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Golden brown grilled cauliflower steaks topped with fresh herbs on parchment paper.
Layla

Grilled Cauliflower Steaks

Thick-cut cauliflower slabs charred until smoky and caramelized, finished with bright lemon and fresh herbs for a stunning plant-based centerpiece.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 142

Ingredients
  

For the Cauliflower
  • 2 large heads cauliflower leaves trimmed, stem intact
  • 0.25 cup olive oil plus more for brushing
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 0.5 tsp cumin ground
  • 1 tsp kosher salt divided
  • 0.5 tsp black pepper freshly ground
For Serving
  • 1 lemon zested and juiced
  • 0.25 cup fresh parsley chopped
  • flaky sea salt for finishing

Equipment

  • Gas or Charcoal Grill
  • Pastry brush
  • Large Rimmed Baking Sheet
  • Tongs

Method
 

Prep
  1. Place each cauliflower head stem-side down on your cutting board. Slice vertically through the center to create two thick 'steaks' from the middle of each head, about 1 to 1.5 inches thick. The outer pieces will fall apart - save these for another use. You should get 4 intact steaks total.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, minced garlic, smoked paprika, cumin, and half the kosher salt. Let it sit for 5 minutes so the garlic infuses the oil.
  3. Brush both sides of each cauliflower steak generously with the seasoned oil. Sprinkle the remaining kosher salt and all the black pepper evenly over both sides. Let them rest at room temperature while you heat the grill.
Grill the cauliflower
  1. Heat your grill to medium-high, about 400-450 degrees F. Clean and oil the grates well. Place the steaks directly on the grill and cook undisturbed for 6-8 minutes until deep golden char marks appear. Flip carefully with tongs - they can be fragile - and grill the second side for another 6-8 minutes until the stems are tender when pierced with a knife.
Finish and serve
  1. Transfer the grilled steaks to a platter. Immediately drizzle with fresh lemon juice, scatter the lemon zest and chopped parsley over top, and finish with a pinch of flaky sea salt. Serve hot or warm.

Notes

Look for the largest, firmest cauliflower heads you can find - smaller heads won't yield usable center steaks. If your steaks are falling apart, you're slicing too thin; aim for at least 1 inch thick and keep the stem intact as it holds everything together. These are excellent made ahead and served at room temperature with a tahini drizzle or crumbled feta.