One of the reasons transitioning to a plant-based diet is difficult is a bit psychological.  We were raised to expect a main course that consisted of meat so when that doesn’t exist we feel cheated and deprived.  That got me thinking!  I kept hearing about cauliflower “steaks”  and decided to give them a try.  When my family asked “what’s for dinner mom?”  I got a  lot of eye rolls as I mentioned cauliflower steaks would be the main course.  I held my ground and served up a delicious dinner!  My husband’s comment was that if you close your eyes, the taste and texture aren’t too far off from a steak.  It helps to use a steak and knife to eat this delicacy so that you feel as if you are cutting meat.  Everyone was pleasantly surprised by how much they liked it! Try it sometime, it’s much cheaper to buy a head of cauliflower than a steak and much better for you!

Cauliflower Steaks with Tomato Basil Relish

Ingredients for Cauliflower Steaks:

1 large head of cauliflower, sliced lengthwise through the core (The steaks are hard to cut and you end up with a lot of extra florets so you may need to get 2 medium heads of cauliflower to yield 4 steaks)

2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice

2 cloves of garlic, minced

1 pinch of red pepper flakes

salt and pepper to taste

 Ingredients for Tomato Basil Relish:

1 cup grape or cherry tomatoes quartered

1 tsp minced garlic

1/4 cup loosely packed fresh basil, julienned or 1/2-1 tsp. dried basil

A drizzle of balsamic vinegar

salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. Place the cauliflower steaks on the baking sheet.

3. Whisk olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper together in a bowl.

4. Brush 1/2 the mixture over the steaks and bake for 15 minutes.  Gently turn the steaks over, brush with the remaining marinade and continue roasting for 15-20 more minutes or until tender and golden.

5. While the “steaks” are cooking, coat a nonstick pan with a little cooking spray. Once the pan is hot add the tomatoes and cook until they are just beginning to soften.

6. Add garlic and basil and continue to cook for 1 more minute.

7. Turn heat off, add the balsamic vinegar and salt and pepper to taste.

8. Serve the cauliflower steaks immediately with a healthy dollop of tomato basil relish and enjoy!