
VEGETARIAN VERSION. Pictured is a serving of Breaded Cauliflower Cutlets
with Marinara, a wonderful vegetarian version of breaded veal (or pork or
chicken) cutlets swimming in a marinara sauce. (AP Photo/Matthew Mead)
From The Asian Reporter, V27, #1 (January 2, 2017), page 13.
Ready for breaded cutlets of a different kind?
Cauliflower!
By Sara Moulton
The Associated Press
Let’s say one of your New Year’s resolutions is to eat healthier and lose
some weight. Join the crowd, right?
In practice, what we probably mean — among other things — is that we plan
to eat more vegetables and less meat. It’s a challenge. But if you try this
dish — a wonderful vegetarian version of breaded veal (or pork or chicken)
cutlets swimming in a marinara sauce — you will see how easy and satisfying
it can be to turn a resolution into reality.
You start by slicing a whole head of cauliflower into cutlets. The idea
is to end up with thick slabs of the vegetable. One easy method for doing
this is to cut the head in half down the center, then turn each half on its
cut side and cut the halves into 1/2-inch-thick slabs. There will always be
a few loose bits from the ends, but those also can be breaded and cooked as
described below.
You’ll want to take care with the breading, too. It’s a three-step
process: dust the steaks lightly with cornstarch, coat them well with an egg
mixture, then finish them with a layer of breadcrumbs. This is standard
operating procedure among culinary pros. The three layers provide a more
substantial crust than any other single coating or combo of coatings.
Now it’s time to brown your vegetable cutlets. You could do it in a
skillet — just as you would a breaded meat cutlet — but that would require a
ton of oil (those breadcrumbs just soak it up). And remember, it’s the New
Year and you’re on a new path. So we bake them instead, which requires a lot
less oil. The key is to place the cutlets fairly close to the heat source.
In my electric oven that’s the top of the stove. If they’re not properly
browned at the end of the prescribed cooking time, just leave them in the
oven a little longer.
Then dig in. The biggest flavor is going to come from the marinara sauce.
Your brain likely won’t care at all whether the cutlet is veal or vegetable.
But your body will thank you.
Sara Moulton is host of public television’s "Sara’s Weeknight Meals." She
was executive chef at Gourmet magazine for nearly 25 years and spent
a decade hosting several Food Network shows, including "Cooking Live." Her
latest cookbook is Home Cooking 101.
* * *
Breaded Cauliflower Cutlets with Marinara
Start to finish: 1 hour, 15 minutes (45 minutes active)
Servings: 4
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 large head cauliflower
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup fat-free plain Greek yogurt
1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
1/2 cup cornstarch
1 3/4 cups panko breadcrumbs
1 ounce grated Parmesan cheese
1 1/2 cups speedy marinara (recipe below) or store-bought
marinara, heated
Heat the oven to 400º Fahrenheit.
In a small bowl, combine the oil and garlic. Set aside.
Pull off any leaves from the stem end of the cauliflower and trim off
just enough of the stem so the cauliflower stands flat on the counter. Slice
the cauliflower head in half down the center top to bottom. One at a time,
set each half onto its cut side. Starting from one end of each half, slice
crosswise to create 1/2-inch-thick slices. This will yield three to four
cutlets from the center of each half, with the small ends being chunks. The
chunks can be prepared as the cutlets, or reserved for another use.
In a shallow bowl or pie plate, whisk together the eggs, yogurt, three
tablespoons of water, and a 1/2 teaspoon of salt.
On a sheet of kitchen parchment paper, combine the cornstarch with the
remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt, stirring the mixture with a fork to combine.
On a second sheet of parchment, combine the panko with the cheese, stirring
with a fork.
One at a time, coat the cauliflower cutlets (and trimmings, if using) on
both sides with the cornstarch, knocking off the excess. Next, dip each in
the egg mixture, coating them on both sides and letting the excess drip off.
Finally, coat them with the panko mixture, patting the crumbs on well. Set
aside.
Strain the garlic oil through a mesh strainer, pressing hard on the
garlic to get out all the oil. Discard the garlic (or reserve for another
use).
On a rimmed baking sheet, spread half of the oil in an even coating. Set
the baking sheet on the oven’s top shelf and heat for five minutes.
Carefully remove the pan from the oven and quickly arrange the prepared
cauliflower on it in a single layer. Return the pan to the oven and bake for
15 minutes.
Remove the pan from the oven, drizzle the tops of the cauliflower evenly
with the remaining oil, turn them over, then bake for another 15 minutes.
Divide the cauliflower among four serving plates, then serve topped with
marinara.
Nutrition information per serving: 490 calories (190 calories from fat,
39 percent of total calories); 21 g fat (4.5 g saturated, 0 g trans fats);
170 mg cholesterol; 1,110 mg sodium; 58 g carbohydrate; 6 g fiber; 8 g
sugar; 17 g protein.
Speedy Marinara
Start to finish: 35 minutes (10 minutes active)
Makes about 2 1/2 cups
2 large cloves garlic, smashed
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
Hefty pinch red pepper flakes
28-ounce can plum tomatoes (preferably fire-roasted),
chopped
Kosher salt
In an unheated medium saucepan, combine the garlic and oil. Turn the heat
to medium and cook, turning over the garlic several times, until it is just
golden, four to six minutes. Add the red pepper flakes and cook, stirring,
for 30 seconds. Add the tomatoes and a hefty pinch of salt, then bring to a
boil, reduce the heat, and cook at a brisk simmer until the sauce is reduced
to about 2 1/2 cups, 20 to 25 minutes. Discard the garlic. Season with salt.
Nutrition information per 1/2 cup: 60 calories (25 calories from fat, 42
percent of total calories); 2.5 g fat (0 g saturated, 0 g trans fats); 0 mg
cholesterol; 460 mg sodium; 8 g carbohydrate; 3 g fiber; 4 g sugar; 1 g
protein.
* * *
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