Making this recipe for easy steamed cauliflower with herbs is really easy. All you need to do is chop the cauliflower and steam it. Then drizzle it with a little bit of olive oil, herbs and salt and pepper. It’s a naturally low-calorie, low-carb aspect dish to spherical out your dinner.
This put up comprises affiliate hyperlinks. I initially shared this recipe on March sixteenth, 2018. I’ve up to date a few of the content material to share it once more with you at present.
Why Make This Recipe
You’re going to wish to save this steamed cauliflower recipe since you’ll return to it again and again.
Steaming cauliflower is so easy and wholesome and is a quick technique to get completely tender cauliflower, with out overcooking it, and with no need to warmth up the oven. It takes mere minutes!
Plus we’ve seasoned it with a tried and true mixture of extra-virgin olive oil, recent herbs, salt and pepper! Belief us, this mix of tender cauliflower and recent herbs is a good aspect dish for all kinds of dinners.
You may as well put together this for meal prep or you need to use this as a jumping-off level to give you totally different seasoning mixtures!
This recipe is fabulous and elevates cauliflower to a different degree. The basil and oregano seasoning mix made a believer of my husband. Miracle!
~Linda
Tools Notes
Steamer Basket
Steamer baskets are handy as a result of they’re sufficiently small to retailer simply and maintain the veggies from touching the water. That is my most popular technique to steam greens.
These collapsable metallic baskets can be found at most grocery shops and kitchen shops. I steam veggies loads so I favor a heavy-duty one like this Oxo one, as a result of the blades on the actually skinny ones are likely to collapse after a 12 months or two.
You may as well use a two-step pot that has a steamer high like this one. I discover them to be too giant for storage however they’re actually extra sturdy than a folding steamer basket.
Colander
If you’re new to steaming and do not need a steamer basket but, you possibly can improvise one by utilizing a colander set inside a big inventory pot or soup pot. Set the legs into the water, however be certain the underside of the colander bowl doesn’t dip down into the boiling water.
Microwave
You may as well use a big microwave-safe bowl and steam your cauliflower within the microwave! I take advantage of parchment and plastic wrap to cowl it, or you possibly can cowl it with a plate to entice the steam within the bowl. Learn directions for steaming cauliflower in a microwave here.
Key Elements
Cauliflower
You’ll want one medium head of cauliflower for this recipe. When buying, attempt to keep away from heads of cauliflower which have indicators of browning, mould or black spots. Minimize off any darkish spots.
Olive Oil
We opted for extra-virgin olive oil to season the steamed cauliflower. This helps the herbs and spices stick the steamed cauliflower. You may substitute melted butter as a substitute or attempt a seasoned oil similar to roasted garlic oil or basil-infused oil for one thing extra decadent!
Herbs and Seasonings
Use a mix of herbs to your liking. Strive 2 teaspoons chopped parsley, 1 teaspoon every dill and tarragon. Or 1 tablespoon chopped basil and 1 teaspoon chopped oregano.
You’ll additionally want salt and pepper for seasoning the cauliflower. If you’re on a reduced-sodium weight loss program, skip the added salt, and solely add to style on the desk. The recent herbs add a lot taste, chances are you’ll not want any!
I’ve a number of different recommendations for how to season steamed cauliflower here.
How To Make Steamed Cauliflower
Step 1: Minimize The Cauliflower
Take away the leaves from the surface of the cauliflower head. Minimize the top in half and take away the core with a knife. Minimize the cauliflower into giant florets (PHOTO 1). You need them to be roughly the identical measurement in order that they prepare dinner evenly. Minimize by way of the stems, and attempt to depart the top of the florets intact so they don’t crumble.
Step 2: Steam
Arrange your steamer basket by filling the underside of the massive pot with water. You don’t need the water to be any greater than the underside of the basket, however it’s worthwhile to add sufficient water so it received’t boil away.
Add the cauliflower to the steamer basket (PHOTO 2), cowl and prepare dinner it till it’s fork-tender.
Cauliflower Steam Time
Steaming cauliflower takes about 5 to six minutes however will rely on how crowded your steamer basket is and the dimensions of the florets. In case you favor softer steamed cauliflower, prepare dinner as much as 7 minutes.
To verify whether it is tender, attempt piercing the thickest a part of the cauliflower stem with a fork or the tip of a pairing knife. (PHOTO 3) It ought to go out and in with no ton of resistance.
