bread, a panade is composed of spinach or chard and caramelized onions. This breaks new ground. Besides which it was delightfully Sloppy Joe like and really good. Yippie cai aie!


Sloppy Joe Casserole

1 lb. ground beef
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped finely
1/2 cup mushrooms, sliced
8 oz. tomato sauce
1 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes
2 dashes red hot chili sauce, or 1 minced small chili pepper
1/4 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 dashes Worcestershire Sauce
1/2 cup roasted red bell pepper
4 cups bread day old bread (sourdough is good), cut into 1 1/2 inch cubes
2 cups beef broth (or chicken)
1/2 cup Cheddar cheese, grated
1/2 teas. salt

Heat a cast iron pan to hot, lightly brush with oil, then put the beef in without stirring. Just spread it out to cover the bottom of the pan, and let it sear til brown on one side. Then, turn over and let the other side brown before breaking up and finishing the browning process, adding in the onion, stir frying until translucent. Next add the celery and let that saute about 3 minutes, then the mushrooms. Let them cook about a minute or so before stirring in the remaining sauce ingredients.

Let the ragu simmer on low heat for about half an hour. Meanwhile, pre-heat your oven to 350 F. Cut up the bread into cubes and grate the cheese. Grease a 2 quart casserole dish, and arrange half the bread cubes on the bottom. Heat the stock up. Now pour half of the meat sauce onto the bread. Put the remaining bread on top of that (it should fit snugly), and cover with sauce.


Pour the warmed stock over all. It should come to within a 1/2 inch of the top. Cover tightly with foil and bake for 45 minutes covered. Remove the foil, top with cheese and continue baking uncovered, another 15-20 minutes, or until the top is crusty and you can see the insides bubbling. Remove and let cool slightly - about 10 minutes or so, so no one burns their tongue.

Enjoy the wonderful smell of it baking whilst watching Wheel of Fortune, sipping a glass of Burgundy, making a salad, or all three.


Comfort food, and not at all sloppy. Just really good. Serve with a lovely tossed salad. This turned out to be a keeper, a hearty, family meal, perfect for linking to Hearth and Soul Bloghop. So many meals to choose from there. You'll never be bored, or at a loss for what to cook.


10 comments:

Swathi said...

This casserole looks delicious, i like the addition of spices there.

Cooking Gallery said...

Wow! This Sloppy Joe looks so good :D!

Joanne said...

I say this can be both a sloppy joe casserole AND a panade. if you're serving it to dinner guests - it's a panade. If you're serving it to your child - it's sloppy joes. Either way, looks delicious.

Katerina said...

I just love these fusion meals they combine all the good elements of different cultures!

Heather S-G said...

Oh, this sounds great. Almost like a savory bread pudding, even. almost. I would definitley love to try it. Stay safe in that tropical storm you're having, Claudia :)

Tahemeem said...

Wow... that's one delicious sloppy joe...
Thanks a lot for ur wonderful comments on my pasta post... and i am so jealous u live in Hawaii... I would so love to see ur pond :)
Hugs :)

Kankana said...

I love casserole food.. find it very comforting :)

Miz Helen said...

Just stopping by from Hearth and Soul. Your Sloppy Joe Casserole looks very good. Thank you for sharing and have a great day!

Alexis AKA MOM said...

Oh wow I love this, I know my boys will too! Thanks so much saved it :)

Christy said...

I love when an inspiration turns out - and this sounds so delicious. I know my family would love it! I love the bread on the bottom - like a spicy yummy breakfast casserole only all grown up and for dinner! Thanks for sharing this with us at the Hearth and Soul Hop!