Ingredients
1clovegarlic,thinly sliced
2tbsplemon juice
pinchsalt
¾cuproasted red peppers from a jar,drained, diced
½cupmayonnaise,any kind
¼tspMaras,or Aleppo, or other red pepper flakes
2medium cauliflowers,or 1 very large cauliflower head
4tbspolive oil
½tspsalt
⅛tspground black pepper
1tsppaprika,smoked
8slicessourdough bread
2large tomatoes,thickly sliced
2handfulsarugula,or other greens of your choice, such as crisp lettuce
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Spray or brush a rimmed baking sheet with olive oil.
To make the aioli, in a food processor, combine the garlic, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt.
Let the garlic soak for about 5 minutes to soften the garlic’s raw harshness. Add the roasted peppers and puree until smooth.
Add the mayonnaise and red pepper flakes and pulse to mix. The consistency of the aioli should be slightly thinner than mayonnaise.
Taste and add more red pepper flakes, if desired.
To slice the cauliflower steaks, start by leaving the core intact, then trim a sliver from the bottom of the stem end of the cauliflower and remove the leaves.
Stand the cauliflower upright on its base. With a large knife, cut it into ½-inch thick steaks. There should be at least 4 slices that hold together.
There will be some “scraps”—slices of cauliflower that are not attached to the base. If they are flat, roast them with the steaks and use them to build the sandwich.
Don’t throw other scraps away. Either roast them on a separate baking sheet when roasting the steaks or save them for cauliflower rice.
Brush both sides of the steaks and the flat scraps with oil. Sprinkle both sides generously with salt and pepper.
Set them on the baking sheet, and sprinkle lightly with the paprika.
Cover the cauliflower with foil and roast for 10 minutes. (This allows the cauliflower to steam briefly and soften in the center.)
Remove the pan from the oven and remove the foil. Return it to the oven and roast for 10 minutes longer, or until the cauliflower begins to brown.
Carefully turn the steaks over, sprinkle with more paprika, and bake for an additional 8 to 10 minutes, or until golden and tender when you insert the tip of a knife into the steak.
Remove from the oven and set aside. Total roasting time is about 30 minutes.
Set the oven to broil.
On a baking sheet, spread the bread slices. Brush them on both sides with oil.
Broil for 1 to 2 minutes on each side, or until toasted on the outside but still slightly soft in the middle. Watch carefully to keep them from burning.
Spread the aioli on each slice of bread.
On each of the 4 slices, set the cauliflower on top. Top each with tomato slices and arugula.
Cover each with a second slice of bread.
Cut the sandwiches in half and serve.
