Swap Chicken With This Hearty Veggie For A Fun Twist On Chicken Parmesan

Chicken parmesan is a time-tested classic. Prepared properly, you get a tender protein covered in crispy breading, mixed with salty-savory cheese, all smothered in flavorful tomato sauce. The formula delights with chicken, turkey, or beef, but it also enables mouthwatering vegetable renditions.

For instance, consider crafting a version with cabbage. At first glance, this cruciferous vegetable may seem like an unlikely stand-in for chicken breast. Yet, if you use the proper technique to cut and cook cabbage steaks, the leaves will stay perfectly intact. Simply core and slice the head into thick, two-inch rounds, then roast or saute them at high heat. Topped with cheese and optional breadcrumbs, the result is a tender, flavorful dish that serves as a mouthwatering alternative to meat.

Opt for a sturdier variety like green cabbage — optionally secured with toothpicks — and the vegetable still retains a surprising amount of structure. You can then improve the crust with an easy three-ingredient breading, using a reliable mixture of breadcrumbs, buttermilk, and parmesan for a perfect exterior (or stick exclusively to cheese). Cover the dish in a high-quality tomato sauce, and the hearty vegetarian rendition tastes on par with the original.

In addition to a green cabbage rendition, there is a world of other mouthwatering vegetarian twists on chicken parmesan. You could start by substituting other cabbage types for tweaks in flavor and texture. Red cabbage still upholds a dense structure but enhances the flavor with extra earthy-sweet tasting notes. Meanwhile, opt for savoy cabbage to create a more delicate and tender interior — just adjust with a shorter cooking duration.

Other mouthwatering vegetable candidates await, too. Many know the merits of eggplant parmesan; fried then roasted, the foodstuff yields a mouthwatering breadcrumb canvas. Not to mention, the ingredient is easy to batch in a casserole pan, making it simple to craft a vegetarian parmesan meal for the whole family. Furthermore, cauliflower lends itself as a similarly well-structured candidate. Sliced into steaks, the vegetable will hold its structure following a pan-fry and bake, readily adhering to a breadcrumb crust. Garnished with a slice of mozzarella and tomato, cauliflower parmesan looks the most similar to its meat counterparts. Ultimately, just note that the magic of the dish rests in the contrast of tender and crisp, with a comforting dose of cheese and sauce to tie it all together.