sloppy joe

Sloppy Joe

Above: A homemade sloppy joe Below: Sloppy joe meat made with Manwich seasoning
Origin
Alternate name(s)	Wimpies Yip yips Slushburgers Barbecues Hot tamales Taverns
Place of origin	United States
Dish details
Course served	Main
Serving temperature	Hot
Main ingredient(s)	Ground beef Onions Sweetened tomato sauce or ketchup Various seasonings Hamburger bun
Variations	Multiple

A sloppy joe is an American dish of ground beef, onions, sweetened tomato sauce or ketchup and other seasonings, served on a hamburger bun.^[1] Commercially made sauces such as Manwich are also available. Textured vegetable protein may be used as a vegetarian substitute for the meat. A sloppy joe is a simpler variant of a barbecue sandwich (which uses shredded beef or pork and barbecue sauce).

The name "sloppy" comes from the fact that eating it as if it were a normal sandwich often results in the meat and sauce spilling out. It may also be served "open face", with the bun halves or slices of bread next to each other and the meat on top of each.^[2]

Similarities to other sandwiches in the USA

In the Midwest (particularly in the state of Iowa where Roseanne Barr popularized the name Canteen style sandwich) a variant known as the loosemeat sandwich exists. In other parts of the Midwest, these are known as looseburgers or as Maid-Rites. This version of the sandwich is made with only seasoned ground beef, and does not include a tomato-based sauce. According to The Encyclopedia of American Food & Drink, it was created in 1934 at Ye Olde Tavern Inn by Abraham and Bertha Kaled.^[2]

U.S. variations on the term

In parts of northern New Jersey, sloppy joe refers to a completely different type of sandwich.^[3] There are a handful of variations depending on the deli, but it usually includes one or more types of sliced deli meat, such as turkey, ham, pastrami, corned beef, roast beef, or sliced beef tongue, along with coleslaw and Russian dressing, served on rye bread. Sometimes they are made in a "foot-long" variety and sliced individually.

Sloppy joes are also referred to as:

• Wimpies in parts of the Northeast USA, especially Northeastern Pennsylvania
• Yip Yips in parts of southwestern Illinois near St. Louis
• Slushburgers in parts of the Upper Midwest, particularly in western North Dakota and Eastern Montana
• Barbecues in other areas of the Upper Midwest, especially eastern North Dakota.
• Hot Tamales in parts of southeastern Wisconsin, particularly in the Sheboygan area despite the fact that tamales are a completely different food item.
• Taverns in parts of northwest Iowa and Minnesota.
• Steamrs in parts of Virginia and West Virginia.

Pullover

The term sloppy joe is also used in Australia (and other countries) to describe a loose fitting pullover, often made from fleecy lined cotton.^[4]

International variations on the term

• Rou jia mo

References

External links

• Sloppy Joe history at Town Hall Deli
• South Orange; Where Sloppy is Neat (NY Times)
• An Ode to Sloppy Joe, a Delicious Mess