Meatless Monday: Jerk-Style Cauliflower Steaks

July 9, 2018

Photo Credit: Nassima Rothacker

Cauliflower—it’s the chameleon of vegetables. It can transform into rice, into pizza crust, into Alfredo sauce—it can even be a base for smoothies. And now, everyone’s favorite crucifer is turning into… steak.

That’s right: Cut it into slabs instead of florets, give it an infusion of spices (in this case, Jamaican jerk seasoning), toss it on a grill (or grill pan) and you have a knife-and-fork meal that’s loaded with nutrients and super-satisfying.

We love it with a salad for a simple dinner, but rice and sautéed spinach work just as well.

Jerk-Style Cauliflower Steaks

SERVES

PREP TIME

00 min

COOK TIME

00 min

Ingredients

1 medium cauliflower

2 tablespoons fresh cilantro

thumb-size piece of fresh ginger

1 scotch bonnet

2 garlic cloves

1 tablespoon olive oil

½ tablespoon maple syrup

1 teaspoon ground cumin

½ teaspoon ground coriander

½ teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

juice of ½ lime

sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400°F.

Place all the marinade ingredients into a food processor or mini blender and process until coarse but spreadable.

Remove the leaves from around the cauliflower, but don’t remove the bulb at the bottom, as this is what will keep your steaks intact. Halve the cauliflower and, working from the cut side out, slice each steak around ¾-inch thick… you will probably only get two full steaks from each half but you can roast the remaining florets in the same way.

Generously brush the steaks with the marinade. If you want to do this ahead of time, you can leave them to marinate in the fridge until you need them.

Place the steaks on a roasting pan and loosely cover with foil. Roast for 15 to 20 minutes before removing the foil for another 10 minutes, turning once.

Heat a grill pan to medium-high heat and finish the steaks off in the pan to mark/sear on both sides. Serve with your chosen accompaniment.