Recipes

Huli Huli Cauliflower

Serves 4

| Prep Time: 30 mins

| Cook Time: 30 mins

| Total Time: 1 hour

You may need: Hawaiian 7 Spice

Discover The Recipe

Huli Huli sauce is a popular sauce from Hawaii that is often used as a marinade and/or glaze for Huli Huli Chicken, a wildly popular style of grilled chicken. Huli is a Hawaiian term that means “turn” since the protein of choice is made on a grill and turned several times on spits or skewers during the roasting (cooking) process. So what does Huli Huli sauce taste like? It has a fruity pineapple, teriyaki sauce flavor. Although the originator, Ernest Morgado, never revealed his original recipe, most recipes often call for pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar and a spicy element like red pepper flakes or sriracha sauce. The final sauce is a beautiful balance of sweet, sour and heat.

In this dish, we add a playful, vegan twist to the classic Huli sauce with our Hawaiian 7 Spice blend. Inspired by the classic Japanese spice blend called Furikake, our version is a masterful combination of roasted garlic, tangerine peel, white sesame, nori (seaweed), black sesame, ginger and red pepper flakes. Sprinkle this savory island flavor on dishes like poke, rice bowls, salads, grilled meats and veggie dishes.

For this Huli Huli Cauliflower recipe, we use the Hawaiian 7 Spice blend in the marinade then sear the Cauliflower steaks on a hot grill to achieve nice grill marks. The Cauliflower is then finished in the oven until fork tender and evenly cooked. Top the Cauliflower steaks with fresh pineapple and a healthy sprinkle of the Hawaiian 7 Spice blend and season with salt to taste to complete the dish. You can also serve with some cooked rice for a complete and filling meal.

Ingredients

Huli Huli Marinade:
1 cup unsweetened pineapple juice (sweetened juice is fine)
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 Tbsp tomato paste
2 tsp ginger, peeled and grated
2 cloves garlic, minced (~2 tsp)
1 Tbsp Piquant Post Hawaiian 7 Spice
Huli Huli Cauliflower:
2 heads of cauliflower, cut into steaks
Garnish: cilantro, lime, pineapple slices
Salt to taste

Notes

If you don’t have a grill, you can easily use a grill pan, a cast iron skillet or a large saute pan. If you use a skillet, allow to cauliflower steaks to sear well on both sides.

Instructions

To prepare the marinade, whisk all the ingredients together in a large mixing bowl and set aside.

To prepare the cauliflower, wash and slice the cauliflower down the center into two steaks about 3/4” thick. The end florets can also be used. Repeat with the second head. Place the steaks into the marinade and allow to sit for 15 minutes. Save some of the marinade to use as a sauce after cauliflower is done marinating.

Pre-heat oven to 350 F. Heat a grill or a grill pan until hot and lightly brush with vegetable oil. Place the marinated cauliflower onto the grill/pan and cook for about 5-7 minutes on each side. Allow the steaks to cook undisturbed on the grill so nice grill marks are formed. Flip and cook on the other side. Repeat with all the steaks.

Place the steaks onto an oiled sheet pan and finish cooking in the oven for about 15 minutes, or until fork tender in the center. Serve with fresh sliced pineapple. Season with a sprinkle of our Hawaiian 7 Spice and a pinch of salt.

Alternatives & Substitutions

Try this marinade with tofu, tempeh, mushrooms or even on a veggie burger for more healthy vegan variations!
Looking for more delicious recipes featuring our Huli Huli blend? Try this delicious and tender Huli Huli Grilled Chicken or Huli Huli Pork Tenderloin. Our Seared Salmon Poke Bowls also feature our Hawaiian 7 Spice Blend! How about our delightful Hawaiian Shrimp Tacos with Pineapple Salsa, or our Hawaiian Mushroom Noodle Soup?
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