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A close-up of golden-brown roasted cauliflower steaks on a white platter, garnished with fresh green herbs.

Herb-Crusted Roasted Cauliflower Steaks with Lemon-Garlic Drizzle

These flavorful roasted cauliflower steaks are beautifully seared and tender, crusted with herbs and spices, and finished with a bright lemon-garlic drizzle. A perfect healthy main course or hearty side dish.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 2 servings
Course: Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: Mediterranean, Vegetarian
Calories: 220

Ingredients
  

For the Cauliflower Steaks
  • 1 large head Cauliflower about 2-2.5 lbs
  • 3 tbsp Olive Oil
  • 1 tsp Garlic Powder
  • 1/2 tsp Smoked Paprika
  • 1/2 tsp Dried Oregano
  • 1/4 tsp Black Pepper freshly ground
  • 1/2 tsp Salt or to taste
For the Lemon-Garlic Drizzle
  • 2 tbsp Olive Oil extra virgin
  • 1 tbsp Lemon Juice freshly squeezed
  • 1 clove Garlic minced
  • Pinch Red Pepper Flakes optional, for a slight kick
  • Pinch Salt to taste
  • Pinch Black Pepper to taste
For Garnish (Optional)
  • 1 tbsp Fresh Parsley chopped

Equipment

  • Large Baking Sheet
  • Parchment paper
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Small Bowl
  • Whisk
  • Sharp knife

Method
 

Prepare the Cauliflower
  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
  2. Prepare the cauliflower: Remove any outer green leaves from the cauliflower. Using a large, sharp knife, trim the very bottom of the core, but leave enough intact to hold the head together. Place the cauliflower on a cutting board, stem-side down. Carefully slice the head into 2-4 'steaks' about 1-inch thick. You'll typically get two good-sized center steaks and then some florets/smaller pieces from the sides. Keep any florets for roasting alongside the steaks.
Season and Roast
  1. In a small bowl, whisk together the 3 tbsp olive oil, garlic powder, smoked paprika, dried oregano, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper.
  2. Place the cauliflower steaks (and any florets) on the prepared baking sheet. Brush both sides of each steak generously with the seasoned olive oil mixture. Ensure they are evenly coated.
  3. Roast for 15 minutes, then carefully flip the steaks. Continue roasting for another 10-15 minutes, or until the cauliflower is tender-crisp, golden brown, and slightly charred at the edges. Cooking time may vary depending on the thickness of your steaks.
Make the Drizzle
  1. While the cauliflower is roasting, prepare the lemon-garlic drizzle. In a small bowl, whisk together the 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, 1 tbsp lemon juice, minced garlic, a pinch of red pepper flakes (if using), and a pinch of salt and pepper to taste.
Serve
  1. Once roasted, transfer the cauliflower steaks to serving plates. Drizzle generously with the lemon-garlic sauce. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley, if desired. Serve immediately.

Notes

For best results, try to cut uniform thickness steaks so they cook evenly. Don't overcrowd the baking sheet; if necessary, use two sheets or roast in batches to ensure the cauliflower roasts rather than steams. This recipe is also great with a sprinkle of nutritional yeast before roasting for a cheesy flavor, or a dash of cayenne pepper for extra heat.