Steak-spiced cauliflower stuffed into charred tortillas and topped with a sesame-chipotle salsa and pomegranate-cabbage slaw. Make some for a light supper, or as part of a bigger buffet of Mexican dishes. Don’t forget the cold beer!
As usual, I have missed the boat with this one. Last weekend was Cinco de Mayo, and even though the UK is not at all influenced by Mexico, Cinco de Mayo seemed to get a fair amount of coverage. It would have been perfect to jump on here with these zesty cauliflower tacos. But I was distracted by all. that. sunshine. We were in our garden, at the beach, in the hills. Everywhere but in the kitchen. I did manage to find myself in there once or twice. For some chilled rosé. 😉
So, a slight tan and nearly one week later I bring you what I have been making variations of for a wee bit now, Cauliflower “Steak” Tacos.
How to turn a cauliflower into a steak (not really)
The “” around the word steak is not an affectation. Or, at least I don’t mean it to be. It’s just in case there is anyone in the world who might think this recipe has both steak and cauliflower.
The French would not be amused at my juxtaposing the words cauliflower and steak. They have just recently adopted a kind of separation of Church and State thing, but with vegetables and meat. It seems quite silly and nanny state to me.
Let them eat Cauliflower! But not dressed up as a steak.
Anyway, the steak bit refers to the seasoning blend, one I’ve played with, trying to mimic the savory, herby McCormick’s stuff I grew up with, but without the unnecessary salt. I HATE seasoning blends that include salt. Let me add my own salt, thank you very much. The added salt and sugar is why I often make my own blends. I confess to spending an inordinate amount of time trying to decode labels, with their infuriating list of ingredients that give the obvious ones and then sign off with “and a blend of herbs and spices”.
I think this homemade, salt-free one is pretty good. It pairs well with the assertive taste of cauliflower. And it would indeed be just dandy with actual steak. Or with other veggie things: blended into a bean dip or tossed through sweet potato wedges for roasting, spring to mind. You will be making a little more than you need for the recipe, so jar up the rest and try some in your next dip.
The whole recipe is pretty straightforward and simple, so don’t be daunted by the list of ingredients. For the cauliflower, just cut it into fat florets and then into slices. Like mini steaks, I guess. Then you toss the slices in oil and some of the seasoning blend, then roast for a short spell while you make the salsa and slaw. As for the salsa, it’s a briefly cooked one of chopped tomatoes (I used fresh but you can use canned), chipotle in adobo sauce, sesame seeds and a few other store cupboard things. Once made it will keep for a week, so make more than you need. It’s tangy, spicy and a teensy bit sweet. So good!
cauliflower tacos for breakfast (scrambled eggs in there somewhere)
In the event of leftovers
I made this recipe as a light supper dish, but I had some leftovers of everything bar the salsa, so I scrambled up some eggs and turned it all into a funky breakfast. I was so glad that I had prepped more as this was a great way to start the day. The cauliflower was briefly warmed in a hot pan while I waved the corn tortillas over a gas flame and scrambled some eggs. Then, for the spice factor, I swirled together some yogurt and bottled hot sauce (or I could have used my peri peri sauce if I had some). I rolled up my two fat little tortillas and ate them, mindfully and joyfully, as I headed out the door. Never realising that ruddy Cinco de Mayo was the next weekend….
Do you think we should adopt the new French attitude to banning meaty names for vegetarian “alternatives”? Is anyone ever confused between a bean burger and a cow burger?? What did you get up to for Cinco de Mayo?
**PS See the beer in some of the images? Well, that’s not beer. It’s a little trailer for an upcoming post on how to make your own healthy, fermented (!) summer soft drinks. But gosh, doesn’t it look like a beer!
Cauliflower Steak Tacos with Chipotle-Sesame Salsa
Steak-spiced cauliflower stuffed into charred tortillas and topped with a sesame-chipotle salsa and pomegranate-cabbage slaw. Make some for a light supper, or as part of a bigger buffet of Mexican dishes. And don’t forget the beer! xx
Steak Seasoning Blend
1 tbsp paprika
1 tbsp garlic powder
2 tsp onion powder
1 tbsp coriander seeds
1 tsp thyme leaves
1.5 tsp dried dill
1 tbsp coarse ground black pepper
Pinch of cayenne or other hot chilli (optional)
Chipotle-Sesame Salsa
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
3 garlic cloves, minced or grated
2 tbsp sesame seeds
1 tsp minced chipotle in adobo sauce (leftovers keep forever in the fridge)
1 very big tomato or 3 medium ones, chopped with juices kept
1 tbsp tomato puree/concentrate
1 tsp (+) brown sugar or maple syrup
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar
The Slaw
100 g red and/or green cabbage
1-2 medium carrots
1/2 lime, juiced
1 tsp poppy seeds (blue-black ones for preference)
2 tsp – 1 tbsp freshly grated ginger (according to your taste)
Handful of pomegranate arils/seeds
1 full teaspoon pomegranate molasses (optional but highly recommended)
The Rest
1 cauliflower, cut into large florets and sliced
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
6-8 small soft corn (or corn and wheat) tortillas
Sliced radishes, leaf coriander/cilantro – for flavour garnish
Method
1. Mix up the seasoning blend then use a heaped tablespoon to toss into the cauliflower and oil, adding a little salt if you wish. Place the cauliflower on a baking tray(s) and roast at 180C fan/200C/400F for 15-20 minutes or until the pieces are golden but still with some “bite”.
