vegetarian "chick fil a" inspired sandwich

Two chicken sandwiches for my hunny and one cauliflower sandwich for me!

My favorite meat substitute is by far CAULIFLOWER. It sounds so weird, I know. But when you cook it right, it's to die for. One thing I have missed for my four vegetarian years is a Chick Fil A sandwich. My go to order is now french fries and an Arnold Palmer, with tons of Chick Fil A sauce. Kirksville, however, does not have a Chick Fil A (add that to the list of things testing us...) and I have been craving it, so I decided I'm going to try and make a cauliflower knock off! 

Wish me luck...

Makes 2 sandwiches

Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Sandwich Recipe:

1/4 cup pickle juice

2, 1 inch slice of cauliflower 

2 Tablespoon milk

1 egg

1/2 cup flour

1 Tablespoon powdered sugar

1/2 teaspoon paprika

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon onion powder

salt and pepper

Vegetable oil for frying

For serving:

- buns (I prefer brioche)

- sliced tomatoes

- pepper jack cheese

- lettuce

- favorite sauce (Recipe for Chick Fil A sauce below!**)

1. Marinade cauliflower in pickle juice for at least 1 hour 

2.  Beat eggs and milk together and set aside.

3. In a separate bowl, mix dry ingredients

4. Heat oil in a skillet to 350 degrees

5. Dip cauliflower in milk + egg mixture, then cover in flour mixture 

    Make sure to... 

    - Cover the top edge (bumpy, head of the cauliflower)

    - Pat off the excess flour

6. Cook in hot oil until golden brown and crispy on both sides (2-3 minutes per side)

7. Set on wire rack to drain off oil

8. While your cauliflower is resting, toast your buns

9. Serve on toasted bun with lettuce, tomato, cheese, and sauce!

Chick Fil A Sauce Recipe:

1/4 cup mayo

2 Tablespoons barbecue sauce (I used Sweet Heat by Stubb's)

2 Tablespoons honey

2 teaspoons mustard

Juice from 1/4 of a lemon

1. Mix it up and refrigerate until you are ready to serve!

Serve on top of your sandwich or dunk your home made fries all up in it.

I mean... this is definitely not Chick Fil A. Like most copycat recipes, my cauliflower sandwich wasn't identical to the restaurant alternative, though there were some pretty comparable flavors. Not a home run, but this recipe satisfied my Chick Fil A craving. 

Substitutes:

🌱If you are looking for a vegan option use...

• unsweetened almond mild instead of milk
• a honey alternative (maple syrup, bee-free honey, agave nectar)
• vegan mayo
• vegan cheese or omit cheese

(Full disclosure, I have not cooked much with these vegan substitutes, so it may not turn out exactly like mine did. Use your expertise to make it yummy!)

🐥If you are looking for a meaty option...

• use 1 chicken breast instead of cauliflower slice 
• use a mallet to pound chicken until 1-1.5 inches thick
• cut thinned chicken breast in half
• cook until internal temperature is at 165 degrees