Munchie Monday: Chicken Fried Cauliflower Steaks

Yes, it is true- you can make cauliflower steaks and they are pretty good, too.  In my opinion.  Dear One was not interested in sampling them.  No surprise there, just a prick of disappointment.

You will need:
1 small cauliflower
1cup flour (I used all-purpose King Arthur)
2 eggs well beaten in a flat dish
1 teaspoon smoked paprika, granulated garlic, and granulated onion
1/2 teaspoon salt, and black or white ground pepper
3 Tablespoons mild honey
2 teaspoons sriracha sauce or more if you like very spicy

Slice cauliflower into 3/4 inch thick steaks.  Put into a large skillet in which you have brought 1/2 cup water to boil.  Carefully situate the steaks in the pan and cover.  Cook/steam for five minutes then remove from pan with tongs. Place on a cooling rack and let sit until completely cool.

In a clean heavy skillet start some canola oil heating over medium heat.  I probably used about 1/4 to 1/2 inch oil.

Put the flour and dry spices on a large plate and mix well together.

Set the bowl with the beaten egg beside the plate with the spiced flour which will be used for dredging.   Place both of these near the cooled and somewhat dry cauliflower steaks.  Carefully pick up one steak at a time, dredge it on both side, dip both sides in the egg, then back to the flour, and finally ease the steaks into the hot oil.  Fry on each side for 3-4 minutes, or until as brown as you like.  When both sides are happily crispy, remove to a paper-towel lined plate for a minute or so.

At this point, remove to a serving platter and drizzle with the honey/sriracha mixture you have made. Enjoy right away.  If there are leftovers, they are still good for another meal.

One caveat...the slicing may not go as smoothly as you might like.  Smaller " steaks" work just as well, however.  A diner might think eating four or five small steaks is no problem but later the tummy will be much as full as if eating a full-sized steak.

Munchie Monday: Taco Crumbles in Bean Burrito

In trying to eat more plant-based, I have been searching for products that are sort of reminiscent of the meat world I remember.  One of those products we have tried, and liked, so we ordered more, were the Taco Crumbles from Butler Foods.  These are really very very acceptable replacements for burger in tacos, enchiladas, burritos, etc.

We planned to have tacos for supper the other day.  While the Taco Crumbles re-hydrated for 8 minutes I sauteed a large chopped onion and a package of chopped mushrooms until soft.  When ready I added the Taco Crumbles then put them into whole wheat flour tortillas on top of non-fat refried beans.  Even Dear One liked them, though he only ate one.  He probably would not have eaten it if he knew there were (VERY FINELY) chopped mushrooms in it. I thought they gave a bit more meaty flavor.

This picture shows the conglomeration in the pan.  Tasty.  Slightly spicy.  The bag of Crumbles made enough so I could make three meals for the two of us.

Munchie Monday: 5 Bean Chili, Quickly!

We had a Church fall festival where the potluck food theme was chili.  For the first time ever I just took cans and seasonings from the pantry.  It turned out great. Well, at least I liked it, and the pot came home emptier than it was!


Vegetarian Chili
1 tablespoon beef broth powder
1 tablespoon cumin
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon mixed onion and garlic granules (50/50 mix)
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
2 cans tomato sauce, 14-15 ounce size
2 cans kidney beans, 14-15 ounce size
1 can black eyed peas, 14-15 ounce size
1 can white beans, 14-15 ounce size
1 can chickpeas, 14-15 ounce size
1 can cannellini beans, 14-15 ounce size
1 large chopped white onion
1 large chopped red bell pepper
3 cloves chopped garlic

Sauté the onion, bell pepper and garlic in Instant Pot until the onions are translucent and the bell peppers are softened.  Don't put the garlic in until the onions are nearly done. VERY IMPORTANT:  when using the sauté feature on the Instant Pot, you need to stand over the pot, stirring the vegetables with a long handled wooden spoon constantly, or just about, because they can easily get away from you and burn.  Ask how I know...

Add seasonings to the cooked vegetables  to bloom for a few moments.  Add tomato sauce then beans without draining.  Stir well.  Heat to boiling then let simmer on Slow Cook.

Food Friday: Vegetarian Shepherd's Pie with Soy Curls

Shepherd's Pie

Mix together 1 cup water, 1 teaspoon beef broth powder and 2 teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce in a medium size bowl.  If you do not have these flavorings, just use water.

In the bowl add 2 cups of Soy Curls.

Let sit 10 minutes to re-hydrate.

Finely chop one-half yellow onion and begin sautéing on medium low heat until translucent.  Add 3 finely chopped cloves garlic and continue sautéing for another 2-3 minutes.

Drain the liquid from the soy curls.  If you used flavoring in the soaking water, save for soup stock.  Put the re-hydrated soy curls into a blender jar and pulse until the curls are rather finely chopped.

Soy Curls/Onion/Garlic/Corn mixture in bottom of casserole dish.

Add the chopped soy curls to the pan of onions and garlic then add 1 teaspoon Kitchen Bouquet Browning and Seasoning sauce and 1 teaspoon soy sauce.  I used La Choy this time.

Stir the mixture well together.  If it is a little dry add some of the soaking broth a tablespoon at a time until you like the “meat” consistency.  Add one can drained whole kernel corn and heat through.

Mashed Red Potatoes with Skins

In the meantime,  scrub, rinse and cook 6 medium red potatoes and cup into quarters and steam until soft.  Pour into large bowl and mash with a potato masher or ricer.  Add 2 tablespoon butter and mix well.

Also, in the meantime, turn the oven on to 350 degrees F.

Pour the vegetable/soy curls mixture into a 2 quart casserole dish.  Cover with the mashed potatoes and place in the oven until everything is uniformly hot.  Since you have just been working with them, they are probably able to be eaten immediately but it is nice to put them in the oven for 15-20 while you set the table and clean up some of the kitchen mess.

One Serving of Shepherd's Pie

Serve with a nice tossed green salad.  If you also just made some nice whole wheat bread, add that to the meal.  Or any recently homemade bread.  It will taste good and you will feel virtuous.  And perhaps your Dear One will also serve himself seconds….