The Best Roasted Cauliflower Steak Recipe Of 2021

Getting Started With Cauliflower Steak

Here are the first steps for making a delicious cauliflower steak.

• Start by preheating the oven to 400 degrees. 

• Wash a head of cauliflower in the sink, then cut it in half and remove the stem and leaves. 

• Cut off the widest part of each half of the cauliflower to make your steaks. These cuts should be about two inches thick. 

• Cut the remaining cauliflower into florets. Aim for small pieces that could fit inside a closed fist.

• Add the steaks and florets to a large pot of boiling water. Once the water reaches a boil, add a pinch of salt to taste. Let the cauliflower cook for eight minutes on medium heat.

But I Love Meat!

Even if you’re a meat lover, you’ll still love the taste of our roasted cauliflower steak. It’s the perfect dinner for a day of meat-free eating, which is a great idea for anyone.

To get this steak tasting a bit more like what you’re used to, try cooking it on the grill instead of in the oven. Grilled cauliflower takes on a charred texture outside, but its insides stay soft, giving you flavors and mouthfeel more reminiscent of a beef steak. Plus, you can still use the delicious marinade on the cauliflower when you make it on the grill.

Making Your Marinade

The next step in this recipe is one of the most important – making your marinade. The marinade is a combination of liquids and spices that soaks into the cauliflower steak to make it as flavorful as possible. For this recipe, we’ll be making a marinade from maple syrup, garlic, lemon juice, and paprika. You’ll need the following amounts of these ingredients:

• Maple syrup. Try to get authentic maple syrup from a tree, not the artificially-flavored stuff. You’ll end up with a better-tasting marinade that way.

• Paprika. This spice will give your marinade a smoky flavor that pairs perfectly with the texture of the cauliflower.

• Lemon. You’ll be squeezing fresh lemon juice into a bowl to give the marinade a bit of extra acidity. 

• Garlic. We recommend using a garlic clove instead of garlic powder – fresh herbs tend to taste way better than their bottled counterparts. 

• Olive oil. 

The Marinade: Step by Step

Follow these steps to make a delicious marinade for your cauliflower steak.

• Grate your garlic clove and add these to a small bowl.

• Mix in a tablespoon of olive oil and stir.

• Add your paprika, maple syrup, and lemon juice. Mix these ingredients with the garlic and oil.

• Once your cauliflower has boiled for eight minutes, remove the steaks from the boiling water and let the florets boil.

• Put the steaks on a baking sheet covered in tin foil and slather them with the marinade. Put them in the oven at 400 degrees. 

Making Your Sides

No steak is ready to serve without the right sides, and this one is no exception. We’ll be serving this cauliflower steak with two sides – string beans and mashed cauliflower. These are perfect pairings with your steak for a few key reasons:

• String beans are a traditional side for a steak, so they’ll add a familiar touch to the recipe. While you might not be used to eating cauliflower instead of beef, you’ll instantly recognize the classic side of green beans as a steakhouse staple.

• Mashed cauliflower is a low-carb alternative for potatoes, and it saves you the trouble of buying extra ingredients. You’re already using cauliflower for this recipe, so adding a side of the veggie mashed to your steak is a great way to make the most of your ingredients. 

Plus, mashed cauliflower is much lower in carbohydrates than potatoes, making this dish a perfect meal for low-carb eaters and vegetarians alike.

The String Beans

The best time to prepare your string beans is while the marinated cauliflower is roasting in the oven. As the steak cooks, make your string beans by cooking them in a pot of boiling water.

Before boiling the string beans, wash them in a colander and gently pull off their stems. As always, we recommend using fresh string beans rather than pre-cut frozen green beans. We’ll create your grocery list, so you don’t have to worry about picking them out yourself. 

Once the string beans are fully cooked, drain them using the same colander and set them aside.

The Mashed Cauliflower

After the cauliflower florets have cooked, drain the pot in the colander and put the florets in a bowl. Mash them with a fork or potato masher and add salt for flavor. You can also sprinkle in black pepper and a teaspoon of olive oil.

Alternatively, blend up your cauliflower using a food processor or blender to get an extra-whipped texture. Once the florets are fully mashed, add a bit of lemon zest using the leftover lemon from the marinade.

Putting It All Together

Once your string beans are cooked, and your side of mashed cauliflower is ready to go, it’s time to check on the steak. After 15 minutes, the cauliflower steaks should be ready to pull out of the oven. Get out your plates and get ready to make this dish look amazing.

Here’s how to make this steak look perfect on a plate.

• First, add a scoop of mashed cauliflower to each plate. Flatten it gently with a fork to make room for the steak.

• Use a spatula to set the steak on top of the mashed cauliflower. Place your steak right in the middle of the plate, so it’s only slightly covering the mash. That way, you’ll get a clear view of both the steak and the mashed cauliflower when you take an overhead photo for your Instagram (make sure to tag @jow.kitchen).

• Next, use a serving spoon to put a large portion of green beans on the other side of the plate. Now it’s ready to serve.

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