Vegetarian Recipes

Crispy Cauliflower Po’ Boy Sandwich

https://www.loveandlemons.com/po-boy-sandwich/

Happy (almost) Labor Day weekend! If you’re still looking for a really fun, delicious, and healthy(-ish!) main dish for your cookouts this weekend, this Cauliflower Po’ Boy Sandwich is just the thing for you!

What is a po boy?

A traditional sandwich from New Orleans, a po’ boy is typically served on French bread and stuffed with roast beef or fried seafood, oftentimes shrimp. A slather of creamy remoulade sauce ties the whole thing together.

While I may not be making a roast beef po’ boy anytime soon, this crispy cauliflower po’ boy has been on repeat around here for the last few weeks. The crisp-tender cauliflower reminds me of the texture of fried shrimp, and I toss it in a lemony, Creole-spiced panko coating for a boost of flavor. Finished with juicy tomatoes, crisp lettuce, and a creamy/tangy/smoky sauce, it’s a delectable way to celebrate the end of summer!

My Po’ Boy Recipe Ingredients

I’ve experimented with veggie po’ boys before, but this time I streamlined the recipe. I skip the cornmeal in the crispy coating, using a mix of panko, Creole seasoning, and lemon zest to coat the cauliflower. A lightly beaten egg binds it to the veggies.

Then, I make an easy homemade remoulade sauce with 5 simple ingredients:

Mayo is the creamy base.
Garlic adds depth of flavor.
Hot sauce spices it up.
Paprika gives it a smoky kick.
And Dijon mustard adds a tangy finish.

Just grab tomatoes, lettuce, pickles, and soft baguette or French rolls to complete the sandwiches, and you’re good to go!

How to Make a Po’ Boy Sandwich

Once your ingredients are prepped, these sandwiches are easy to put together. Here’s what you need to do:

Mix together the panko, Creole seasoning, and lemon zest. Dip each cauliflower floret in the egg wash, and then toss it in the panko mixture until it’s fully coated.
Spread the breaded cauliflower florets on a parchment-lined baking sheet, drizzle them with olive oil, and roast them in a 400-degree oven until they’re crispy and golden, about 20 minutes. (If you have one, an air-fryer works here too!)
While the cauliflower cooks, stir together the remoulade sauce.
Finally, load up the sandwiches with the breaded & baked cauliflower, the sauce, and all the fixings! Enjoy!

Po’ Boy Sandwich Serving Suggestions

I like to serve my po’ boys with a big squeeze of lemon and extra sauce on the side. If you need ideas for what to pair them with, try any classic picnic fare. As you can see in the photos, we like them with potato chips, but sweet potato fries with chipotle sauce or any of these summer salads would be great choices too:

Happy picnicking!

Crispy Cauliflower Po Boy Sandwich

Author: Jeanine Donofrio

Recipe type: Main dish

¾ cup panko bread crumbs
1½ tablespoon Creole Seasoning
Zest of 1 lemon
1 egg, lightly beaten
heaping 2 cups small cauliflower florets (1-inch pieces)
Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
4 soft baguette pieces, lightly toasted
Lettuce, tomatoes & pickles
Chives
Lemon wedges

½ cup mayo
1 tablespoon mustard
2 garlic cloves, minced
½ teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon hot sauce

Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
On a rimmed tray, mix together the panko, seasoning, and lemon zest. Place the egg in a small bowl nearby. Dip each cauliflower floret into the egg, coat with the panko mixture, then place onto the baking sheet Repeat with remaining cauliflower. Drizzle the coated cauliflower with olive oil and bake for 20 minutes or until crispy and golden brown.
In a small bowl, mix together the mayo, mustard, garlic, paprika, and hot sauce.
Assemble the sandwiches with a generous slather of the remoulade, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and cauliflower. Squeeze lemon over the cauliflower, top with chives, and serve with remaining remoulade sauce on the side.

Vegetarian Recipes

Lemon Ricotta Pasta

Here’s a quickie recipe for those nights when you just need something fast and delicious. This Lemon Ricotta Pasta is super fast, light, and fresh, which makes it perfect for an easy weeknight dinner during the summer. The bright lemon flavor perfectly compliments the light and creamy ricotta, and the little pops of sweetness from the peas make every bite a little more interesting. Simple, fresh, and easy.

