Cauliflower Steak Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (2024)

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Last updated: · Recipes developed by Vered DeLeeuw and nutritionally reviewed by Rachel Benight MS, RD · This website generates income via ads and uses cookies.

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These thick slabs of cauliflower steak are delicious, well-seasoned, and satisfying. They work well as the main course or a side dish.

The added bonus: this hearty recipe is easy to make, and the leftovers are excellent.

Cauliflower Steak Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (1)

This cauliflower steak is incredibly flavorful! It's obviously not a beef steak like New York Strip or ribeye steak, but it's "meaty," filling, and satiating, much like other substantial veggies such as grilled portobello mushrooms and grilled eggplant.

From start to finish, this easy recipe takes about 40 minutes to make, making it an ideal choice for a weeknight dinner.

Jump to:
  • Ingredients
  • Variations
  • Cauliflower Steak Instructions
  • Expert Tip
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Storing Leftovers
  • More Cauliflower Recipes
  • Foodie Newsletter
  • Recipe Card
  • Let's Connect

Ingredients

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You'll only need a few simple ingredients to make this recipe. The exact measurements are included in the recipe card below. Here's an overview of what you'll need:

  • Fresh cauliflower: You will need two fresh cauliflower heads for this recipe.
  • Olive oil: I love cooking with this delicious oil. I use olive oil spray for convenience.
  • To season: Kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and coriander.

Variations

  • Sometimes, I use a pastry brush to coat the cauliflower with melted butter instead of olive oil.
  • Smoked paprika is an excellent substitute for regular paprika. I love the smoky flavor it adds.
  • You can add a teaspoon of onion powder. Half a teaspoon of dried thyme is also delicious in this recipe.
  • One of my favorite variations is the balsamic cauliflower steaks shown in the photo below. Instead of using an olive oil spray and sprinkling the cauliflower with spices, I mix two tablespoons of olive oil, 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar, 1 teaspoon of kosher salt, ½ teaspoon of black pepper, and 1 teaspoon of garlic powder. I brush the mixture all over the cauliflower pieces and proceed to bake them as directed in the recipe card. I love how the balsamic vinegar gets sweet and caramelized in the oven!
Cauliflower Steak Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (3)

Cauliflower Steak Instructions

Scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps for making this recipe:

Preheat your oven to 425°F. Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with nonstick foil and spray it with olive oil.

Cauliflower Steak Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (4)

Wash the cauliflower heads, remove the outer leaves, and trim the very bottom of the core, keeping it intact. Slice each cauliflower head into ¾-inch-thick slices.

Cauliflower Steak Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (5)

Arrange the steaks in a single layer on the baking sheet. Scatter the florets around them. Spray their tops with olive oil and sprinkle them with half the seasonings.

Cauliflower Steak Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (6)

Bake the cauliflower steaks for 15 minutes. Remove them from the oven, carefully flip them with two wide spatulas, spray them with more oil, and sprinkle them with the remaining spices. Bake them until browned and fork-tender, 10-15 more minutes.

Cauliflower Steak Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (7)

Expert Tip

When you cut the cauliflower heads into slices, some slices will fall apart and turn into florets. Don't worry about those! Simply bake them alongside the intact slices.

That's why you need two cauliflower heads for this recipe, to account for the slices that fall apart.

Plan on getting three steaks out of each cauliflower head.

Recipe FAQs

What is cauliflower steak?

It's simply thick cauliflower slices that are roasted in the oven. It's not "steak" in the sense that it's made of beef; instead, it has the shape and thickness of a piece of steak. "Steak" refers to how the vegetable is cut before cooking.

Should I remove the core when slicing the cauliflower?

No, you shouldn't. Cauliflower stems are edible. Removing the core, even very carefully, will cause the steaks to fall apart.

I remove the outer leaves and trim the very bottom of the stem, but I leave the core intact, and I find that it softens nicely and is delicious when baked.

What does cauliflower steak taste like?

No big surprises here - it tastes like cauliflower, and more specifically, like roasted cauliflower, since it's typically roasted in the oven. But the experience of eating it is quite different because of the way it's sliced and presented.

Serving Suggestions

I sometimes serve cauliflower steak as a main course, accompanied by a side dish I can bake in the same 425°F oven, such as roasted cherry tomatoes, roasted Brussels sprouts, or baked spaghetti squash.

Sometimes, I serve it with fried or poached eggs for a hearty meatless meal.

My favorite way to serve these "steaks" is as a side dish to meat, poultry, or fish. Since I roast them in a425°F oven, I like to serve them with a main dish I can cook in the same oven, such as Parmesan-crusted chicken, baked salmon, or roasted rack of lamb.

Storing Leftovers

You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for up to 4 days. Reheat them gently, covered, in the microwave at 50% power. You can also freeze the leftovers for up to three months.

