Pork

Cauliflower Steaks with Italian SausageĀ Topping

April 14, 2019
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0 Ratings
Photo by Brian Coppola
  • Prep time 1 hour 20 minutes
  • Cook time 1 hour
  • Serves 5
Author Notes

This recipe was inspired by recipes for cauliflower steaks (roasted 1-inch slabs topped with oil, garlic, hummus, diced tomatoes, and other stuff). —Brian Coppola

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Ingredients
  • 1 large head of cauliflower
  • 16 ounces sweet Italian sausage, crumbed and browned in EVOO
  • 1 large red pepper, diced
  • 1 large Vidalia onion, diced
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic in oil
  • 12 ounces thick sliced mozzarella (10-13 slices)
  • 3 tablespoons fennel seeds
  • 2 tablespoons rosemary leaves
  • 2 tablespoons fresh ground black pepper
  • 1/2 cup shredded parmesan or asiago
  • 1.5 cups Italian red sauce
Directions
  1. Brown the Italian sausage. Near the end of the browning, add and mix the garlic, then add fennel seeds, and rosemary leaves. Heat for a few moments until aromatic and then reserve (use a slotted spoon and keep the fat in the pan).
  2. Caramelize the onions in the hot sausage fat. About half way through the process add the red pepper. Near the end, combine with the sausage. Heat and mix thoroughly. Reserve.
  3. My Italian red sauce is posted elsewhere. Briefly: Caramelize two diced sweet onions with a diced red pepper. Add these to a food processor with a large can of DOP San Marzano tomatoes, a roasted red pepper, a can of tomato paste, EVOO, herbs and spices to preference. Process together and simmer on low for an hour.
  4. Cut the stem from a large head of cauliflower and remove the leaves. Slice as best as you can into 5 ca. 1-inch slices. I can usually get 3 full slices to hang together and then the remaining pieces just need to be collected.
  5. The slices and pieces are laid out on a baking pan covered with oiled parchment, then sprayed with oil and dusted with ground black pepper. Roast at 450 F for 15-20 minutes on one side. Use a large spatula and turn over all of the pieces, spray with oil and roast another 15-20 minutes, until tender and golden brown. Remove and reduce the heat to 350 F.
  6. Carefully remove the cauliflower to oven-save serving dishes. Coat the cauliflower with tomato sauce.
  7. Place 2-2.5 pieces of mozzarella on each one.
  8. Top with a generous portion of the sausage mixture. Bake at 350 F for 15-20 minutes until the cheese is melted, bubbly and a little browned. Top with some shredded parmesan.

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