Recipes

Cauliflower “Chicken Fried” Steak

By: Hannah Lee Leidy
Brennans Cauliflower Chicken Fried Steak
Photo courtesy of Brennan's

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yields

4 servings

    ingredients
  • 1 large head cauliflower
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh herbs such as thyme, oregano, and parsley
  • 2 ounces soda water
  • 2 ounces dark beer
  • 3 ounces corn starch
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • 1 teaspoon Creole seasoning
  • 1½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 4 ounces mushroom gravy (recipe follows)
  • 6 ounces purple potato salad (recipe follows)
  • 1 red bell pepper, roasted & diced
  • ½ ounce baby arugula
  • Sugar cane vinegar
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Purple Potato Salad
  • 1 pound purple potatoes (or favorite)
  • ½ shallot, small dice
  • ½ small bell pepper, small dice
  • ½ stalk celery, small dice
  • ½ lemon, juiced
  • 1 tablespoon Creole Mustard
  • 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
  • ¼ cup capers
  • 1 tablespoon green onions chopped
  • Salt, pepper and Creole seasoning to taste
  • Mushroom Gravy
  • 2 cups mushroom stock (recipe follows)
  • ½ cup almond milk
  • 2 ounces rice, cooked
  • Mushroom Stock
  • 1 tablespoon grapeseed oil
  • ½ cup onion, diced
  • 1 cup celery, including some leaves
  • 1 cup carrots, diced
  • 1 bunch green onions, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 cups mushrooms stems (oyster, shitake and king oyster)
  • 8 sprigs fresh parsley
  • 6 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 6 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 quart water
steps
  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees and fryer to 350 degrees.
  2. Slice cauliflower lengthwise but do not core then cut off green leafy parts. Season with Creole seasoning and herbs then place in casserole dish. Pour water into pan until it comes ½ way up cauliflower. Place in oven and roast/steam for 10 minutes or until cauliflower is fork tender.
  3. Carefully remove pan from oven, and set aside.
  4. Make tempura batter by whisk together soda water, beer, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon pepper, Creole seasoning, and cornstarch in medium mixing bowl.
  5. Place flour in separate bowl with ½ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper. Set aside.
  6. Dip cauliflower into flour mix then into tempura batter. Place cauliflower into fryer and fry for 2 to 3 min or until golden brown. Remove from oil and drain on paper towels. Sprinkle with Creole seasoning.
  7. Place purple potato salad in center of plate then top with “cauliflower steak.” Drizzle with mushroom gravy. Garnish with seasoned arugula and roasted bell peppers tossed in sugarcane vinegar.

Purple Potato Salad

  1. Dice and blanch potatoes until tender and chill.
  2. In sauté pan on medium high heat, add grapeseed oil and sauté shallots, bell pepper and celery until tender and chill.
  3. In large bowl add potatoes, shallots, bell pepper, celery, capers, Creole mustard, yellow mustard, lemon juice and mix gently until well incorporated.
  4. Fold in green onions and season to taste.

Mushroom Gravy

  1. In heavy bottom pot, at medium high heat add all ingredients, and bring to boil. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes. Then turn the heat off, put the liquid into a blender and blend until rice becomes puree.
  2. Place back into a pot adjust seasoning and reserve for later use.

Mushroom Stock

  1. Chop scrubbed vegetables into 1-inch chunks. Remember, the greater the surface area, the more quickly vegetables will yield their flavor.
  2. Heat oil in soup pot. Add onion, celery, carrots, scallions, garlic, mushroom stems, parsley, thyme, and bay leaves. Cook over high heat for 5 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently.
  3. Add salt and water and bring to boil. Lower heat and simmer, uncovered, for 1hour Strain. Discard vegetables.

Yield: 1 quart

 

  • from Chef Danny Trace of Brennan’s in Houston, Texas

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