Whether they’re grilled to smoky perfection, dusted in turmeric or drenched in lemon-herb sauce, cauliflower steaks never disappoint. They’re a lighter vegetarian alternative to meat, plus they pair well with basically everything, thanks to their neutral flavor. But what should you plate them with? Read on to find out what to serve with cauliflower steaks, whether you have vegans, carnivores or picky kids at the dinner table.
What to Serve with Cauliflower Steaks (Hint: They Go with Just About Anything)
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Published Sep 6, 2022
1. Kale and Brussels Sprout Caesar Slaw
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, no cook, make ahead
When in doubt, a side salad never hurts. This one stars a vegan take on Caesar dressing, made with soaked sunflower seeds and blanched almonds.
3. Marinated White Bean and Tomato Salad
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
- Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, vegan, crowd-pleaser
This juicy side and grilled cauliflower steaks are a match made in summer heaven. We’re betting you have nearly all the ingredients you need in your kitchen right now.
5. Grilled Sweet Potatoes with a Dilly Dip
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, kid-friendly
The simple herb sauce pairs as well with cauliflower as it does these stunning spuds. Use a grill pan to prepare them in the off season—you won’t want to miss out on those char marks.
6. Salami, Artichoke and Ricotta Pasta Salad
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
This pasta salad is equal parts spicy, savory and briny, the ultimate combo to liven up mild cauliflower. Up the creaminess by substituting burrata for ricotta.
7. Roasted Broccoli and Aged White Cheddar Soup
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why I Love It: kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy, high protein
Better than Panera Bread’s, down to the garlicky breadcrumb topping. We wouldn’t blame you for pan-frying your cauli steak until crispy, then dipping it into the rich, salty soup.
8. Pearl Couscous with Chickpeas, Eggplant and Peaches
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegan, special occasion-worthy
Admit it: We had you at “peaches.” Here, they’re roasted alongside veggies, herbs and seasonings until jammy and sweet.
9. Carrot-Ricotta Tart with Pesto and Pine Nuts
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, <10 ingredients
Store-bought puff pastry makes this stunner a breeze to assemble, even though it looks like you ordered it from a fancy bakery. Reserve some pesto, sumac and flaky salt for your cauliflower steak.
10. Summer Vegetable Steak Salad with Cilantro Lime Dressing
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
Consider the honey-sweetened dressing a magical elixir that can make any meal a million times tastier. Plate the zucchini and yellow squash atop the cauliflower, then serve the steak and greens on the side.
12. Instant Pot Spicy Thai Butternut Squash Soup
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: Instant Pot recipe, vegan, special occasion-worthy
Forget waiting a whole hour for the oven to work its magic. With the help of a pressure cooker, butternut squash turns soft and tender in mere minutes.
13. Sriracha Shrimp Skewers with Collard-Peach Salad
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, high protein, beginner-friendly
This dish is peak delicious when devoured outdoors with a glass of white wine. Be sure to massage the collards to break down the fibers and tenderize them.
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, make ahead, vegetarian, kid-friendly
We’d be remiss to not suggest prepping a second batch of ranch dressing, exclusively for the cauliflower steak. (The potato salad is the perfect pairing for Buffalo cauli, BTW.)
15. Any-Green Pesto
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Why I Love It: make ahead, <30 minutes, <10 ingredients
Sure, you could toil over an impressive side…or you could douse the cauliflower steak in the easiest from-scratch pesto of all time and call it a night. The choice is yours—just know the only nonnegotiable is that you toast the nuts before blitzing them.
For even more great recipes, check out our first cookbook, Only the Good Stuff.
Taryn Pire is PureWow’s associate food editor. A former bartender and barista, she’s been writing about all things delicious since 2016, developing recipes, reviewing restaurants and investigating food trends at Food52, New Jersey Family Magazine and Taste Talks. When she isn’t testing TikTok’s latest viral recipe, she’s having popcorn for dinner and posting about it on Instagram @cookingwithpire.