2. Make the salsa by warming the oil over a low-medium heat in a small saucepan and adding the garlic and sesame seeds, stirring for about three minutes. Add the rest of the salsa ingredients and bring to a fast simmer. Let this cook down until the tomatoes lose their structure and it looks and tastes “jammy”. Set aside.
sesame seeds not chilli seeds!
3. For the slaw, finely slice/mandoline the cabbage and grate or mandoline the carrots. Toss all of the slaw ingredients together and adjust to your taste. You might want a tiny bit of sweet.
4. When the cauliflower is ready, heat two gas burners on low-medium and set a tortilla on each, checking and flipping with tongs so as not to burn them. You want just a hint of char and for them to be pliable. You can also heat these in a dry skillet. Pop the cooked ones onto a tray and place in the still-warm oven while you prep the rest.
5. Now it’s just a matter of evenly adding the fillings and garnishes to each taco. Eat warm. For a heartier meal, make some tomatoey Mexican style rice or heat up some refried beans.
I’ve also spotted this gorgeous cauliflower steak (with yummy bits and bobs) recipe from the talented and fêted Niamh at Eat Like A Girl. I am making it as soon as I possibly can.
RIPE FOR PINNING!
If you make this recipe and are on Pinterest, save the pin below of my taco recipe and click the ‘comment and share’ button. If you are on your phone and have the Pinterest app you can take a pic while you are on Pinterest. Just click on the ‘add a photo or note’ button and the app will turn on your camera. Pretty cool, huh? And don’t forget to follow me on Pinterest. I’m Food To Glow over there too. I would love to see what you make of mine! And, of course, I’d love to hear from you below in the comments as well. 🙂
How do you keep coming up with such amazing recipes that I want RIGHT NOW??!!!!
OMG these tacos are like a dream come true, not only do they look fantastic, they must be so delicious!
What a lovely compliment. Thank you 🙂
Thank you once again for an amazing recipe Kellie. I am looking forward to trying it next week.
Perhaps I can create it as part of our Harry/Meaghan New Generation Wedding menu as we watch the wedding at 2 in the morning in CANADA. I think Harry and Meaghan would love it – as they seem to be so adventurous while still respecting traditions – but with a great sense of confidence and sincerity in being true to who they are and what they value.
Your comment about the FRENCH wanting to ban meaty names for Veg alternatives – is very OLD SCHOOL control for sure – as you say – a ” Nanny Statement”.
The French have dibs on Brodeaux – because it comes from that region and they have dibs on Champagne – once again because it comes from that region.
The Scots tried to have dibs on the Word “Glen” – in labeling single malt whisky and took the Canadian manufacturers of a Single Malt whisky from Canada called GLEN BRETON to court over the use of the name GLEN in their name of their single malt whisky called Glen Breton. They went to court and LOST.
I think it is a feeble attempt at controlling creative recipes names . I make “FAKIN BAKIN” – using rice paper.
Using meaty names lets me know the flavour – just as Bordeaux, Champagne and Single Malt do for drinks.
My thoughts from Canada.
Wilma
I am completely with you, Wilma. It was pressure from the meat industry that brought this silly nomenclature business about. Have fun at your party! We will be away in Croatia for the wedding and I doubt that it will be shown there. 🙂
Oh my goodness! You’ve done it again. And I have cauliflower in my refrigerator. I’m all excited! 🙂
Woo! I hope you found time to make this recipe, Debra. If you did/do let me know how you got on with it, and any tweaks you made. I am always hugely honoured when I am “invited” into peoples’ kitchens 🙂
Wow all those ingredients look so good together!
Thank you 🙂 It is one we will keep making variations of, I feel.
Ooh loving the sound and look of this. Think I might do it this weekend actually. Thank you!
I just made a seasoning this morning to sprinkle on my brekkie egg and I’m planning on using the rest on a bit of cod tonight. I blanched some dried kelp from The Cornish Seaweed Company for 10 secs then dried it with hair drier (!) and put in a coffee bean grinder with black sesame seeds & chilli flakes to make a seaweed dust, its yummy and of course no extra salt required 🙂
Well, I have used up the yummy sample you gave me. It was fab! A most nutritious and delicious sub for table salt for sure. I have such clever friends xx
I love cauliflower in my tacos! Such a revelation when looking for a good veggie taco, and the steak idea is even better. Plus that sesame chipotle salsa? Hello, come to mamma please!
Ha ha! You and I are pretty into our caulis. I rarely have tacos when I go out but I like to make them at home (I like to order stuff I have no hope of making at home). The sauce is really good, if I say so myself!
Cauliflower is just glorious in general. I made Romesco steaks once, and they turned out fabulously! Definitely have to try roasting cauliflower steaks or even a whole cauliflower one day. It would make the most amazing hearty meal for such little effort in the kitchen. These tacos look absolutely fantastic for any day. So much fun to make at home rather than just buying them at a restaurant!
I’ve never bought them in a restaurant, but I imagine they are way fancier, with separate pickled veg to put on top. You must roast a whole cauli sometime. It’s amazing, if not filling unless you add some protein to your meal as well 🙂