Sloppy Joes

Like so many accidental discoveries, these canine Sloppy Joes started with a practical question: what to do with leftover broth. Cooking for my dogs, I automatically accumulate a surprising amount of broth as a by-product, especially of poaching and slow cooking. Some are from bones, others from poaching meat, fish or vegetables or a combination. They are bursting with tiny, aromatic flavour-bomb molecules like glutamates, peptides and savoury compounds released from meat and vegetables during slow cooking that will gradually imbue into the grains as the Sloppy Joes cook.

Slow-cooked broths already contain part of the food matrix released during cooking. Gelatin, soluble fibres and dissolved starches alter the viscosity of the liquid, affecting mouthfeel and helping it bind more effectively to grains and purées later in the process. We can always use broths as a hydrating liquid, but the Sloppy Joe approach turns it into part of the structure of the meal itself.

They would include things like:

  • glutamates and nucleotides from meat and mushrooms contributing the “umami” compounds that dogs are known to prefer;
  • sulphur compounds e.g. from brassicas and celery;
  • fat-derived aroma compounds that create meaty aromas;
  • mushroom volatiles such as 1-octen-3-ol (“mushroom aroma”), also found in beef;
  • aromatic terpenes from herbs like parsley or fennel;
  • peptides and amino acids released during slow cooking.

And after all, there’s only so much room in the freezer for ice cubes….

Functional value

Sloppy Joes combine poaching broths or stocks with grains like barley or oats until the grains swell and soften into a cohesive, hydrated matrix. As the grains cook, they absorb dissolved flavour and fats to create a unified mixture.

Any type of broth can be used. A light chicken stock produces a cleaner, more neutral base. A second or third cook, after vegetables or proteins have passed through, results in a deeper, more complex mixture.  The result is not simply “bulk” or filler, but a functional base that contributes hydration, structure, palatability and more gradual energy release within a rotational diet.

Consistency

Consistency can be changed to suit: type of flake, ratio of flakes to broth and cooking time will determine whether the mix is looser and sloppy, as its name suggests, or a thicker porridge consistency if needed. Either way the result is deeply flavoured and highly palatable. Alongside texture and structure, the grains also contribute soluble fibres and small amounts of vitamins and minerals.

The grains changes more than texture. Soluble fibres, gelatin and hydrated starches increase the viscosity of the mixture, helping it retain water and distribute fats and purées more evenly throughout the meal. Ratios of grain to broth are a matter of trial and error, depending on what consistency you are looking for – you can create anything from a cake-like texture (which I’ve even tried baking in the oven) to a really soft, sloppy mix.

Grain choice shifts character. Barley, in particular, contains beta-glucans, soluble fibres associated with viscosity, providing a mores stable gel, slower gastric emptying and microbial fermentation in the gut. Oats produce a different fibre profile, with softer, looser structure and slightly more available starch and fibre (accessible energy). To draw on this specifically, rolled oats might be used on the eve of training days and barley on other days for structure and gut modulation.

Building blocks

My Sloppy Joes are used as building blocks within a varied rotational diet and help to bring a meal together.

A hydrated, integrated mixture means less separation in the bowl – and consequently in the stomach. This reflects a broader point: structure plays a role in how nutrients are handled, even if they are broadly the same on paper. In practice, that means improved distribution of starches, fats and purées, while soluble fibres contribute to fermentation in the gut.

The whole bowl

In the example shown here, venison provides a complete protein source with iron and amino acids, the barley/venison stock Sloppy Joe brings hydration, beta-glucans and a more gradual release of energy, while sweet potato and celery add fibre and support steady digestion.

One thing to note is that appearance can be deceptive when the mixture is still warm. Should you decide to try this, bear in mind that the mixture will firm up after cooling and refrigeration, as gelatin and soluble fibres set into a more defined structure. What looks soft in the slow cooker is more ‘set’ after cooling and refrigeration.

The Sloppy Joe has turned out to be a practical component in rotational feeding. Rather than competing with protein or vegetables, it connects them. And if it had a defined role, that would probably be it. Structure, not bulk: a way of shaping the meal into a cohesive whole that supports how the dish behaves once eaten.

All from something that would otherwise have gone down the sink.

 

Important Considerations:

  • Always consult your veterinarian before making any significant dietary changes, particularly where there are pre-existing health conditions or dietary restrictions.
  • If you are feeding commercial food, check the label for ingredients before giving more. Excessive intake of any foods can have adverse effects.
  • Ensure (where possible) that you use high-quality, organic products specifically formulated for pets (or better still, human grade ingredients) to avoid any potential adverse effects.
  • Introduce new foods gradually to avoid adverse effects such as gastrointestinal upset or diarrhoea.
  • I provide nutritional information purely as a helpful guide. Nutritional information on ingredients is obtained from the US Department of Agriculture’s FoodData Central site (https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/index.html) and any nutritional information provided in recipes is based on an online calculator: calories and other information will vary based on brands, ingredients and other factors.
  • Check nutrient levels and recommendations for your dog’s weight, age and activity. For example this nutritional guideline produced by FEDIAF.
  • I am not a professional canine nutritionist but supporting research is cited.
  • The recipes shared were created by me and tested in my kitchen – and tasted and approved by our doggy friends!