Roasted Cauliflower Steaks

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

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!

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

How to cut cauliflower steaks

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.

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.

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.

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!

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

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

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 on Instagram – tag us at @crowded_kitchen so we can see what you’ve been cooking.

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