These spicy and delicious roasted Air Fryer Cauliflower Steaks are an easy but elegant main dish. With a spiced up chipotle chili-tomato marinade, they're a great way to serve cauliflower either as a quick dinner, but can also easily be elevated for a special meal such as Mother's Day or Valentine's Day.
These crispy air fryer cauliflower steaks are super easy to make and perfect to serve as a vegan option when entertaining, or just if you're a fan of cauliflower, or want to add some extra veggies to your week!
I like to serve the cauliflower steaks over some whipped beans or hummus to add dimension and protein to the meal. This Creamy Butter Bean Hummus is what is featured in the images, along with this Lemon, Caper and Parsley Italian Salsa Verde spooned on top. Alternatively you could try this Sun Dried Tomato Hummus, or just serve with your favorite store-bought hummus.
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🥦Ingredients
You'll just need these simple ingredients to make these roasted cauliflower steaks.
- Whole Head of Cauliflower: Look for large cauliflowers with creamy, firm heads. You should be able to make 2 or even 3 steaks per head, depending on the size of cauliflower. Any outer leaves can be used to make Cauliflower Leaf Crisps!
- Olive Oil- you just need a little olive oil for cooking
- Chipotle Paste (or harissa paste)- this provides heat and spice! Use to your own taste buds.
- Semi-dried tomato paste- mixed with the chipotle paste, this gives a sweetness that is perfect with cauliflower.
- Garlic Powder (or granules)- perfect for adding a little oomph to the chile marinade.
- Fresh Lemon Juice- helps to balance the flavors.
- Sea Salt and black pepper to taste
See recipe card for quantities.
👩🍳Instructions
Making the cauliflower steaks is super easy! Use any leftover florets cut from the cauliflower to make these Spicy Indian Veggie Burgers: Chickpea & Cauliflower or cauliflower 'wings'.
- Using a sharp knife, carefully cut the cauliflower into thick slabs by turning the cauliflower upside down, and cutting through the stem.
- Cut two or three steaks. You can use the leftovers for cauliflower wings or burgers.
3. In a small bowl, mix up the chipotle paste, semi-dried tomato paste, lemon juice, garlic powder and olive oil so you get a spreadable marinade.
4. Spread the chili-tomato marinade all over both sides of the cauliflower and spritz with a little extra olive oil. Place in a single layer in the bottom of the air fryer basket.
5. Air fry the cauliflower at 180C/356 F for 8-10 minutes or until it is golden brown has crispy edges and is tender in the middle.
Serve on a bed of some hummus or whipped beans with salsa or pesto to spoon over the top, or with some mashed potatoes and fresh herbs or a delicious dipping sauce .
Hint: If you wish to make more than 2 steaks at a time, you can line a baking sheet with parchment and bake in the oven at 220C/430F for 15-20 minutes.
🌶️Substitutions & Variations
There are plenty of ways you can switch up this meal to suit your tastes. Here are some ideas:
- Plain - mix up a little olive oil ,lemon juice, garlic powder and salt and roast the cauliflower steaks. Great if you have a super flavorful bean stew to serve it with.
- Cheesy- Mix nutritional yeast, a little dijon mustard and olive oil with some garlic powder and spread over to replace the chili-tomato marinade.
- Indian Spiced- make a spice mixture with some turmeric powder, garam masala, lemon juice, olive oil and a little salt. Spread all over the cauliflower before air-frying.
🔪Equipment
You'll need a large chef's knife to cut through the cauliflower and a cutting board, as well as an air fryer or oven and a baking sheet.
🫙Storage
Store any leftover cauliflower steaks in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. This recipe can be frozen, however the texture of the cauliflower might change.
Top tip
Be careful when cutting the cauliflower. Make sure to turn it upside down so you can see that you are cutting through the stem part. The steaks should be quite chunky- about 2cm or 1" thick.
❓FAQ
Cut the bottom stem off the cauliflower, then turn it over so the stem side is facing up. Carefully cut the cauliflower through the stem into slices.
You should not need to boil or steam a cauliflower before roasting as steak as it might result in soggy cauliflower that will not cut well or will fall apart while being baked or air fried.
More Air Fryer Recipes
Love cooking in your air fryer? Try these vegan air fryer recipes:
Easy Side Dishes
Here are some other easy side dishes to try:
📖 Recipe
Spicy Air Fryer Roasted Cauliflower Steaks
Equipment
Ingredients Note:
For accuracy, I measure all ingredients in metric as standard, then convert and test the recipe for American cup measurements etc.
(Heads up Aussie and UK readers- your measurements in cups are sometimes different, so please use metric or check you have the correct cup and spoon type!!)
Ingredients
- 1 cauliflower (whole)
- 2 tablespoon semi-dried tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon chipotle paste ( or harissa)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- After cleaning the cauliflower, chop the stem off and flip it over so the stem side is up
- Carefully cut down through the stem, to create 2 or three 'steaks' (they should look like trees!).1 cauliflower
- Mix up the semi-dried tomato paste, chipotle paste, garlic powder, lemon juice and olive oil and brush over the 'steaks' on both sides.2 tablespoon semi-dried tomato paste, 1 teaspoon chipotle paste, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, salt and pepper to taste
- Set your Air Fryer to 180℃/356℉.
- Spritz the cauliflower steaks with a little extra oil, and pop into the base of the air fryer basket in a single layer.
- Air fry for 8-10 minutes or until crispy.
- Serve hot with hummus or whipped white beans and a herby sauce, or just your favourite dipping sauce.
Video
Notes
- Plain - mix up a little olive oil ,lemon juice, garlic powder and salt and roast the cauliflower steaks. Great if you have a super flavorful bean stew to serve it with.
- Cheesy- Mix nutritional yeast, a little dijon mustard and olive oil with some garlic powder and spread over to replace the chili-tomato marinade.
- Indian Spiced- make a spice mixture with some turmeric powder, garam masala, lemon juice, olive oil and a little salt. Spread all over the cauliflower before air-frying.
Cindy says
These cauliflower steaks are so easy and flavorful! Simple and delicious!