Looking for a delicious and healthy meal that’s both easy to make and packed with flavour? Look no further than this air fryer cauliflower steak recipe! With just a few ingredients and minimal prep time, it’s on the table in no time.
Whether you’re a fan of cauliflower or just looking for a new way to incorporate more veggies into your diet, this air-fried cauliflower steak is sure to become a new favorite in your kitchen.
Don’t wait for a special occasion because this one is great for lunch, dinner, date nights, or busy weeknights.
Pair your vegan steak with a side dish like air-fried potato wedges, smashed potatoes, mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, or loaded sweet potatoes. And don’t forget some greens like rapini, green beans, or broccoli.
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Ingredients + Substitutions
Here’s what you’ll need to make our delicious air fryer cauliflower steak.
- Cauliflower: Choose a large head of cauliflower in order to get decent size “steaks”. It should be firm and tightly closed with no dark or bruised spots.
- Broth: Use your favourite flavourful broth. I like this homemade bouillon for all my broth needs. (Choose certified gluten-free if needed.)
- Lime: Freshly squeezed is best. If you don’t have lime on hand, you may use lemon juice with similar results, or apple cider vinegar if you don’t have either available.
- Spices: I’m using smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper, but feel free to adjust the seasoning to your taste.
Instructions
(This is a summary with step by step photos, full recipe measurements and instructions are in the recipe card below.)
Begin by washing your cauliflower with running water and removing the green leaves. But KEEP THE STEM INTACT.
Place the stem side down on a cutting board and trim each side to get straight edges. (photo 1)
Now slice your remaining piece into 2 or 3 steaks, depending on the size of your cauliflower. (photo 2)
NOTE: Slice each steak approx. 1.25 inches thick. Too thick won’t cook up well, and too thin won’t hold and may crumble or fall apart. Do not discard any pieces that crumble away. Save it for other recipes!
Add all the marinade ingredients to a small bowl and mix well to combine. (photo 3)
Brush both sides of your cauliflower steak, and air fry until golden brown on both sides. (photo 4)
Serve your air fryer cauliflower steak with a sprinkle of vegan parmesan cheese if you’d like, plus some greens, potatoes, salad, or your choice of sides.
Variations
If you’d like more flavour ideas for these crispy cauliflower steaks, try some of these spice mixes.
- Italian: Omit the smoked paprika and add ½ teaspoon each of dried parsley and oregano.
- Cajun seasoning: Add ⅛ teaspoon each of black pepper, white pepper, onion powder, dried oregano, and cayenne.
- Spicy BBQ: Swap the smoked paprika for hot paprika, and add ⅛ teaspoon of cayenne pepper.
- Tandoori: Add 1 teaspoon of ground cumin, ½ teaspoon of ground ginger, and ⅛ teaspoon each of coriander, turmeric, and cardamom. Then garnish with fresh cilantro to serve.
Equipment
This time, I used my Gourmia fryer which works fantastically for this recipe and the 2 steaks fit perfectly.
As always, different models will cook at different speeds, so make sure to watch your cauliflower carefully and check on them often toward the end of cooking.
Can I make these in an oven?
Yes, absolutely. If you’re making several and prefer to work in one batch, you can make roasted cauliflower steak in your oven instead.
Preheat your oven to 400°F/204°C and follow the same preparation instructions.
Then arrange your cauliflower on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 10-15 minutes, flip them and continue baking until fork-tender and golden brown on the edges.
Storage
These taste best when freshly made, so I don’t recommend making them in advance.
If you do have leftover cauliflower steaks, you may store them in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 2-3 days, and reheat them in your oven, toaster oven, or air fryer.
I don’t recommend freezing.
How to use the leftover cauliflower pieces
Do not discard the cauliflower bits that you cut away or that crumble off your steaks. Here are some ways to repurpose them.
- Use the extra florets/pieces to make this roasted garlic parm cauliflower, sweet and sour cauliflower, or our buffalo cauliflower.
- Chop them up even finer and make this cauliflower bolognese.
- Turn the leftovers into cauliflower rice.
- Or cook and then blend it up for our cauliflower cheese sauce or creamy soup.
Expert Tips
- Depending on the size of your cauliflower, you will get 2 or 3 steaks. If you are making 3 steaks, increase the marinade ingredients to the following:
- 3 tablespoons broth
- 1.5 tablespoons lime juice
- 1.5 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1.5 teaspoons garlic powder
- ¾ teaspoon sea salt
- ⅜ teaspoon black pepper (or ¼ + ⅛)
- Use a sharp knife, and try your best to cut evenly-sized cauliflower steaks for even cooking.
- To save time, you may purchase cauliflower steaks from the supermarket that are pre-cut for you.
More delicious air-fried recipes
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Buon appetito
Rosa
📖 Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 large cauliflower
- 2 tablespoons vegetable broth
- 1 tablespoon lime juice approx. half a lime
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Wash your cauliflower head and remove the green leaves, but do not cut off the stem.
- Then place the cauliflower stem side down on a cutting board, and trim both ends to make them flat, setting aside any loose pieces that break off. (See process shots above for a reference.)
- Now cut thick slices (approx. 1.25 inch thick) of the remaining piece into 2 or 3 steaks (depending on the size of your cauliflower head).
- In a small bowl, combine all the marinade ingredients and mix well. Then brush one side of each steak, placing them sauce side down in your air fryer basket, and then brush the other side.
- Air fry at 375°F/190°C for 10 minutes, then carefully flip the steaks and continue to air fry for another 5-8 minutes, or until the cauliflower is tender and the edges are golden brown.
Notes
- Depending on the size of your cauliflower, you will get 2 or 3 steaks. If you are making 3 steaks, increase the marinade ingredients to the following:
- 3 tablespoons broth
- 1.5 tablespoons lime juice
- 1.5 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1.5 teaspoons garlic powder
- ¾ teaspoon sea salt
- ⅜ teaspoon black pepper (or ¼ + ⅛)
- Use a sharp knife, and try your best to cut evenly-sized cauliflower steaks for even cooking.
- To save time, you may purchase cauliflower steaks from the supermarket that are pre-cut for you.
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