Crispy Cajun Cauliflower Burgers

Crispy Cajun Cauliflower Burgers

Honestly, this is one of those recipes we keep coming back to again and again. There's something about a properly crispy, golden cauliflower steak loaded with Cajun spice that just hits different in a burger bun. You get this incredible crunch from the crumb, the warmth of the Cajun seasoning, and then that jammy pickled onion relish on top which cuts right through it. We love making these on a Friday night when we want something that feels a bit special but doesn't take all evening. Trust us, once you've made these you'll wonder why you ever bothered with anything else.

Cook: 45 min
Serves 4

Before You Start

  • Preheat oven to 200°C
  • Large baking tray lined with parchment
  • Shallow dish for breadcrumbs
  • Whisk
  • Tongs

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp plant-based butter
  • 2 red onions
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • ½ tsp ground coriander
  • ½ tsp ground cumin
  • 1 ½ tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 1 tbsp caster sugar
  • 1 cauliflower
  • 50g plain flour
  • 125ml plant-based milk
  • 80g panko breadcrumbs
  • 2 tbsp Cajun spice
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • low-fat olive oil spray
  • 8 slices of - Red Leicester Sheese
  • 100g plant-based mayonnaise
  • 1 tbsp Sriracha
  • 1 tbsp chipotle paste
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • ½ lemon
  • 1 baby gem lettuce
  • 4 burger buns

Method

1

Make the pickled onion relish

  • Peel and finely slice the onion
  • Peel and mince the garlic
  • Heat a saucepan over a medium heat and add the butter to melt
  • Add the onion with pinch of salt and cook until softened, around 10 minutes
  • Add the garlic, cumin and coriander for 1 minute then pour in the vinegar and sugar
  • Simmer for 5 minutes until jammy
2

Crumb the cauliflower steaks

  • Trim the ends off 2 sides of the cauliflower then cut the remainder into 1.5cm slices through the root to make 4 ‘steaks’
  • Whisk the flour and milk together in a bowl to combine
  • Place the breadcrumbs in a shallow dish and stir through the cajun spice and salt
  • Use tongs to dip each steak in the batter to coat both sides, then the breadcrumbs until fully coated
  • Repeat with the remaining steaks and place on the lined baking tray or in the air fyer
  • Spray with olive oil and bake for 30 minutes until golden and crispy and the cauliflower is cooked through, or air fry for 15-20 minutes
  • Top each steak with two slices of Sheese and place back in the oven or air fryer for 5 minutes to melt
  • Add a few slice of cheese and air fryer for 2 mins or until melted
3

Mix the mayo

  • Place the mayo in a bowl and stir through the sriracha, chipotle paste and mustard
  • Squeeze half the lemon and stir through
4

Assemble the burgers

  • Separate the lettuce leaves
  • Scoop the flesh out the avocado and slice
  • Toast the burger buns
  • Spread the base with mayo and top with the cheesy cauliflower steaks
  • Top with a spoon of onion relish
  • Top with the salad leaves and the bun top

Tips & Variations

  • Get the crumb to stick: We find it works really well to press the breadcrumbs firmly onto the cauliflower steak rather than just coating it loosely. Give it a proper press and it'll stay together much better when it cooks.
  • Make the relish ahead: The pickled onion relish actually gets better as it sits, so you can make it earlier in the day or even the night before. It keeps well in the fridge and saves you time when you're pulling everything together.
  • Adjust the heat: If you want more of a kick, add a pinch of cayenne to your Cajun seasoning. If you're cooking for people who don't love spice, just dial it back a little. The burger works brilliantly either way.

Why This Works

The trick here is getting those cauliflower steaks properly coated so the crumb really sticks and crisps up beautifully. What really makes this sing is the pickled onion relish. That combination of vinegar, sugar and warm spices cooked down until jammy is the kind of thing that takes a burger from good to absolutely incredible. Don't skip it.