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More Cauliflower Recipes

  • Cauliflower Rice
  • Cauliflower Stuffing
  • Mashed Cauliflower
  • Roasted Cauliflower

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Recipe Card

Cauliflower Steak Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (13)

4.99 from 1284 votes

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Roasted Cauliflower Steak

These thick slabs of cauliflower steak are delicious, well-seasoned, and satisfying. And they are so easy to make!

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time30 minutes mins

Total Time40 minutes mins

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 109kcal

Author: Vered DeLeeuw

Ingredients

  • 2 medium cauliflower heads
  • Olive oil spray
  • 1 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt divided; or ½ teaspoon of any other salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper divided
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder divided
  • 1 teaspoon paprika divided
  • 1 teaspoon coriander divided

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 425°F. Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with nonstick foil or high-heat-resistant parchment paper and spray it with olive oil.

    Cauliflower Steak Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (14)

  • Wash the cauliflower heads, remove the outer leaves, and trim the very bottom of the core, keeping the core intact. Slice each cauliflower head into ¾-inch-thick slices. The outer slices will fall apart - simply roast them as florets with thesteaks. Plan on getting three steaks out of each cauliflower head.

    Cauliflower Steak Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (15)

  • Arrange the steaks in a single layer on the baking sheet. Scatter the florets around them. Spray their tops with olive oil and sprinkle them with half the seasonings.

    Cauliflower Steak Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (16)

  • Bake the cauliflower slices for 15 minutes. Remove them from the oven, carefully flip them using two wide spatulas, spray them with more oil, and sprinkle them with the remaining spices.

    Cauliflower Steak Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (17)

  • Return the cauliflower steaks to the oven and bake them until browned and fork-tender, 10-15 more minutes. Serve immediately.

    Cauliflower Steak Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (18)

Video

Notes

  • When you cut the cauliflower heads into slices, some will fall apart and turn into florets. Don't worry about those! Simply bake them alongside the intact slices. That's why you need two cauliflower heads for this recipe, to account for the slices that fall apart.
  • Don't trim the core. Cauliflower stems are edible. Removing the core, even very carefully, will cause the steaks to fall apart. I remove the outer leaves and trim the very bottom of the stem, but I leave the core intact, and I find that it softens nicely and is delicious when baked.
  • You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for up to 4 days. Reheat them gently, covered, in the microwave at 50% power. You can also freeze the leftovers for up to three months.

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Nutrition per Serving

Serving: 0.5cauliflower head | Calories: 109kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 367mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 6g

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Cup measurements refer to the standard American cup, which is 240 milliliters. Most of my recipes are low-carb (or keto) and gluten-free, but some are not. Please verify that a recipe fits your needs before using it. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Nutrition info is approximate, and the carb count excludes non-nutritive sweeteners. Nutrition info may contain errors, so please verify it independently. Recipes may contain errors, so please use your common sense when following them. Please read these Terms of Use carefully before using any of my recipes.

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About the Author

Cauliflower Steak Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (29) Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She's a Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC), has taken courses at the Harvard School of Public Health, and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, and Country Living. Click to learn more about Vered.

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Review this Recipe or Ask a Question:

  1. One reader

    Cauliflower Steak Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (30)
    I followed the recipe, it was very tasty, but, instead of the steaks being crispy, mine became soft and spongy, as after some time in the oven they started boiling in their juices. What did I do wrong? And an inquiry, Is there any way to achieve more steaks from one cauliflower? Because as you say the sides fall apart so max 2 or 3 steaks are achievable.

    Reply

    • Vered DeLeeuw

      Hi! I'm glad you enjoyed the flavor of these cauliflower steaks.
      It sounds like your cauliflower had a high water content. Your email address indicates you are from Greece. I don't know if you have different cauliflower varieties than in the United States. In any event, there should be no cooking juices. If there are, I suggest you carefully drain them midway through baking.
      As for the number of steaks, the only way to get more of them is to use more cauliflower heads. You can use three baking sheets simultaneously, one on each oven rack, rotating them midway through baking.

      Reply

  2. A. K.

    Cauliflower Steak Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (31)
    Great recipe! Today is the 2nd time I made it. First time I served it with edamame and today with baked sweet potato on the side. Thank you for this wonderful, healthy and satisfying recipe - it will be in regular rotation in our house 🙂

    Reply

    • Vered DeLeeuw

      I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for leaving a comment.

      Reply

  3. Roy

    Cauliflower Steak Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (32)
    Delicious! I brushed the cauliflower with melted butter instead of using an olive oil spray. Wife demands it at least once a week from now on. 😀

    Reply

    • Vered DeLeeuw

      Glad you and your wife enjoyed this recipe, Roy!

      Reply

  4. Yolanda

    Cauliflower Steak Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (33)
    An easy and tasty recipe. Everyone enjoyed the flavor. Will definitely make again!

    Reply

    • Vered DeLeeuw

      I'm so glad you enjoyed this recipe, Yolanda! It's one of my favorite side dishes.

