Looking for more incredible recipes featuring cauliflower? Check out my Buffalo Cauliflower Wings, Orange Cauliflower, Cauliflower Cheese and Bang Bang Cauliflower. Have you heard of cauliflower steaks before? In no way are they pretending to actually be meaty or steak-like, but they are completely delicious and a great way to celebrate the versatile vegetable that cauliflower is. I don’t much care for raw cauliflower, but when you roast it in the oven, something magical happens. It becomes tender, crisp and downright irresistible! To make cauliflower steak, we are going to slice off slabs of two heads of cauliflower, coat them with olive oil, garlic and spices and roast until tender. Serve as a vegan main dish, a side dish or even a game day appetizer. Cauliflower steaks aren’t super filling alone, so I like to have some rice or potatoes (mashed or roasted wedges) on the side. For holiday meals, consider swapping the bang bang sauce for vegan gravy, alongside some mashed potatoes and green bean casserole.
Ingredients needed
Cauliflower Olive oil Fresh garlic Red pepper flakes Salt Black pepper
How to make Cauliflower Steaks
(This is simply an overview with photos. Scroll down to find the complete, printable recipe.) In a small bowl, stir the olive oil, garlic, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper until well combined. Wash and dry your cauliflower heads. Pull off the green leaves, then trim the very bottom of the stem, not too much as you need some stem for the steaks to hold together. Start slicing each head into 3/4-1 inch thick slices. The outer parts will fall off and become florets, while the very middle will become your steaks. You will likely get three from each head. Arrange on greased baking sheets in a single layer, and add the florets as well around the steaks. Or save them for another time. Brush the steaks with the olive oil mixture, getting into all the crevices as much as possible. Roast in the oven for 15 minutes, then carefully flip and cook for another 10-15 minutes, until tender, golden and a bit crisp.
Serving suggestions
You can serve cauliflower steaks in a variety of ways. I personally love them with chimichurri. I often serve them with something filling, such as cooked rice, mashed potatoes, potato wedges or perhaps some marry me chickpeas or marinated tofu. Or with any of the following sauces:
Easy Vegan Gravy – Perfect for a holiday meal alongside some mashed potatoes, green bean casserole or brussels sprouts. Vegan Green Goddess Dressing – This dressing is full of herby flavor and pairs well with cauliflower. Serve with a great big salad as well, perhaps with chickpeas in it for a wonderful warm weather meal. Vegan Queso Blanco – For a Mexican themed dish. Sprinkle with some black beans as well and perhaps a side of Mexican rice. Simple Vegan Pesto – Pesto on cauliflower is delicious! Consider serving the steaks over pasta with pesto sauce. Vegan Peanut Sauce – Another wonderful option, so tasty.
Frequently asked questions
*This recipe was originally published in 2020 and has been changed slightly in 2024, now using real garlic and a bit more olive oil, as well as giving you multiple sauce options.
