These Roasted Cauliflower Parmesan Steaks make a delicious and nutritious main or side dish for a variety of meals. Whether prepared as roasted cauliflower steaks or florets, they’re versatile, flavorful, and easy to make. Perfect for pairing with your favorite sauces, this dish offers a healthy and satisfying option for any occasion, whether it’s a festive gathering, a weeknight dinner, or a casual lunch.
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Cauliflower can be rather bland when steamed or boiled. However, roasting transforms it into something truly delicious. A simple drizzle of olive oil, along with curry powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese, is all it takes to create incredible flavor!
With holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner, a roasted cauliflower recipe is the perfect option for meat-free guests, while also serving as a delicious side dish for everyone else. You can prepare it as ‘steaks’ or florets, depending on your preference. Larger pieces will remain tender, while the florets become beautifully crispy around the edges.
ROASTED CAULIFLOWER PARMESAN STEAKS WITH A NICE FRESH HEAD OF CAULIFLOWER
Choosing the perfect cauliflower is a simple yet important step in ensuring a delicious outcome for this recipe. When selecting cauliflower, choose a head that is firm, compact, and free from blemishes or discoloration. The color should be a vibrant white, and the leaves should be crisp and green. The head should feel heavy for its size, indicating a dense, fresh cauliflower with abundant florets.
WHAT IS CAULIFLOWER STEAK? Cauliflower steak is a creative and flavorful dish that involves slicing a cauliflower head into thick cross-sections, providing an alternative to meat steaks. These cauliflower slices are then seasoned, grilled, or roasted until they develop a tender interior and crisp, caramelized edges. Cauliflower steak can be seasoned with a variety of herbs, spices, and sauces, making it a popular choice among both vegetarians and those looking to explore new plant-based dishes.
THE INGREDIENTS
- Cauliflower – Choose a firm, fresh head of cauliflower with vibrant white color and crisp green leaves.
- Oil – Use any fairly neutral oil that is suited to roasting – olive oil, avocado oil, coconut oil, etc.
- Curry powder – You can substitute the curry powder for Italian seasoning or any of your favorite spices.
- Garlic – You can use garlic puree or garlic powder.
- Smoked paprika – Adds a rich, smoky flavor and vibrant color.
- Parmesan cheese – You can use more or less Parmesan to taste, or substitute with any type of cheese, such as cheddar or pepper jack.
- Salt and black pepper
- Fresh herbs to garnish – (optional) Flat-leaf parsley, chives, scallions, cilantro, etc.
HOW TO MAKE
Making Parmesan cauliflower steak is effortlessly delightful and a no-fuss, super simple side dish that will amaze you with its incredible taste.
- For this recipe, you’ll need to combine the olive oil, curry powder, garlic powder, and smoked paprika in a small bowl.
- Prepare the cauliflower by removing and discarding the outer leaves of the cauliflower head, leaving the stalk in place. Using a large knife cut the cauliflower in half, then cut out as many 1-inch thick steaks as you can. (Along with the slices of cauliflower steak you will have lots of flowerettes. You can roast these along with the steaks). Arrange the cauliflower slices on a prepared baking sheet. Brush on oil/seasoning mixture on tops of cauliflower slices evenly. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Roast the cauliflower steaks in your preheated oven for 15-20 minutes or until browned and tender.
- Remove from the oven and sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over the steaks. Place back in the oven for another 5-10 minutes, until cheese is melted. Place cauliflower steaks on a serving platter and serve immediately.
TIPS TO MAKE THE BEST ROASTED CAULIFLOWER
- For the best cauliflower steaks, choose a cauliflower head that is large and firm. Look for one with a consistent and compact floret formation, as this will make it easier to slice into steaks.
- Freshness: Opt for cauliflower with vibrant white florets and crisp, green leaves. Avoid heads with brown spots or signs of discoloration.
- Keep the core intact. When you’re prepping the cauliflower, only remove the outer leaves and leave the stem untouched, as it’s what keeps the cauliflower steaks in one piece when they cook.
- Even Slices: When slicing the cauliflower into ‘steaks,’ aim for even thickness to ensure consistent cooking. Large florets will need to roast for more time, smaller florets will roast for less time.
- Fresh Parmesan: Use freshly grated Parmesan for the best flavor and texture. It melts beautifully and enhances the dish.
HOW TO SERVE
- Serve with salads: A fresh green salad with a light lemon vinaigrette or arugula with shaved Parmesan.
- It can also be enjoyed alongside: Roasted chicken, baked salmon, or shrimp skewers.
- Serve with grain bowls: Place the cauliflower on a bed of grains like couscous, quinoa, barley, or rice.
- Alongside steamed or roasted veggies: Pair with roasted carrots, Brussels sprouts, or sweet potatoes.
- Within wraps and pitas: Add it to a variety of other fillings for a tasty, handheld meal.
- Within tacos: Break the cauliflower into smaller pieces for a flavorful, meat-free taco filling.
- Serve with sauces: Pair with hummus or other dips for added flavor. Add a dollop of Greek yogurt or sour cream, and sprinkle some crispy bacon on top for an extra layer of flavor.
STORAGE INSTRUCTIONS
If you have leftovers, you can store them up to 2-3 days in the fridge in the air-tight container. Reheat the cauliflower Parmesan steaks in the oven for about 10-15 minutes or microwave about 2-3 minutes.
RECOMMENDED TOOLS
- Basting brush
- Baking sheet – for roasting the cauliflower.
- Parchment paper – to prevent the cauliflower from sticking to the baking pan.
MAKE MORE CAULIFLOWER RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE!
If you’re looking for other recipes that use cauliflower, check out my Polish Cauliflower Soup or my Greek Yogurt Roasted Cauliflower.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can you reheat roasted cauliflower parmesan steaks?
Yes! It’s really easy to reheat these cauliflower steaks. simply place any leftovers cauliflower in a glass or plastic lidded container. they will keep in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. when you come to reheat them, preheat your oven to 220 degrees F, place your cauliflower steaks in the hot oven for 10 minutes, or until piping hot all the way through.
Can you freeze roasted cauliflower steaks?
I really wouldn’t recommend you freeze my roasted cauliflower parmesan steaks, the texture would change. This is one of the few recipes on my site that I really don’t recommend freezing!
If you give this Roasted Cauliflower Steaks a try, let me know your thoughts and any questions in the comments section. 😊 I genuinely appreciate your feedback and am always here to answer any questions you may have. Also, be sure to pin the recipe by clicking the ‘PIN’ button for future reference.
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Happy Cooking! -A
The nutritional and calories information shown is an estimated provided by an online nutrition calculator. Although The Tasty Chapter attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.
This post was originally published on June 26th, 2022 and republished on October 21st, 2024.
Roasted Cauliflower Parmesan Steaks
Ingredients
- 1 medium head cauliflower sliced lengthwise through the core
- 3 tablespoons olive oil preferably extra-virgin
- 1/4 teaspoon curry powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Mix together the olive oil, curry powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika in a small bowl.
- Remove and discard outer leaves of cauliflower head and leave the stalk in place. Using a large knife cut the cauliflower in half, then cut out as many 1-inch thick steaks as you can. (Along with the slices of cauliflower steak you will have lots of flowerettes. You can roast these along with the steaks).
- Arrange the cauliflower slices on a prepared baking sheet. Brush on oil/seasoning mixture on tops of cauliflower slices evenly. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Roast the cauliflower steaks in your preheated oven for 15-20 minutes or until browned and tender.
- Remove from the oven and sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over the steaks. Place back in the oven for another 5-10 minutes, until cheese is melted.
- Place cauliflower steaks on a serving platter and serve immediately.