Thursday, January 5, 2012

Cauliflower Steak with Olive Relish and Tomato Sauce


I first saw this cauliflower steak recipe on Velva's blog, Tomatoes on the Vine last month and just tried it last night.  My husband said I could make this for him ANY TIME, he liked it so much...and he's not a huge roasted cauliflower fan.  The olive relish and the roasted tomato/garlic sauce are so delicious with the cauliflower!  They really turn cauliflower into something special. 

 

A whole head of cauliflower is cut into thick slices from top to bottom.  The directions say to cut them into 1/2-inch slices, but I think 1-inch slices work better and the slices stay together better. There is a lot of waste with this method but I used all the pieces that broke off and cooked them in the same manner as the 'steaks'.  You could probably even eliminate the 'steak' idea and just use florets but the presentation is worth the effort.


Cauliflower Steaks with Olive Relish and Tomato Sauce
Recipe by The Bon Appétit Test Kitchen January 2012
Printable Recipe

Serves 4

1 large head of cauliflower
1/2 cup pitted oil-packed black olives, finely chopped
3 sun-dried tomatoes, thinly sliced
3 1/2 tablespoons olive oil, divided, plus more
2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 garlic cloves
2 plum tomatoes, cored, quartered

Remove leaves and trim stem end of cauliflower, leaving core intact. Place cauliflower core side down on a work surface. Using a large knife, slice cauliflower into four 1/2" "steaks" from center of cauliflower (some florets will break loose; reserve). Note: I made my steaks 1-inch thick.

Finely chop enough loose florets to measure 1/2 cup. Transfer chopped florets to a small bowl and mix with olives, sun-dried tomatoes, 1 Tbsp. oil, parsley, and lemon juice. Season relish with salt and pepper.

Preheat oven to 400°. Heat 1 Tbsp. olive oil in a large heavy ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Working in 2 batches, cook cauliflower steaks until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes per side, adding 1 Tbsp. oil to pan between batches. Transfer steaks to a large rimmed baking sheet. Reserve skillet. Roast cauliflower until tender, about 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, return skillet to medium-high heat and add garlic cloves and tomatoes, one cut side down. Cook until tomatoes are browned; turn tomatoes over and transfer skillet to oven with cauliflower. Roast garlic and tomatoes until tender, about 12 minutes.

Transfer garlic, tomatoes, and 1/2 Tbsp. oil to a blender; purée until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Divide tomato sauce among plates. Place 1 cauliflower steak on each plate; spoon relish over. Serve warm or at room temperature.

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I'm joining Michael Lee West for Foodie Friday at Designs by Gollum

60 comments:

  1. Well I find these so beautiful..I am tempted to try.. could they be steamed first to soften a bit? first..They look like beautiful trees Susan..and the recipe sounds delish..That your J said anytime..says a lot:)

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  2. The presentation is pretty spectacular! Looks delicious.

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  3. Looks delicious. I love my cauliflower slaw so presumably I would enjoy cauliflower. The way those are presented looks like big old oak trees. That might fly with the juvenile set.

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  4. That is gorgeous.. it looked like a spectacular tree. I remember the first time I sliced and fried cauliflower (thanks to a Martha Stewart recipe) it was a revelation from my usual steaming. I think even Doc Lostpast would like this puppy (although he's not much on cauliflower!)>

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  5. Oh, this looks wonderful -- eating a low carb diet, I eat a lot of cauliflower in a lot of different versions -- pinning this AND trying this SOON!!

    Blessings!
    Gail

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  6. Rest assured that this will be on our table in the near future. We are great fans of cauliflower and this preparation sounds and looks delicious.

    Best,
    Bonnie

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  7. Cheers and accolades on this beautiful dish. It's exactly what I'm looking for, turning over a new leaf, branching out, working to loose 10 pounds! Happy New Year, Susan.

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  8. Not only is this a beautiful dish, it is also one that will be added to my new meal's list. It really does sound delish! Thanks for sharing and I hope you don't mind my printing a copy!
    Hugs, Loretta

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  9. Love the presentation! We like cauliflower, I'll have to try this way instead of florets. Looks delicious.

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  10. this is too cool, love the idea of steaks of cauliflower :-)

    Velva;s the best and you of course

    Rebecca

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  11. VERY NOVEL! And I love olives and all of the flavours in this dish! YUM!
    :)
    V

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  12. This looks great on the plate, and the flavour sounds like something we'd like. I can't eat broccoli, so I'm always interested in new ways of serving other cruciform vegetables.

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  13. Oh this is BEAUTIFUL, healthy & flavorful...just what the doctor ordered for January! I will have to try :)

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  14. Looks pretty fancy for me to eat, but as long as it taste good consider me on board. Richard

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  15. Love the presentation. I was thinking of roasted cauliflower tossed with curcuma to give some colour.

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  16. You get A++++ for presentation!! Looks wonderful! Happy New Year:)

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  17. Thank you, all!

    Monique, I'm sure you could try steaming the cauliflower first but I'm afraid the shape may fall apart if they are too soft. It will still taste great, though :)

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  18. I'm lukeroom on cauliflower and roasted veggies in general, but since your hubby liked it and the sauce and relish sound so good, and the shot of it looks very good, I may have to give it a try.

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  19. What a great idea to make a cauliflower steak! Excellent presentation, looks mouthwatering!

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  20. Your roasted cauliflower caught my eye, I know I would love it, will have to try it out on the hubby though!

