Identification

The standard sloppy joe is made with ingredients such as ground beef, sugar, ground pepper, tomato sauce, salt and a variety of herbs, which can vary depending on the recipe. Some people also add chunks of onion or peppers to a sloppy joe as well.

History

According to WGN-TV out of Chicago, the sloppy joe sandwich is rumored to have first been served in a Cuban bar called Old Sloppy Joe's somewhere in the 1920s. The Food Timeline puts the first printed sloppy joe recipe at 1935.

Features

Part of the story of the origins of the sloppy joe in Cuba states that the sandwich was used to help offset the effects of too much rum being drank by the bar patrons. This may be partially true as there is a traditional Cuban dish known as the Picadillo that is a ground beef dish with spices and tomato sauce that has been served by Cuban bars for decades.

Misconceptions

The general consensus is that the sandwich has no known origin, there is no one particular Joe it is named after, and it gets its name from its sloppy appearance.

Fun Fact

A restaurant in Key West, Fla., also claims to be the birthplace of the Sloppy Joe sandwich. The name of the restaurant for decades now has been Sloppy Joe's.

Source:

Food Timeline: Sloppy Joes

WGN-TV: The Birth of the Sloppy Joe

More Information:

Basic Sloppy Joe Recipe