Vegan Cajun Roasted Cauliflower "Steaks" with Chimichurri Sauce. Slice into thick slices or just chop into florets to make this delicious Cajun Cauliflower. Serve with chimichurri or a cooling dressing. Glutenfree Soyfree Nutfree Recipe

Recipe Snapshot

  • Prep time: 10 minutes
  • Cook time: 30 minutes
  • Total time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 3
  • Category: Main Course
  • Cuisine: American, Gluten-free, Vegan

Ingredients

Cajun Cauliflower:

  • 1 small head of cauliflower (, sliced into 1/2 inch thick slices or chopped into medium size florets)
  • 2 tbsp cajun spice blend ((2 tsp sweet paprika, 1/3 tsp cayenne, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 1 tsp oregano, 1.5 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp thyme, 1/2 tsp onion powder, dash of pepper flakes)
  • 1/2 to 3/4 tsp salt (, if using store bought cajun blend, it might already be salted, so you will need 1/4 tsp)
  • 2 tsp oil
  • 1 tsp lemon juice

Chimichurri sauce:

  • 1 cup packed parsley (or one bunch parsley leaves and tender stems, chopped)
  • 1/4 cup basil packed (or use cilantro)
  • 6 cloves of raw garlic (more the merrier)
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • juice of 1 lime
  • 1 tsp vinegar apple cider or balsamic or red wine vinegar
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 2 tbsp or more avocado for creamyness optional

Method

  1. Slice the cauliflower or chop into florets. Blend the chimichurri sauce with a few tbsp of water and set aside. Line a baking dish with parchment. Preheat the oven to 425 deg F (220 C)
  2. Rub oil and lemon juice all over the slices or florets.
  3. Sprinkle the cajun spice + salt on both sides of the slices and rub lightly. Then sprinkle more on the open side. (If using florets, sprinkle spice + salt, then toss well to coat). For Crispyness, mix 2 tbsp breadcrumbs in the spice mix and salt and then sprinkle all over.
  4. Spray oil lightly on the spiced cauliflower to seal the spices in, Bake at 425 deg F for 20 to 25 mins. Broil for a minute to sear if needed.
  5. Cauliflower tends to soften depending on the moisture content after cooking. So serve immediately. Sprinkle some more spice if needed. Cajun can be hot, so add another cooling dressing of choice if needed. Serve with a side salad of beans, chickpeas, or cooked grain or add to tacos, wraps. I make a salad bowl with cherry tomatoes/tomatoes, onion, chickpeas/beans, salt, pepper and chimichurri/lemon with these.

Kiyaan Singh’s Kitchen Note

Keep this recipe as a working base: cook once as written, then adjust spice, texture, and serving style for your own table.