Cauliflower Steaks with Lentils & Pistachio Mint Pesto
 
 
Serves 2.
Author:
Ingredients
  • 1 head cauliflower
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 2 handfuls arugula
  • juice of half a lemon
  • sea salt & pepper
Herbed Lentils
  • ½ cup green lentils
  • 1 cup low sodium vegetable broth
  • 1 sprig thyme
  • 1 bay leaf
  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Pistachio Mint Pesto
  • 2 cups loosely packed mint leaves
  • ½ cup pistachios
  • ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 large clove garlic
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 425 F. Meanwhile, combine all ingredients for lentils in a pot. Bring to a boil then lower to a simmer and cook, covered for 35-40 minutes, until lentils are tender but not mushy. Discard bay leaf and thyme sprig.
  2. For the cauliflower, cut off sides to make as straight as possible, saving florets for another time. Cut remaining head into three, 1 - 1½ inch thick steaks. (This will depend on the size of your cauliflower.)
  3. Heat a cast iron skillet, or other oven safe sauté pan, on the stovetop over medium-high heat with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Once oil is hot, add the cauliflower steaks to skillet. Drizzle with remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and season with sea salt and black pepper. Cook until well browned, about 5 minutes then flip the steaks over. Season other side with salt and pepper then place skillet in oven. Cook until steaks can easily be pierced with a fork, about 10 minutes.
Pistachio Mint Pesto
  1. To toast pistachios, spread out on a cookie sheet and bake in a 400 F oven for 6 - 8 minutes. Allow to cool.
  2. Combine all ingredients, except for olive oil in a food processor. With processor running, slowly pour in the olive oil and allow to run until oil is just incorporated, about 20 seconds. Leftover pesto can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days.
To serve
  1. Toss arugula with lemon juice and season with salt and pepper. Divide lentils between two plates and top with cauliflower steaks. Pile arugula on top of steaks and drizzle with pesto.
Recipe by The Mostly Vegan at https://www.themostlyvegan.com/cauliflower-steaks-with-lentils-pistachio-mint-pesto/