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  21. This looks wonderful and you do get an A for presentation. YOur photos are beautiful. I don't know if I missed it but I can't seem to find the directions on how to make the olive relish.

    I host a Whole Food Wednesday carnival and we'd love to see you there next week. This is exactly the types of yummy things we're looking for!

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  22. This recipe looks amazing and I didn't see it on Velva's blog. Velva and I actually live in the same city and plan to meet hopefully soon. I love her blog.

    Thank you Susan for the sweet comment about my Nativity. Yes, my grandmother owned a ceramic shop. The pieces were poured in a mold not handmade but she did pour and paint them actually for my mother 40 yrs. ago. When my mother passed my Dad gave it to me and as you can imagine it is very cherished.

    Carolyn/A Southerners Notebook

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  23. It looks beautiful, Susan. I do like cauliflower, dh does not! Yet he eats broccoli...strange.

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  24. France, the olive relish instructions are in the first paragraph. I'll make it into a separate paragraph so it shows up better. Thanks for the comment!

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  25. Oh Susan, I love this dish! A marvelous presentation and so unusual. Velva has such good recipes...I missed this one. Can't wait to try it.
    Happy New Year!

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  26. great presentation Susan, a healty dish,I love cauliflower,can't wait to try! have a good weekend...hugs

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  27. I can't wait to try this......and to taste it!

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  28. Susan, this looks good enough to try! Beautiful presentation!

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  29. This is simply beautiful and stunning in presentation. I can't wait to try it.

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  30. I spotted this on another blog and thought what a great idea. So glad you posted this as I can't even recall the blog, bookmarked.. for next weeks menu!!

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  31. Oh my goodness! I would never have thought to make a dish like this. I have absolutely got to make this very soon...like maybe tonight. Who knew that cauliflower could be so beautiful and elegant?

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  32. What a lovely dish AND a husband's approval. It doesn't get any better than that.
    Sam

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  33. My husband would love this dish! Thank you for a great idea! Not to mention it's good for the waistline!

    Happy New Year!
    Mary

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  34. I saw this on Velva's blog the other day too..so special. The olive relish pairs perfectly with this veggie steak!

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  35. When I was a child I used to hate cauliflower. Now I love it and this way of making it is so original. I am keeping it to try it out!

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  36. I saw it on her site and I love your version! I think even people who don't think they like cauliflower (the smell of it boiling is not that pleasant) would love this and the presentation! I will remember this next time.

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  37. the presentation is simply lovely!

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  38. Looks delicious. Would love for you to share your pictures with us over at foodepix.com.

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  39. What a beautiful presentation, Susan. I bookmarked this when I saw it on Velva's blog and you have reminded me that it is a must try recipe.

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  40. This looks so impressive and would be a wonderfully healthy recipe to try. thanks for sharing this recipe!

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  41. Anybody that can make cauliflower look THAT good, is a true artist! It certainly sounds yummy & I'll give it a try very soon.
    Thanks for sharing the recipe, as Velma's site it new to me...off to visit her next.

    fondly,
    Rett

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  42. I've been meaning to make this since I saw it in Bon Appetit! I love the briny salty olives against the cauliflower. That photo is stunning!

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  43. we really love cauliflower and this look stunning!! gloria

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  44. Who needs meat when you can make veggies look this incredible!!!

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  45. Susan, so funny that initially I was looking for the steak until I realized that the cauliflower is the steak :-)
    Looks good the way you prepared, it sure gives a new dimension to what I consider "boring", no offense to the ones that like cauliflower ;-)
    Hope you have a wonderful week ahead!

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  46. beautiful presentation! I love cauliflower. I think it's so under rated! Happy to find something different to make it into :)

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  47. Dear Susan, This looks simply irresistible! It looks absolutely delicious-- What a wonderful recipe!

    HUGS <3

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  48. Susan, wasn't this a surprisingly fabulous tasting dish? I was sort of lukewarm to the idea but, quickly changed my mind. I loved it. It was very tasty, healthy and the meal left you satisfied.

    I am so glad that you made the dish...made me smile. Thanks.

    Velva

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  49. I have seen similar recipes for cauliflower steak! Love the idea.

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  50. What a delicious way of having cauliflower, one of my favourite veggie! Looks really delicious!

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  51. I love cauliflower, but the presentation on this puts it in a whole new light! I can't wait to try it. Oh, the chocolate chiffon cake looks incredible. I want one for my birthday!!!

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  52. I subscribe to Bon Appetit and have been meaning to give this recipe a try. Problem is my hubby won't eat veggies, especially cauliflower and broccoli when cooked. He'll eat them raw though. So I'll be making it for me and that's my holdup.

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  53. I would probably be staring at this in amazement, rather than eating it. It is striking and I do love cauliflower.

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  54. I would probably be staring at this in amazement, rather than eating it. It is striking and I do love cauliflower.

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  55. I saw it on her blog, and I am happy to see your version. My family loves cauliflowwer many different ways, and I like finding new ways too. I can't wait to find a large cauliflower (they were so small a little bit ago).

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  56. This is just beautiful, I am going to have to try it. Plus cauliflower is supposed to be the "in" thing for 2013.

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  57. Finally making these tonight!:)

    Variation..of them:)

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    Replies
    1. Great! I made the recipes you shared for the stufferd turkey tenderloins and beet and kale salad last night :) No pics - too hectic with the boys!

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