Monday, May 2, 2016

DITCH THE DOUGH - Cauliflower Steaks




























Most of us love bread.  Breads are the foundation that holds some of our favorite foods together.  They act as a blanket for hot dogs and submarine sandwiches.  They are also the base of one of our favorite food groups, the pizza!

But breads are not exactly the healthiest option in the world.  I used to always think that sandwiches were healthy, depending on what you put on the bread.  Of course a bacon sandwich isn't exactly good for you, but that's because of the bacon, right?  Peanut butter sandwiches aren't too good for us either because peanut butter is filled with peanuts, butter and sugar.  So maybe a nice tomato sandwich, with a light dressing and some lettuce!  Yay!

Perhaps if we get the vegetarian pizza, that will be a much healthier alternative to the usual with pepperoni, bacon, meat and more meat.  But the breads are just as much a part of the problem as whatever you decide to put on it.


Mini Eggplant Pizzas!


Back when I was not exactly in the best shape of my life, I would sometimes think I was doing myself a favor by living on sandwiches for a week.  To my surprise, after about two days, my clothes were tighter.  "It has to be what I'm putting on the bread", I kept telling to myself.  Bread has fiber.  We are always told that fiber is good for us.  But it wasn’t so much what was on the bread but the bread itself.

So I say, ditch the dough every once in a while.  And I am not talking about going full insane mode and swapping bread slices or buns for chicken like one of those KFC Chicken Chicken Chicken burgers.  Try replacing the bread with something healthy and full of flavor.



Cheesy Broiled Tomatoes with Basil!


Try using tomato slices as the base for mini pizzas instead of any kind of dough.  Use eggplant.  Heck, slice a red pepper into slices, top them with awesomeness, bake or broil for a bit and there you go!  Bread, if nothing else, is a mostly flavorless base for whatever you decide to put on or between it.  Think I’m wrong?  Explain dipping sauces to me that you can buy with your pizza order.  How many people who used to never eat the crusts will now eat them if they have a sauce to dip into?  Exactly!  Chalk another excellent point up to Chef Nairby!



Broiled Zucchini with Mozzarella & Dill!



What other options are there to use as a base besides bread?  Tomato slices, eggplant slices, zucchini slices, red, green, orange and yellow peppers, and, as you will see as you continue scrolling down, cauliflower steaks!  Just try it!


Ingredients for Broiled Cauliflower Steaks



Broiled Cauliflower Steaks!


CAULIFLOWER STEAKS

There really is no right or wrong way to make these as it is all up to whatever you choose to use as toppings.  Here is what I used for this particular go-around.


INGREDIENTS

1 Head of cauliflower, cut into about 1 inch thick steaks
Grated marble cheese
Goat Cheese
Grape/Cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
1-2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
Fresh chopped dill
Red pepper, chopped
Onion, chopped
Olive oil


INSTRUCTIONS

1.  Brush cauliflower steaks with olive oil and place in a shallow baking pan sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.
2.  Top steaks with your choice of toppings, and however much you want, like a pizza!
3.  Broil in the oven for 7-10 minutes or until your eyes tell you they are ready!


Easy!  Enjoy!


Chef Nairby