Cauliflower Steaks (Oven & Air Fryer)

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Have you ever tried making roasted Cauliflower Steaks? This recipe is a fun way to eat cauliflower. They're so easy to make and includes a delicious spice rub that turns so golden and caramelised once roasted.

Close up of roasted cauliflower steaks in an oven tray

I’ve always liked cauliflower, however I absolutely LOVE it when it's roasted! It completely changes the flavor! Slicing it into thick Cauliflower Steaks is such a fun way to enjoy the vegetable as either a main dish or a fun side dish.

Serve over a bed of White Bean Dip as a high protein sauce alongside a Shirazi Salad for the perfect meal.

What makes these “steaks” even yummier is the spice rub marinade which takes the roasted cauliflower to another level. It has a mix of Moroccan and Middle Eastern inspired flavors with smoked paprika, cumin, and other spices.

It's also Vegan and Gluten free so everyone can enjoy it.

Table of Contents

Ingredients and Substitutions
How to make Cauliflower Steaks
Tips for making Cauliflower Steaks
FAQs
More Roasted Veggies
More Vegan Dinners
Recipe
Comments

Four roasted cauliflower steaks in an oven tray

Ingredients and Substitutions

Cauliflower is of course the star! I mean you cant make Cauliflower Steak without cauliflower 🙂 I've tried this recipe with both a traditional white cauliflower along with a purple coloured cauliflower, they both taste great
Extra virgin olive oil is the base of the marinade to coat the steaks. You can also substitute with a different oil such as avocado oil however I love the flavor of olive oil with the spice rub
Smoked Paprika brings a lovely colour and smokiness, sweet paprika can also work too
Garlic powder, because I mean garlic makes everything taste better 🙂 onion powder will also be a great substitute
Cumin is a spice I love using which has a lovely earthiness to it. Turmeric would be yummy too
Chilli powder for a little kick. Red pepper flakes can also work too
Garnish, here I've garnished with chopped parsley and pomegranate seeds for a little sweetness. Other garnish options can be to add chopped cilantro / coriander, basil, a squeeze of lemon juice or even some parmesan cheese

Ingredients to make roasted cauliflower steaks with a spice rub

How to make Cauliflower Steaks

Here are four easy steps to make Cauliflower Steaks at home in no time.

Steps on how to make roasted cauliflower steaks with a spice rub

Start by preheating the oven to 200°C/400°F. Prepare cauliflower steaks by first slicing a thin piece off the bottom stem off the cauliflower, keeping the core however intact. Place the cauliflower head on a chopping board with the stem side down. With a sharp knife, slice thick slices through the cauliflower (approximately ½ an inch / 1cm in thickness)
In a small bowl, make the spice marinade by adding olive oil and spices (paprika, garlic powder, cumin, chilli powder, black pepper and salt to taste). Stir together
Place cauliflower steaks on a baking sheet, on an oven tray or air fryer. Brush on some marinade to all the steaks, then flip them over and brush on the remaining marinade to the other side
Roast cauliflower steaks for 15-20 minutes in the oven or 10-15 minutes in the air fryer until they are golden-brown. Check they are fork tender by sticking a toothpick or fork into the steaks.

Serve the roasted cauliflower steaks with a sprinkle of parsley and pomegranate seeds over a bed of white bean dip and enjoy!

Close up of cauliflower steaks in an oven tray topped with pomegranate and parsley

Tips for making Cauliflower Steaks

Use a sharp knife when cutting into the head of cauliflower and be careful when slicing
You can remove the outer leaves from the cauliflower, I prefer to leave them on
Some of the florets will normally fall off the first and last pieces, this is totally normal. The full pieces of cauliflower steaks are from the middle, you should obtain 4 thick slabs
Use the broken pieces and leftover cauliflower florets for a different dish, or make extra of the marinade and bake these florets next to the steaks
Don't slice the steaks too thin as they will get softer when cooked. If they are overcooked, they will be mushy and wont keep their form
You can also grill cauliflower steaks either on a grill, pan or cast-iron skillet

Cauliflower steaks in an oven tray shot in the sun

FAQs

Why is cauliflower steak called steak?

It's of course not anything like real "steak". However when cauliflower is sliced whole into thick slabs, the middle pieces that are still intact with the stem resembles a piece of steak

How thick to cut cauliflower steaks?

Cut the cauliflower steaks around ½ an inch to ¾ an inch in thickness (1cm - 1.5 cm). You don't want them too thin as they will lose their shape and become too soft and mushy when cooked

How do you cut cauliflower steaks so they don't fall apart?

Place the cauliflower head on a chopping board with the stem side down. Slice thick slices through the cauliflower (approximately ½ an inch / 1cm in thickness)
It's inevitable that some florets will fall off, especially from the first and last pieces as they aren't attached to the main stem in the middle. But don't stress! You can use the broken florets in a different dish, or just make extra of the marinade and cook them on the same baking tray next to the steaks

What to do with leftover Cauliflower Steak?

If you have leftovers, keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in an air fryer, oven or on a skillet for a few minutes. You can microwave them but they will get a little mushy

Cauliflower steak served on top of a white bean hummus with pomegranate and parsley

More Roasted Veggies

More Vegan Dinners

I love seeing your creations and remakes, so be sure to rate the recipe, comment and share your Cauliflower Steak photo on Instagram so I can share the love!

Recipe

3.98 from 67 votes