If you love cauliflower pizza crust, but don’t love the labor that goes into it, this alternative is for you. Cauliflower “steaks” are roasted to tender perfection, then topped with your favorite pizza toppings for a low-carb and properly combined meal.
How to Cut a Cauliflower Steak
I assumed it would be easy to cut a whole head of cauliflower in to several thick “steaks,” but I was surprised to find that the cauliflower kept falling apart into florets, instead. Thanks to a tip from a few of my Instagram friends, I discovered that the best way to cut cauliflower steaks is to keep the green part on the cauliflower head while you cut them.
This way the cauliflower stays together better, and you can simply slice off the excess stem and leaves later.
How Many Steaks Can You Get from a Head of Cauliflower?
The first time I attempted making cauliflower steaks, I was disappointed to find that I could only get 2 steaks from the whole head of cauliflower. I was expecting a lot more!
Now that I’ve experimented with several more heads of cauliflower, I’ve found that if you select a larger head of cauliflower at the store (the bigger, the better, in this case) you can get 3 to 4 steaks from one head of cauliflower. Typically, I get 3 good slices, and then sometimes I get a more pathetic-looking fourth one.
You have lots of leftover cauliflower florets from the head of cauliflower that you just sliced, so you could roast those florets in the oven at the same time as your “steaks,” or simply save them for future use in the fridge.
How to Roast Cauliflower Steaks
Cauliflower steaks take longer to cook than florets, but the process is still the same. I like to lay mine flat on a pan, drizzle with a bit of olive oil and salt, then roast at 400ºF until they are fork tender.
If you’d like to roast your cauliflower steaks with no oil, you could line your baking sheet with parchment paper and then place the steaks on that to prevent sticking. You’ll just have to watch the edges to make sure they don’t burn. You could even add the pizza sauce on top of the cauliflower early to help prevent burning, too.
How to Make Cauliflower Steak Pizzas
Once you’ve roasted your cauliflower steaks, you simply top them with your favorite pizza toppings to make veggie-packed pizzas. I like to use pizza or marinara sauce, shredded cheese, and finely chopped toppings, like pepperoni, olives, or bell peppers.
Because the cauliflower is tender, this isn’t the type of pizza you’ll want to lift with your hands, but I don’t think you’ll mind once you take your first bite. The cauliflower should be tender enough that you can cut it with just the side of your fork, making for a melt-in-your-mouth pizza experience! I hope you’ll enjoy it.
Cauliflower Steak Pizza
Ingredients
- 1 head cauliflower , cut into 1/2-inch steaks
- 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
- fine sea salt
Pizza Toppings
- pizza or marinara sauce
- shredded cheese
- sliced pepperoni (or toppings of choice)
- fresh basil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Without removing the green leaves, slice the cauliflower into 1/2-inch thick slices around the stem. Only the part near the stem will become "steaks." Reserve the rest of the cauliflower florets for another use.
- Lay the cauliflower steaks on the pan and drizzle with olive oil and salt. Rub them with your fingers to distribute the oil, then roast for 20 minutes. Use a spatula to carefully flip the steaks over and roast on the other side until tender, about 15 to 20 more minutes.
- When the thickest part of the cauliflower can be easily pierced with a fork, add your pizza toppings to each slice. Turn on your oven's broiler and place the cauliflower steaks under it for 1 to 2 minutes, just until the toppings are hot and bubbly. Serve warm.
Nutrition
For the whole batch: Calories: 258, Fat: 17g, Carbohydrates: 12g, Fiber: 4g, Protein: 16g
Recipe Notes:
- To make this vegan, use a cheese sauce like this one instead of real cheese. (For food combining, that would make this a nut/seed meal instead.)
- I can eat 3 cauliflower “steaks” all by myself, so you might want to buy extra heads of cauliflower if you’re serving more than one hungry person.
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Reader Feedback: Have you ever made a cauliflower “steak” before?
Looks amazing
what I am looking for good health.
YUM! This is so easy to make and delicious!
So yummy and satisfying especially when the rest of your family is eating pizza – you can have this healthier option and not feel cheated!
This will be going into my regular rotation. So so so good!!!