Roasted Cauliflower Grilled Cheese with Jalapeno Aioli

Grilled cheese has been my favorite sandwich since I was a kid. This grown-up version of the grilled cheese sandwich is absolutely delicious.  Make sure you give this recipe a try.  No one is ever too old to enjoy a grilled cheese sandwich - especially this one!

1 medium onion, sliced into 1/4" thick rounds
3 TBS olive oil
1/4 small head of cauliflower, sliced into flat, 3/4" thick pieces
Sea salt and fresh-cracked black pepper
2 slices whole-grain bread
2 oz (3/4 cup) aged cheddar cheese, shredded
1/4 cup baby arugula, washed and dried (or baby spinach)
1/2 TBS butter

Aioli
1 TBS mayonnaise (I used low-fat mayo)
1 small garlic clove, minced
1/4 to 1/2 medium jalapeno, seeded and minced *
Pinch of sea salt

Preheat the oven to 425.

Add the onion and 1 1/2 TBS of the oil in a medium saute pan and cook over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until the onion is softened and caramelized, 20-25 minutes.  You will have about 1/2 cup of onion.

Gently toss the cauliflower pieces with the remaining 1 1/2 TBS of oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and spread the cauliflower in a flat layer on a baking sheet.  Roast for 10 minutes, or until lightly browned.  Flip the cauliflower, then roast for another 5 minutes, or until golden brown, watching carefully to make sure the pieces do not burn.

Combine all of the aioli ingredients in a bowl and mix well.  Spread both slices of bread with aioli.  Layer 1 slice with caramelized onions, roasted cauliflower, shredded cheese and arugula.  Top with the other slice of bread.  Add the butter to the pan used to caramelize the onion, heat the pan over medium-low heat, and add the sandwich.  (Place the bread closest to the cheese layer on the bottom.)  Cook the sandwich for 4-6 minutes, or until the bottom is golden brown and the cheese is melting, applying pressure to the top of the sandwich with your spatula.  Flip the sandwich and brown the other side, about 3-4 minutes. 

* I didn't have a jalapeno when I made this sandwich, so I added about 2 tsp of pepper jelly and a few drops of siracha sauce to the mayo and garlic.  It was delicious.

Makes 1 sandwich

Source:  Relish - Daphne Oz

Kimberly