PREPARATION
Step 1 Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Generously grease a 13-by-18-inch baking sheet with ¼ cup olive oil; set aside.
Step 2 In a shallow dish, beat the eggs with 1 tablespoon water.
Step 3 In another shallow dish, combine bread crumbs, flour, Parmesan, parsley and 1 teaspoon salt. Grate the zest of the whole lemon over the mixture and, using a fork, press the zest into the bread crumb mixture to combine evenly.
Step 4 Dredge the cauliflower steaks in the beaten eggs and then in the bread crumb mixture. Place them directly on the greased baking sheet. Generously drizzle the tops of all the steaks with ¼ cup olive oil.
Step 5 Transfer the baking sheet to the middle rack and bake for 15 minutes. Next, carefully flip the steaks with a sharp spatula to ensure the coating remains intact. Bake until golden-brown on both sides, another 10 minutes or so.
Step 6 While the cauliflower steaks bake, prepare the salad: In a large bowl, toss arugula, tomatoes and mozzarella with the juice of the zested lemon and remaining ¼ cup olive oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Step 7 Place the cauliflower steaks on serving dishes with a helping of the salad on top or alongside each.
Tip
To properly slice your cauliflower steaks, start by purchasing the largest heads of cauliflower you can find. Stand the whole cauliflower up, setting the root side on the cutting board. You should be able to cut three 3/4-inch-thick steaks from the central portion. Beginning on one side, slice down to release the end piece, which will break off and crumble. (Save it for another use!) Then, cut the three steaks from the middle of the cauliflower; the root will hold each piece together.