Cauliflower Sandwich with Romesco Sauce
The BEST vegan sandwich! Crispy Cauliflower, Garlic Spinach, and Quick Romesco sauce. Roasted cauliflower steaks with romesco sauce and garlic spinach. A hearty and delicious cauliflower sandwich.
Ingredients
- 1 head cauliflower
- 1/8 cup olive oil, divided
- 4 cups torn spinach leaves or baby spinach
- 2 cloves garlic
- 4 ciabatta rolls, toasted (or similar good, crusty bread)
Quick Romesco Sauce:
- 1/2 cup roasted almonds
- 1 cup roasted red peppers, drained if jarred
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 garlic clove, roughly chopped
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
Prep the cauliflower
- Trim the cauliflower stem, leaving the core intact, and cut into 1/4-inch slices. If they fall apart, try slicing them a little thicker. It's OK if they don't stay intact, but they need to have a "flat" side to crisp up.
- Add the oil to a cast iron pan over medium-high heat. You want the oil to sizzle so make sure it's hot enough before you add your cauliflower. I do this by wetting my hand and shaking some excess water into the skillet. If it dances in the oil, it's hot enough.
- Add the cauliflower steaks and let fry until really crisp and golden brown, about 3-5 minutes per side. Season each side with a sprinkle of salt and pepper, then remove from pan.
- In the same hot pan, add in the spinach and garlic, season with salt and pepper, and cook until just wilted. Set aside.
Make the Romesco Sauce
- Rough chop almonds in a food processor or high-powered blender. Add peppers, vinegar, and garlic and process to a thick puree. Keep the motor running and slowly drizzle in olive oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Assemble the cauliflower sandwich
- Liberally apply the romesco sauce to both sides of the ciabatta bread. Stack with cauliflower and greens.
Notes
To get a really good crust on the cauliflower, I recommend using a cast-iron pan. Non-stick pans won't get the same crispy exterior but can work in a pinch.
Nutrition
Serving: 1servingCalories: 396kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 12gFat: 24gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 16gTrans Fat: 0.003gSodium: 809mgPotassium: 665mgFiber: 6gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 3119IUVitamin C: 74mgCalcium: 119mgIron: 2mg