Cauliflower Steak Recipe - Bison Cheddar Topped Cauliflower Steaks (2024)

Thick cut and hearty cauliflower steaks are topped with melted cheddar and a savory bison, crimini mushroom and leek saute – total comfort food!

Have you guys gotten on the cauliflower steak bandwagon yet?

I feel like Ijust got into it being mashed and riced (curry cauliflower rice is a favorite!) and now there’sanother thing to test out with this magical white vegetable – steaks.

I just can’t keep up!

Hi, I sound like I’m 75 and using a computer for the first time. Technology…vegetables…same thing. Or not.

Cauliflower Steak Recipe - Bison Cheddar Topped Cauliflower Steaks (1)

It took me awhile after this making steak with cauliflower thing got popular this past year to give it a shot.

But the first time I tried it, I had to agree it’s totally a brilliant way to get a super hearty vibe from a vegetable.

Check out this buffalo cauliflower steak recipefor another way to do them!

It’s no comparison toporterhouse steakor anything but it’s deliciously filling and satisfying in its own way.

How Do You Cut Cauliflower Steaks?

The trick to getting nice steaks that hold together is leaving the stem intact.

You can trim a small part off the bottom if it looks brown but leave that core/stem otherwise intact.

You then slice into about 1″ thick pieces going through the core.

The end slices outside of the core will just fall off into florets but the center will give you nice “steaks” of cauliflower.

You can usually get 3 or 4 good thick slices per head of cauliflower depending on the size.

Don’t discard those florets from the sides that fall off either!

Just roast them along with the steaks and enjoy them in another meal or on the side.

Cauliflower Steak Recipe - Bison Cheddar Topped Cauliflower Steaks (2)

If you remember these Mexican stuffed onions from last year, you might remember they were part of theChopped At Home Challengethat Sargento® hosted.

Well, these bison cheddar cauliflower steaks are this year’s entry of mine for the challenge!

This is where my brain took me when I was given Sargento sharp cheddar shredded cheese (love that it’s 100% real cheese AND I don’t need to pull out my grating box – or clean it!), cauliflower, leeks and crimini mushrooms to create a comfort food inspired recipe.

While I did ponder the nacho route for a minute (recipes like carne asada nachos are always front and center in my brain when I see shredded cheese), I’m digging this loaded cauliflower steak approach instead.

It’s a bit more original too which I’m sure would get me some points with the judges if this were actually a legit Chopped situation!

Cauliflower Steak Recipe - Bison Cheddar Topped Cauliflower Steaks (3)

I’ve been loving on bison this winter as a leaner option for hearty meals (like bison burgers and bison stuffed peppers).

Paired up with mushrooms, leeks and don’t freak out at this one, but cinnamon and nutmeg (it works, trust me!) too it makes for the perfect accompanimentto cheddar cheese topped roasted cauliflower steaks.

One bite in and I’m pretty sure this one would get me to the next round if I was on the show.

At least I’d like to think so.

Reality is probably more like me freaking out under the time constraints with nothing to show after 30 minutes.

Hence why I’m a blogger not a chef.

These bison cauliflower bowls are another delicious way to pair the two ingredients!

Love these cauliflower steaks?

Try one of these cauliflower recipes too:Cheddar Cauliflower Burgers,Brown butter and caramelized onion mashed cauliflower,Buffalo Turkey Cauliflower Skilletor, Roasted Cauliflower Soup.

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Bison Cheddar Cauliflower Steaks

By: Gina Matsoukas

Servings: 4 servings

Prep: 15 minutes mins

Cook: 20 minutes mins

Total: 35 minutes mins

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Cauliflower Steak Recipe - Bison Cheddar Topped Cauliflower Steaks (4)

Thick cut and hearty cauliflower steaks are topped with melted cheddar and a savory bison, crimini mushroom and leek saute. It’s healthy comfort food heaven.

Ingredients

For the cauliflower steaks

  • 1 large head cauliflower, cut into thick slices (about 1 inch wide)
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 cup Sargento sharp cheddar fine cut

For the bison topping

  • 1/2 pound ground bison
  • 1/2 tablespoon butter
  • 1/2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 large shallot, thinly sliced
  • 1 leek, washed well, sliced lengthwise then thinly sliced into half rings
  • 3/4 pound crimini mushrooms, cleaned and left whole
  • 1/4 cup whole milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

For the cauliflower steaks

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees convection roast if you have that option or 400 degrees regular bake.

  • Grease baking sheet with cooking spray and place cauliflower steaks on the baking sheet.

  • Drizzle cauliflower with the olive oil, season with salt, pepper and the thyme and place into oven to roast for 15-18 minutes until starting to turn golden brown around the edges.

  • Remove from oven, top each steak with the cheddar cheese, return to oven until melted and bubbly, about 3-5 additional minutes. Remove from oven and set aside.

For the bison topping

  • While cauliflower roasts, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.

  • Add bison to the skillet and cook until browned breaking up the meat with a spatula. Drain any excess fat from the pan, transfer the bison to a plate and set aside.

  • In the same pan, add the butter and olive oil.

  • Add the shallot and saute for 1 minute until starting to soften and fragrant.