      Reply

Cauliflower Steak Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (2024)

FAQs

Why do you soak cauliflower before cooking? ›

This process – which should last 10-20 minutes - destroys several microbes and large parasites. As cauliflower is highly susceptible to microbial attacks, it should be washed once again. This time, boil some water and put the cauliflower florets in it. Keep for five minutes and remove from the hot water.

What is the most nutritious way to eat cauliflower? ›

5 Healthy Ways to Cook with Cauliflower
  • Roasted Cauliflower and Kale Soup. Soup is a quintessential comfort food, especially when it's rich and creamy and full of flavor. ...
  • Cauliflower Steaks with Caper-Anchovy-Garlic Sauce. ...
  • Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes. ...
  • Whole Roasted Cauliflower. ...
  • Cauliflower Tabbouleh.
Feb 20, 2018

Why is cauliflower steak called steak? ›

They're called cauliflower steaks because the shape and general appearance are rather, well, steak-like. The name is also an indicator of which cooking methods to try—any way you might cook a steak can be used for cauliflower steaks, too.

Which way do you cut cauliflower to make cauliflower steaks? ›

Slice straight down the middle from top to bottom like you're cutting into a loaf of bread. 3. Holding the round part of one half of the cauliflower head, slice a 1-inch thick slice from the cut end. Try to keep the steak from falling over too hard onto the cutting board to keep the florets intact.

Can you cut the brown spots off of cauliflower and still eat it? ›

While spotted cauliflower might not be the most attractive look, experts agree there's nothing dangerous about it unless the spots are very dark or widespread. So cut them off and roast it, make it into a pizza crust, or dip it in ranch dressing — as we all know, the sky's the limit with this versatile veggie.

Why do you put lemon juice in cauliflower? ›

Cauliflower contains some phytonutrients, these nutrients may react with iron cookware and gives the cauliflower a brownish color. To prevent this add some lemon juice to the cauliflower or to the water in which it is blanched.

What happens when you add lemon juice to water when cooking cauliflower? ›

Helps retain color: Cauliflower can sometimes turn brown or lose its vibrant white color when cooked. However, the acid in lemon juice can help prevent discoloration and maintain the cauliflower's white appearance.

How long should cauliflower soak? ›

Drop the whole cauliflower head upside-down into cool, salted water. Let it soak for 10 to 15 minutes to remove dirt, residue and bugs. Drain and rinse.

What does cauliflower do to your gut? ›

As a good source of fiber, cauliflower slows digestion and promotes feelings of fullness. This may help reduce the number of calories you eat throughout the day, an important factor in weight control ( 2 , 9 ). High water content is another weight loss-friendly aspect of cauliflower.

How many times a week should you eat cauliflower? ›

Even better from a health standpoint, enjoy cauliflower and other vegetables from the cruciferous vegetable group 4-5 times per week, and increase your serving size to 2 cups.

What color cauliflower is healthiest? ›

Purple. Purple cauliflower is the healthiest option, with numerous advantages. The purple hue is due to the antioxidants called anthocyanins. These are the pigments present in various other plants and plant-based products, including red cabbage and red wine.

Why is it called a cowboy steak? ›

We can assume that this rugged name came from the equally rugged hunk of steak you'll get when you order a cowboy steak cut from your butcher or a local restaurant. It's manly and rugged, much like a cowboy. Cowboy cuts, since they're part of the ribeye steak cut, also come from the rib section of the animal.

What is the bloody juice in steak? ›

That red liquid is water mixed a protein called myoglobin. See as meat ages, the muscle tissue breaks down – and it doesn't take long. The water and myoglobin cells inside the meat are released and voila, a red blood-like liquid emanates from the meat when it is prepared.

Why put Worcestershire sauce on steak? ›

Recipe blog One Good Thing notes that the vinegar in Worcestershire sauce tenderizes steak, its sugar and molasses bring both sweetness and sheen, and ingredients such as onion, garlic, tamarind, and anchovy pack a wallop of umami flavor.

Why is my cauliflower crumbly? ›

Overcooking It

It should cook in the microwave for 3-4 minutes and when you're heating it up on a pan it should be about 2-3 minutes. Keeping riced cauliflower on a pan longer than that will start make it turn too crumbly and wreck the texture.

Why is my cauliflower separating? ›

Once the "curds" begin to separate, the head is over mature. I'm fairly certain that although you think the weather has been mild, your cauliflower was ready to bolt - triggered either by the longer days of early summer or the heat. You may find that fall grown plants outperform spring plants in your location.

Why are my cauliflower heads splitting? ›

Why does this happen? The reason for this happening is simply down to growing conditions – the plant is stressed, probably from the hot, dry summer conditions that we had. The somewhat cold start to spring won't have helped either.

Why is cauliflower so crumbly? ›

Cauliflower appears hardy but can crumble easily without the proper cutting techniques. Good cauliflower is firm, compact, and has tightly-closed florets. Cauliflower perishes quickly, so it's best kept dry and consumed within a few days of purchase.

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