When I think about eating a fabulous sandwich, I automatically this crunchy, savory, and satisfying. For that reason, I choose the ingredients I like together. In fact, to me, there is nothing better than a tangy BBQ sauce with pineapple. And, since I love roasted cauliflower, and cauliflower sucks up sauce like a sponge, I decided to make BBQ cauliflower as the highlight of y sandwich.
For example, grilled sandwiches have a savory component that doesn’t appeal to a cold sandwich. The crunch of the grilled bread and the ingredients chosen for the sandwich inside is important to achieve the perfect BBQ cauliflower sandwich!
Often, the leftovers in your refrigerator have no idea what to do with making the best creations. My son used to open the refrigerator and say, “all there is in here is ingredients.”
That’s what happens when you have fresh, unprocessed food in the house, which requires a little ingenuity and creativity.
Apparently, mom knows how that’s done, or maybe he wants me to cook for him. It is probably the latter. Boys!
Since I had half a cauliflower head and some fresh pineapple left from the bowl I made the other night, I decided to marry the two in a BBQ panini wrap sandwich.
WHAT IS INSIDE A GRILLED BBQ CAULIFLOWER PANINI WRAP?
Whenever I am at a loss for what to make for dinner, I think about what I have in the refrigerator. Although I meal plan and often have my family's meals planned out, sometimes life gets in the way, and I have to think on the fly. Today was one of those days, of course.
So, what did I put in my grilled BBQ cauliflower panini wrap?
- Roasted cauliflower
- Arugula
- Red onion
- Fresh pineapple
- Tomato
- Homemade BBQ sauce
- Vegan spinach tortilla wrap
ROASTING THE CAULIFLOWER FOR BBQ CAULIFLOWER RECIPE
Because cauliflower is so porous, it is the perfect vegetable to absorb wonderful flavors. And cauliflower is simple to roast. For instance, all you need is cauliflower florets and a baking sheet lined with a silicone baking sheet or parchment paper.
Then, roast the cauliflower at 425 degrees for 20 minutes. Next, you toss the roasted cauliflower with a small amount of BBQ sauce. Remember, a little sauce goes a long way.
HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE VEGAN BBQ SAUCE FOR BBQ CAULIFLOWER
You can obviously choose your favorite bottled, store-bought BBQ sauce, but I prefer to make my own sauces because I can control what goes inside the sauce. For instance, I use the same sauce for my BBQ Tempeh and BBQ Jackfruit Recipes.
But, if you want to make my homemade BBQ sauce, you need to gather the following ingredients:
- 1 White onion, diced
- 2 cloves, minced Garlic
- 2 Tablespoons Organic Tomato Paste
- 1 15 oz. can Organic Tomato Sauce
- 4 Tablespoons Pure Maple Syrup
- 2 teaspoons Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon Vegan Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 ½ Tablespoons Molasses
- 1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
- ½ teaspoon Paprika
- 1 /2teaspoon Pepper
- ¼ teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
BUILDING THE PERFECT GRILLED BBQ CAULIFLOWER PANINI WRAP
First, I use my favorite Whole Foods vegan spinach wrap, but you can choose a gluten-free wrap, or a lavash bread works just as well. Then, lay the tortilla on a flat surface and begin building the BBQ cauliflower panini wrap. For example, start with the arugula to place a barrier, so ingredients with moisture don't make the bread soggy.
Then, add a generous layer of roasted BBQ cauliflower. Regardless of your cauliflower is hot or cold, it will be heated in the panini maker. For that reason, you can roast and toss the cauliflower in the BBQ sauce in advance. Or, you can use the warm cauliflower directly from the oven.
Next, I added the red onion, pineapple, and tomatoes. As a result, the wrap's entire center is full and ready to be rolled tightly into a burrito bundle.
BBQ sauce and pineapple are a perfect combination, add some fresh veggies and a grilled wrap, and the creation was made. Next, pull in the top and bottom of the bread and tuck in the ingredients as you roll.
Although you can make this same sandwich in a pan, I love my Cuisinart Panini Maker. It makes the perfect sandwich every time, and if you are a camper, this the perfect appliance for you!
WHAT ELSE CAN I MAKE WITH A CUISINART PANINI MAKER 3-IN-1 GRILL?
- Veggie burgers
- Mini pizzas
- Wrap sandwiches
- Veggie Fajitas
- Grilled fruit
- Grilled vegetables
- Grilled sandwiches or paninis
- Calzones
- Breakfast sandwiches
- Hashbrowns
- Pancakes
- French Toast
- Veggie dogs
- Chickpea Omelet
- Grilled Tofu
So, if you need a way to cook on the go or live in a small place with a confined kitchen, this is definitely one of my favorites!
The results, therefore, are AMAZING! Just slice in half and serve!
LOOKING FOR AMAZING SANDWICH RECIPES FOR QUICK MEALS?
- Skinny Greek Wrap Sandwich
- Vegan BBQ Pulled Sweet Potato Sandwiches with Pineapple Slaw
- BBQ Jackfruit Recipe
- BBQ Tempeh
- Beet Burger
- Vegan BLT
- Vegan Curry Chickpea Sandwich Spread
- Skinny Cobb Eggless Tofu Salad
- Chickpea Tuna Salad
- Vegan Chicken Salad
BBQ Cauliflower
Ingredients
PANINI WRAP
- ½ cauliflower head florets only
- ⅛ cup your favorite BBQ sauce or make your own (recipe below) or Annie's makes a good BBQ sauce
- 1 cup fresh pineapple diced
- 4 handfuls arugula
- 1 red onion sliced thin
- 1 large hot house tomato sliced thin and each slice cut in half
- 4 vegan wrap I like the ones from Whole Foods
Homemade BBQ Sauce
- ¼-1/2 cup Homemade BBQ sauce recipe
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees
- Roast cauliflower on a silicone baking sheet for 20 minutes
- Preheat panini maker
- When cauliflower is done roasting, place in a bowl and toss with BBQ sauce.
Place the wrap on a flat surface and layer your ingredients like this:
- Put the arugula down first; it acts as a moisture blocker so your wrap won't get soggy and break.
- Pull up the sides first and roll, pushing the ingredients inside.
- Grill for 15 minutes on medium.
- Cut and serve.
Nutrition
Hi! My name is Kathy, I am a retired high school English teacher & vegan enthusiast and blogger. My entire blog is fully plant-based vegan. I truly believe what we eat & how we live determines our health & the preservation of our planet! 🙂
Anonymous
Laura Olson
no panini maker BUT, I find my cheapo "Foreman Grill knock off" makes great panini panini press (and great oil free hashbrowns also)
Kathy I just love your style of recipe. Thanks for these. They seem to come to my inbox just when I need inspiration for a food I have to use up and its so creative.
Kathy Carmichael
Hi Laura, I love my George Foreman Grill. What a great idea using it for paninis and oil-free hash browns. I'm so glad you're enjoying the recipes. Thank you for the feedback. I appreciate it.
Laura Olson
This was such a refreshing way to eat cauliflower and manly BBQ flavors for my hubby.