  • Add the leeks to the pan and cook another 1-2 minutes until starting to soften.

  • Add the mushrooms, give everything a good toss in the pan and let cook without stirring for about 5-7 minutes until mushrooms have given off all their liquid and start to brown.

  • Reduce the heat to medium-low, return the bison to the pan, add the milk, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and pepper, stir together and let cook another 2-3 minutes until thickened.

  • Plate cauliflower and spoon bison mixture over top.

Nutrition

Serving: 1SERVINGCalories: 404kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 27gFat: 26gSaturated Fat: 11gPolyunsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 80mgSodium: 431mgFiber: 6gSugar: 8g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Main Dishes

Cuisine: American

TRIED THIS RECIPE?COMMENT + RATE BELOW!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Sargento. The opinions and text are all mine.

Gina Matsoukas

Founder and Writer at Running to the Kitchen | About

Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.

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Cauliflower Steak Recipe - Bison Cheddar Topped Cauliflower Steaks (2024)

FAQs

Why do you soak cauliflower before cooking? ›

If you're planning to roast the cauliflower whole or slice it into steaks, slice off the thick stem at the base. Drop the whole cauliflower head upside-down into cool, salted water. Let it soak for 10 to 15 minutes to remove dirt, residue and bugs.

How do you cut cauliflower steaks so they don't fall apart? ›

Using a sharp chef knife, cut the stem away from the cauliflower. Place the cauliflower stem side down on the cutting board and carefully make one cut through the center of the cauliflower to divide it in half. Cut each half into slices, about 3/4-inch thick.

Why is my roasted cauliflower tough? ›

Have you roasted cauliflower before and it came out tough or mushy? A common problem is either roasting it at too low a temperature or stopping once the cauliflower is tender—both mean that the florets do not caramelize.

How do you not overcook cauliflower? ›

As with all vegetables be sure not to overcook cauliflower. We suggest Healthy Sautéeing cauliflower rather than the more traditional methods of boiling or steaming, which makes them waterlogged, mushy and lose much of its flavor. Cut cauliflower florets into quarters and let sit for 5 minutes before cooking.

What happens when you add lemon juice to water when cooking cauliflower? ›

Keep The Cauliflower White. The pigments in white vegetables like cauliflower and onions will stay white with the addition of an acid such as lemon juice to the cooking water (as long as they are not overcooked).

What does soaking cauliflower in milk do? ›

When blanching or cooking cauliflower, keep it white by adding 1 cup of milk. The milk will also give the cauliflower a sweeter flavor.

Can you cut the brown spots off of cauliflower and still eat it? ›

While spotted cauliflower might not be the most attractive look, experts agree there's nothing dangerous about it unless the spots are very dark or widespread. So cut them off and roast it, make it into a pizza crust, or dip it in ranch dressing — as we all know, the sky's the limit with this versatile veggie.

Does cauliflower absorb marinade? ›

The vegetables actually absorb some of the marinade, helping to season them from the inside out. All you have to do is toss your vegetables in your favorite marinade and let them sit. That's it.

How do you keep cut cauliflower from turning brown? ›

One of the best ways to conserve cauliflower is to blanch it in water cool off cauliflower and put in freezer or cut up cauliflower and add rice vinegar and store in plastic containers.

Why isn't my roasted cauliflower crispy? ›

Like all veggies, cauliflower needs some breathing room on the pan. Otherwise, the florets will produce so much steam that they'll never turn crisp on the edges. It's better to use two pans, arranged on separate racks near the middle of the oven, than to cram too much onto one pan.

Why does cooked cauliflower hurt my stomach? ›

Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower contain high levels of insoluble fiber, which can quickly lead to digestive upset, especially when consumed raw. Symptoms can include bloating, gas and cramping.

Can dogs eat cauliflower? ›

Yes, dogs can eat cauliflower in moderation, either raw or cooked. Cauliflower is a source of dietary fiber, vitamin K, and vitamin C for dogs. Some dogs may dislike the slightly bitter taste of cauliflower. Avoid cauliflower with seasonings or oils, as they can cause upset stomach.

How many times a week should you eat cauliflower? ›

It's recommended to eat at least 3/4 cup of cauliflower every day. This means you should have almost 5 cups every week. For those who can easily digest this vegetable, it would be good to have 1.5 cups every day, which amounts to about 10 cups of cauliflower in a week.

Why should broccoli and cauliflower be soaked in salt water before preparation? ›

Before you cook or eat fresh broccoli, be sure to clean it to remove dirt, pesticides, and even bugs. You can wash your broccoli quickly and easily with water or a vinegar solution, and you can remove cabbage worms from the florets with a salt water solution.

How do you keep cauliflower from getting mushy? ›

The key to nonmushy cauliflower lies in how you cut it: Break apart the large head into smaller florets. Now take your knife, and starting at the stem end of the floret, slice about halfway down and snap apart.

How do you get moisture out of cauliflower? ›

Arrange blanched cauliflower in single layers on drying trays. Dry at 140 degrees F (60°C) in an oven or dehydrator. If necessary, turn large pieces over every 3 to 4 hours during the drying period. Vegetables can scorch easily toward the end of drying, so monitor more closely as drying nears completion.

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