Roasted Cauliflower Steaks (Easy Recipe) - Crowded Kitchen (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Lexi

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These flavorful oven roasted cauliflower steaks make for a delicious vegan/vegetarian main dish for Thanksgiving, Christmas or any other entertaining occasion!

Roasted Cauliflower Steaks (Easy Recipe) - Crowded Kitchen (1)

Not sure about you, but every time the holidays roll around, we spend way too many hours scouring the web for main dishes that can be made vegan.

More often than not, I'd rather skip past the complicated ones (mushroom wellington; although it does sound amazing!) in favor of something a bit quicker. I'm more of a side dish person myself, but still gotta have a hearty, flavorful main!

That's where these vegan roasted cauliflower steaks come in. They're easy to prepare, mostly hands off, and a perfect meaty substitute for your regular holiday entrée. Serve alongside your favorite classic holiday side dishes, like mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, green beans & more!

Roasted Cauliflower Steaks (Easy Recipe) - Crowded Kitchen (2)

For extra comfort, serve these cauliflower steaks with mushroom gravy for a vegan take on salisbury steak.

How to cut cauliflower steaks

Roasted Cauliflower Steaks (Easy Recipe) - Crowded Kitchen (3)

Start by trimming any outer leaves. You can leave the stem intact – this helps keep the cauliflower steak together.

Slice directly through the middle of the cauliflower head. Carefully cut 1 ½ inch thick slices. You should be able to get 2-3 large steaks out of each head of cauliflower.

Roast leftover florets along with the steaks as a side dish for everyone to enjoy. Alternatively, use leftover florets for cauliflower fried rice, cauliflower pizza crust or roasted buffalo cauliflower bites.

Roasted Cauliflower Steaks (Easy Recipe) - Crowded Kitchen (4)

Tips

  • Choose the largest possible head of cauliflower you can find at the store. This will allow you to get 3 sturdy steaks out of each head of cauliflower.
  • Don't slice the steaks too thinly – 1-1 ½ inches thick is best. The thinner the steak, the less sturdy it will be, and the more breakage. It's not a huge disaster if some of the steak is detached, but it's certainly easier to serve when fully intact.
  • Use a large chef's knife (8" or larger) to prep the cauliflower. A larger knife helps keep the cauliflower intact.
Roasted Cauliflower Steaks (Easy Recipe) - Crowded Kitchen (5)

Marinade Ingredients

  • Olive oil (can also use melted vegan butter)
  • Lemon juice and zest: freshly squeezed is ALWAYS best! Most of the flavor comes from the zest, so don't leave it out.
  • Garlic: we use fresh minced garlic, but you can also sub with 1 teaspoon garlic powder.
  • Poultry seasoning: this is a key ingredient to make it taste a bit more "meaty".
  • Onion powder
  • Salt and pepper
  • Fresh herbs: we used parsley and thyme. You can also use oregano, tarragon, chives, or any other herbs you enjoy.
Roasted Cauliflower Steaks (Easy Recipe) - Crowded Kitchen (6)

Instructions

Prep the "steaks": Trim your cauliflower and slice into 1" steaks. Remember that you'll likely only get 2 steaks (3 at most) out of each head of cauliflower, so plan accordingly!

Make the marinade: Simply whisk everything but the fresh herbs together. Brush each side of each steak liberally and sprinkle with herbs.

Cover and roast: Cover the "steaks" with aluminum foil on a baking sheet and roast for 10 minutes. This allows the cauliflower to get tender without cooking the exterior too quickly.

Baste: After 10 minutes, remove the foil, brush top with more oil and return to oven (without foil) for 8 minutes. Flip each steak, brush with remaining marinade and roast for 8-10 more minutes, until the cauliflower is fork tender and crispy on the exterior.

Serve: Serve hot topped with more fresh herbs, gravy, mashed potatoes, and whatever other side dishes your heart desires!

Roasted Cauliflower Steaks (Easy Recipe) - Crowded Kitchen (7)

Serving suggestions

Serve alongside comforting holiday classics, like:

  • Best Vegan Mashed Potatoes with Mushroom Gravy
  • Gluten Free and Vegan Stuffing
  • Hasselback Butternut Squash with Maple Herb Glaze
  • Roasted Beet Kale Salad
  • Crispy Maple Mustard Brussels Sprouts
Roasted Cauliflower Steaks (Easy Recipe) - Crowded Kitchen (8)

More flavorful vegan main dishes you'll love:

  • Vegan Stuffed Acorn Squash
  • Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
  • Spinach, Mushroom and Ricotta Stuffed Shells
  • Vegan Butternut Squash Lasagna
Roasted Cauliflower Steaks (Easy Recipe) - Crowded Kitchen (9)

If you make these roasted cauliflower steaks, we’d love for you to leave a comment and rating below! We also love to see your creations onInstagram– tag us at @crowded_kitchen so we can see what you’ve been cooking.

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Roasted Cauliflower Steaks (Easy Recipe) - Crowded Kitchen (10)

Roasted Cauliflower Steaks

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  • Author: Lexi
  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Diet: Vegan
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Description

These flavorful oven roasted cauliflower steaks make for a delicious vegan/vegetarian main dish for Thanksgiving, Christmas or any other entertaining occasion!

