Crispy air fryer cauliflower steaks with anti-inflammatory turmeric are a fun and effortless side. With slightly charred outer edges and tender insides, these steaks are low-carb, gluten-free, and vegan. SO easy to make and ready in less than 20 minutes!
With its wonderful texture and naturally nutty flavor, cauliflower is hands down our most favorite vegetable. These healthy, air-fried cauliflower steaks are a great example of what you can do with this versatile veggie!
It works as a quick stand alone snack when the hunger pangs strike as well as an elegant side to go with your main dish when you have company. The turmeric adds a warm flavor and a beautiful sunshine color to the cauli. However, if you're not a fan of this yellow spice, you can leave it out.
Ingredients
- Whole cauliflower - medium-sized
- Cooking oil - Light olive oil or avocado oil
- Lemon juice
- Garlic - minced
- Ground turmeric
- Sea salt
- Chilli flakes (optional)
Instructions
How to make cauliflower steaks in the air fryer
1. Prep the cauliflower
Wash the cauliflower head under running tap water before cutting it. Trim the leaves and lop off the stem if it is long. Don't cut the stem too deep or the slices will break when you slice the cauliflower. With a sharp knife, cut through the dead centre to get two halves. Finally, slice off thick 1" slices from the two halves. A medium-sized cauliflower will make 4 steaks approximately.
2. Preheat the air fryer
Press the air fry mode, set the temperature to 350 F, and the timer to 12 minutes.
3. Make the marinade
In a small bowl, add the cooking oil, lemon juice, garlic, turmeric, salt, and chilli flakes. Whisk lightly.
4. Brush the marinade on the cauliflower steaks
Using a pastry brush, lightly brush on the marinade on the steaks, getting as much of the surface as you can.
5. Cook the steaks
Arrange the steaks in the inner basket of the air fryer. Make sure you place them in a single layer, not touching each other. About 4 medium steaks will fit in the Instant Pot Vortex 6-quart. Flip them halfway through the cooking cycle. Once the timer beeps, take them out and serve hot with your favorite entree.
Top tips
- Don't throw away the florets that break when you're cutting the steaks. Gather them, brush them with any leftover marinade, and air fry these as well after you're done with the steaks.
- Don't crowd the steaks in the air fryer. They should be arranged in a single layer, not touching each other, ideally. This helps in even cooking and crisp results. Air fry them in batches if needed.
- The exact cooking time may vary slightly based on the air fryer you have. You may have to adjust the time accordingly. A good test of doneness is to insert a a fork in the centre of a steak. If it goes through without resistance, it's cooked through.
Variations
Switch up the seasoning according to your taste and preference. If you don't like the heat of chilli flakes, swap with some paprika. Or add a pinch of dried or fresh herbs - parsley, mint, cilantro..anything you like.
Storage and reheating
Keep any leftovers in a covered container and store in the fridge for 3-4 days.
For reheating, pop them back into the air fryer for 2-3 minutes on air fry mode 350 F. They will be perfectly crispy and warmed through.
In fact, if you're expecting company, you can make these cauliflower steaks ahead of time and keep them in the fridge. Then, reheat them at the last minute just before serving the meal.
Air Fryer Cauliflower Steaks
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 cauliflower head medium-sized
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp garlic minced
- ¼ tsp turmeric
- ½ tsp sea salt adjust to taste
- ¼ tsp chilli flakes optional
Instructions
- Wash the cauliflower head under running tap water before cutting it. Trim the leaves and lop off the stem if it is long. Don’t cut the stem too deep or the slices will break when you slice the cauliflower. With a sharp knife, cut through the dead centre to get two halves. Finally, slice off thick 1″ slices from the two halves. A medium-sized cauliflower will make 4 steaks approximately.
- Preheat the air fryer to 350 F and set the timer to 12 minutes.
- In a small bowl, add the cooking oil, lemon juice, garlic, turmeric, salt, and chilli flakes. Whisk lightly.
- Using a pastry brush, lightly brush on the marinade on the steaks, getting as much of the surface as you can.
- Arrange the steaks in the inner basket of the air fryer. Make sure you place them in a single layer, not touching each other. Flip them halfway through the cooking cycle. Once the timer beeps, take them out and serve hot with your favorite entree.
Notes
- Don’t throw away the florets that break when you’re cutting the steaks. Gather them, brush them with any leftover marinade, and air fry these as well after you’re done with the steaks.
- Don’t crowd the steaks in the air fryer. They should be arranged in a single layer, not touching each other, ideally. This helps in even cooking and crisp results. Air fry them in batches if needed.
- This recipe was made in a 6-quart Instant Pot Vortex Plus, but the exact cooking time may vary slightly based on the air fryer you have. A good test of doneness is to insert a a fork in the centre of a steak. If it goes through without resistance, it’s cooked through.
Leave a Reply