Cauliflower Steaks with Creamy Tomato Sauce

Name: Cauliflower Steaks with Creamy Tomato Sauce
Cuisine: Iranian
Ingredients: 4 tablespoons (60 ml) olive oil, divided; 1 large cauliflower, leaves removed; 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar; 1 teaspoon soy sauce; ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper; 2 bay leaves; 2 green cardamom pods; 2 whole cloves; 1 cinnamon stick; ½ teaspoon cumin seeds; ½ teaspoon coriander seeds; 2 tablespoons ghee; ½ red onion, sliced; 1 small red chile pepper, or to taste; 2 cloves garlic, sliced; ½-inch (12-mm) piece of fresh ginger, peeled and sliced; ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg; ¼ teaspoon ground turmeric; 2 tomatoes, quartered; ½ teaspoon sea salt; ¼ cup (30 g) raw cashews; ½ cup (120 ml) water; 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Preparation info

Makes
4
servings

Difficulty
Easy

Appears in

Bitter & Sweet

By Omid Roustaei and Lauren Ko

Published 2025

About

It’s remarkable how cauliflower has evolved into such a versatile ingredient, even earning the title of “steak”! In this recipe, cauliflower steaks are topped with a creamy, cashew-based tomato sauce infused with a rich blend of spices, creating a perfect vegetarian dish.

Ingredients

For the Cauliflower Steaks

4 tablespoons (60 ml) olive oil, divided
1 large cauliflower, leaves remov

Asia
Americas
Iran
United States
Main course
Vegetarian

Method

To prepare the cauliflower, preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Brush a baking sheet with 1 tablespoon of the oil and set aside.

Trim the stem of the cauliflower so that it can sit flat on the cutting board. Slice the cauliflower into ¾-inch (2-cm)-thick steaks by cutting from t