Ingredients

Scale

  • 4 cauliflower "steaks" (you'll need 2 heads of cauliflower)
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 1 ½ tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 ½ tsp lemon zest
  • 3 cloves of garlic, finely minced or grated
  • 1 ½ tsp poultry seasoning
  • ½ tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp fine grain kosher salt
  • ¼ tsp pepper
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
  • 1 tbsp fresh thyme, finely chopped

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 425˚F.
  2. Prep the cauliflower:Start by trimming any outer leaves. You can leave the stem intact – this helps keep the cauliflower steak together. Slice directly through the middle of the cauliflower head. Carefully cut 1-1 ½ inch thick slices. You should be able to get 2 large steaks out of each head of cauliflower (3 if you're lucky!).* (See blog post for more tips/visual guide)
  3. Make the marinade:Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, zest, garlic, poultry seasoning, salt, pepper, onion powder, parsley and thyme.
  4. Brush the marinadeliberally on each side of each cauliflower steak. Place on a sheet pan, cover with aluminum foil and roast for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, remove the foil and brush the top with more marinade. Return to oven uncovered for 8 minutes, then flip each steak, brush with remaining marinade and roast for additional 8-10 minutes, until fork tender and crispy on the exterior.
  5. Serve:Serve hot with your favorite side dishes, like vegan mushroom gravy, mashed potatoes and green beans.

Notes

*Roast leftover florets along with the steaks as a side dish for everyone to enjoy. Alternatively, use leftover florets for cauliflower fried rice, cauliflower pizza crust or roasted buffalo cauliflower bites.

  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 "steak"
  • Calories: 156
  • Sugar: 2.3 g
  • Sodium: 615.5 mg
  • Fat: 14.4 g
  • Saturated Fat: 2.2 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 7.5 g
  • Fiber: 2.6 g
  • Protein: 2.4 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg
Roasted Cauliflower Steaks (Easy Recipe) - Crowded Kitchen (2024)

FAQs

How to roast cauliflower Martha Stewart? ›

Heat oven to 425 degrees. On a rimmed baking sheet, drizzle cauliflower florets with olive oil. Season with salt. Roast, turning occasionally, until golden brown and just tender, about 20 minutes.

Why is my roasted cauliflower tough? ›

Have you roasted cauliflower before and it came out tough or mushy? A common problem is either roasting it at too low a temperature or stopping once the cauliflower is tender—both mean that the florets do not caramelize.

How to cook cauliflower Rachael Ray? ›

directions
  1. Pour broth into a deep pot.
  2. Trim leaves and core off head of cauliflower.
  3. Place head of cauliflower in broth and drizzle with the olive oil.
  4. Cover and bring to a boil.
  5. Reduce heat to medium and boil covered until tender, about 8 to 10 minutes.
  6. Uncover and mash cauliflower w/potato masher.

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.

What does baking soda do to cauliflower? ›

Baking soda is often used as a natural cleaning agent, and it can be used to brighten up your veggies too. Sprinkle a little in the water before boiling to prevent cauliflower from yellowing and make corn look more vibrant.

Why is my cauliflower not roasting? ›

The biggest mistake most people make with roasted cauliflower is roasting at too low a temperature. We need a hot oven of 220°C/425°F so the cauliflower gets nice browning on it before the inside turns into soggy mush!

Should you rinse cauliflower before cooking? ›

The separated florets have to be washed properly under a tap. This removes dirt and large parasites such as worms. The next step is cleaning the cauliflower in mildly warm water in which a little salt was dissolved. This process – which should last 10-20 minutes - destroys several microbes and large parasites.

Why is my cauliflower not getting crispy? ›

Cauliflower has a very high water content, so it won't get crispy if you bake the florets crowded together. "Be sure to give each floret a bit of room so that the they have space for airflow. I'd also recommend baking them on a silicone baking mat," says Blay.

Why do you soak cauliflower? ›

If you're planning to roast the cauliflower whole or slice it into steaks, slice off the thick stem at the base. 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.

Why cauliflower should be boiled before cooking? ›

Once the pot is covered and the water reaches a boil, the heat from the water vapor penetrates the florets, collapsing their cell walls and making them more tender. The main stem of the cauliflower also softens in the process (don't worry – it won't burn).

How to make cauliflower puree Gordon Ramsay? ›

Remove the cauliflower stalks and cut them into small pieces. Heat the butter and milk in a pan and stew the cauliflower in it until softened. Add the cream and return to a high temperature. Immediately strain and liquidise the cauliflower then season and pass through a fine chinois.

Is it healthier to steam or bake cauliflower? ›

It's easy to cook, which gives it a creamier, nuttier taste that takes on the flavor of whatever you use as seasoning. How you cook cauliflower matters. You can keep more of its nutrients if you steam, roast, or stir-fry it.

Can you overcook cauliflower? ›

Overcooked cauliflower has a strong odor and yellowish color due to sulfur compounds that are released. Cook cauliflower rapidly to preserve color and flavor. When shopping for cauliflower, select firm, unblemished heads that are heavy for their size.

How to cut cauliflower without crumbling? ›

Instead, Kelsey recommends cutting each floret away from the cauliflower stem one at a time. This leaves the stem intact, and the pieces pop off easily. (It's also pretty meditative, if you need something simple to focus on after a long day at work.)

Why does my cauliflower fall apart? ›

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.

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