Originally posted 3-4-2011, updated 6-8-2022.

Do I Have to Use Fresh Lemon?

This is one of those recipes where you really do want to use a fresh lemon instead of bottled juice. The zest from the lemon adds a ton of bright, summery lemon flavor to the pasta without making the sauce too sour. We add just a little of the juice to balance the creaminess of the ricotta, but the zest is where you’re getting all that gorgeous sunny lemon flavor!

Not All Ricotta is Created Equal

I find there is quite a bit of variation in the quality of ricotta from brand to brand. Some are smooth, mild, and sweet like fresh milk, while others are bland and grainy. My preferred brand is Galbani, but they didn’t have any at the store when I went, so I got the generic Kroger brand. It was definitely a bit grainy, but the pasta was still quite delicious despite that!

Also, make sure to get whole milk ricotta. Low-fat ricotta just doesn’t hit the same in this recipe.

What Else Can I Add?

This simple pasta is a great jumping-off point for making a more elaborate pasta, if that’s what you’re in the mood for. Try adding some sliced chicken breast, fresh basil, or fresh spinach. Garlic butter shrimp would also go great with this pasta!

What to Serve with Lemon Ricotta Pasta

This pasta is so light and fresh that I suggest keeping any side dishes really simple, light, and fresh as well. I would go with a super simple side salad, or maybe some roasted asparagus and tomatoes.

Lemon Ricotta Pasta

Lemon Ricotta Pasta is light, fresh, and quick to prepare, making it the perfect pasta for weeknight dinners in the summer.

Course Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine American

Total Cost $4.27 recipe / $1.07 serving

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Servings

Calories 400kcal

Author Beth – Budget Bytes

Ingredients

1 lemon $0.89
8 oz. pasta* $0.67
1 cup frozen peas $0.50
1 clove garlic, minced $0.08
1 Tbsp butter $0.11
1 cup whole milk ricotta $1.60
1/4 cup grated Parmesan $0.36
1/4 tsp salt (or to taste) $0.02
1/4 tsp freshly cracked black pepper (or to taste) $0.02
1 pinch crushed red pepper (or to taste) $0.02

Instructions

Zest and juice the lemon. You’ll need about ½ tsp zest and 1 Tbsp lemon juice.
Cook the pasta according to the package directions (boil for 7-10 minutes, or until tender). Before draining, reserve about 1 cup of the starchy water from the pot.
Place the frozen peas in the colander before draining the pasta so the pasta will thaw the peas as it drains.
Add the butter and minced garlic to a large skillet and sauté over medium heat for 1-2 minutes, or just until the garlic is fragrant.
Add the drained pasta and peas, and about ½ cup of the starchy pasta cooking water to the skillet with the butter and garlic. Stir to combine, then turn off the heat.
Add the ricotta, Parmesan, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and ½ teaspoon lemon zest to the skillet. Stir until everything is well combined, the residual heat from the skillet and pasta have warmed the ricotta, and the ricotta has formed a creamy sauce. Add more of the warm reserved pasta water if needed.
Season the pasta with salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper to taste. Serve warm.

Notes

*Use any short shape pasta.

Nutrition

How to Make Lemon Ricotta Pasta – Step By Step Photos

Zest and juice one lemon. You’ll need about ½ tsp of zest and 1 Tbsp juice.

Cook 8oz. pasta according to the package directions (boil for 7-10 minutes, or until tender). Reserve about 1 cup of the starchy pasta water before draining.

Add 1 cup of frozen peas to a colander, then pour the boiled pasta over top to thaw the peas as you drain the pasta.

Add 1 Tbsp butter and 1 clove garlic to a large skillet. Sauté over medium heat for 1-2 minutes, or just until the garlic becomes very fragrant.

Add the still-hot pasta and peas to the skillet along with about ½ cup of the hot reserved pasta water. Stir to combine, then turn off the heat.

Add 1 cup whole milk ricotta, ¼ cup grated Parmesan, 1 Tbsp lemon juice, and ½ tsp lemon zest to the pasta. Stir until the ingredients are combined, the residual heat from the pasta and skillet have warmed the ricotta, and the ricotta has turned into a creamy sauce.