Ingredients
For the crispy cauliflower steak
2 cauliflower steaks
2 eggs
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup panko bread crumbs
Avocado or canola oil for frying
1 stick unsalted butter
3 tablespoons cayenne pepper
2 ½ tablespoons brown sugar
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons Spanish paprika
1 teaspoon Gochugaru flakes (optional)
For the sticky rice
1 ½ cups short grain Japanese rice (sushi rice)
2 cups water
¼ cup rice vinegar
4 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
½ piece Kombu dried seaweed (optional)
For serving:
Spicy mayo
Soy glaze
Japanese rice seasoning (optional)
Fresh sliced cucumber
Fresh arugula
2 teaspoons chives, chopped
Directions
Step 1
Prepare the sticky rice:
Step 1
Rinse the rice under running water until the water runs clear.
Step 2
Add the rice and 2 cups of water to a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and let it cook until most of the water has evaporated.
Step 3
Place the seaweed on top of the rice, cover with a lid, reduce heat to low, and cook for another 20 minutes.
Step 4
In a small saucepan, gently heat the vinegar, sugar, and salt until the sugar dissolves. Once the rice is cooked, pour this mixture over the rice and mix gently.
Step 5
Prepare the cauliflower steak:
Step 1
Slice the cauliflower in the middle to create steaks of your desired thickness.
Step 2
Optional: For a softer interior, microwave the steaks for 2-3 minutes.
Step 3
In a heat-safe large bowl, combine cayenne pepper, brown sugar, chili powder, garlic powder, Spanish paprika, and Gochugaru flakes. Set aside.
Step 4
Heat oil in a large skillet or frying pan. Meanwhile, prepare the cauliflower steaks for frying by first dipping them into the flour, then the eggs, and finally the bread crumbs. For extra crispiness, repeat this step twice.
Step 5
Fry the cauliflower steaks until the bread crumbs turn golden brown on both sides.
Step 6
In a separate pan, melt the butter over medium heat. Carefully add 1/3 cup of the hot frying oil to the melted butter (be very careful as it may splatter). Pour this hot mixture over the spices in the bowl.
Step 7
Place the fried cauliflower steaks on a cooling rack with a sheet pan underneath.
Step 8
Drizzle the spicy butter and oil mixture over the cauliflower steaks.
Step 9
Serve:
Step 1
Arrange the cauliflower steaks on a plate with sticky rice. Sprinkle with Japanese rice seasoning if using, and add fresh arugula and cucumber slices.
Step 2
Drizzle with soy glaze and spicy mayo, and garnish with chopped chives.