Take note you don’t want to go overboard and overcook the cauliflower. Overcooking it’s going to make it sulfurous and watery.
How To Steam in a Microwave
To steam the cauliflower within the microwave place the cauliflower florets in a big microwave-safe bowl and add 1/2 cup faucet water (PHOTO 1.) Cowl with a layer of parchment after which plastic wrap to seal within the steam (PHOTO 2.) Alternatively, cowl the bowl with a big microwave-safe plate or silicone cowl.
Microwave on excessive energy for five minutes. Let sit 1 minute, then rigorously take away the plastic wrap. Warning, the steam is sizzling and may burn as you take away the plastic!
Verify to ensure your cauliflower is fork-tender (PHOTO 3.) Relying on the dimensions of your florets and the wattage of your microwave instances could differ.
How To Season Steamed Cauliflower
As soon as it’s tender, take the steamer basket out of the pot and set it apart for a second. Then eliminate the cooking water. Then dump the cauliflower again into the pot. This protects a dish! Yay! For microwave methodology, drain the cauliflower in a colander then add again to the bowl.
Drizzle olive oil, salt pepper and herbs over the cauliflower and toss till the oil and seasonings coat the cauliflower and get into the nooks and crannies.
Variations To Strive
- As an alternative of herbs, you possibly can season this with a teaspoon of recent lemon zest and just a little lemon juice.
- You may season the steamed cauliflower by tossing it with Basil Pesto.
- Use half broccoli and half cauliflower for a two-veggie duo.
- You need to use butter as a substitute of olive oil and add 2 tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese.
- Drizzle with Balsamic vinegar and high with toasted almonds.
FAQs and Knowledgeable Suggestions for Steaming Cauliflower
Sure you possibly can steam cauliflower. Merely add the frozen cauliflower to the steamer basket, cowl and steam for five to six minutes, or till the cauliflower is piping sizzling and fork-tender. 
The secret is utilizing the next ratio of tender herbs (these with stems similar to dill, tarragon, chervil, cilantro and basil) to woody herbs (these with stick-like stems similar to thyme and rosemary) as typically woody herbs are stronger in taste. Sage and oregano When in doubt- lower whichever herb you employ 50% with parsley.
Cauliflower comes from the mustard household of greens which have various ranges of sulfurous odor. When overcooked cauliflower can let off a stronger sulfur odor. To keep away from that, don’t prepare dinner the cauliflower too lengthy, and take away it from the warmth when it’s fork tender.
The timing is dependent upon the dimensions of your florets, however typically, it takes 5 to six minutes for simply crisp-tender steamed cauliflower and seven to eight minutes for tender cauliflower.
Extra Cauliflower Recipes
Thanks a lot for studying. If you’re new right here, you might have considered trying to join my free weekly email newsletter the place I share weeknight meal plans delivered proper to your inbox. Or observe me on Instagram. In case you make this recipe, please come again and depart a star ranking and evaluate! It is vitally appreciated. Glad Cooking! ~Katie
Description
Making this recipe for easy steamed cauliflower with herbs is really easy. All you need to do is chop the cauliflower and steam it. Then drizzle it with a little bit of olive oil, herbs and salt and pepper. It’s a naturally low-calorie, low-carb aspect dish to spherical out your dinner.
- 1 head cauliflower, lower into florets
- 4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
- ¾ teaspoon coarse kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly floor pepper
- 4 teaspoons chopped recent herbs, see word*
- Deliver one to 2 inches of water to a boil in a big saucepan fitted with a steamer basket over excessive warmth. Add cauliflower to the steamer basket, cowl the saucepan, and steam till the cauliflower is fork-tender, 4 to five minutes for crisp tender. Steam 1 to three minutes longer for softer cauliflower.
- Take away the steamer basket from the saucepan, and pour out the water. Empty the cauliflower out of the steamer basket again into the pot. Drizzle on oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss to coat. Add herbs and toss to coat. Serve instantly.
Notes
Observe* Use a mix of herbs to your liking. Strive 2 teaspoons chopped parsley, 1 teaspoon every dill and tarragon. Or 1 tablespoon chopped basil and 1 teaspoon chopped oregano.
- Prep Time: quarter-hour
- Prepare dinner Time: 5 minutes
- Class: aspect dish
- Technique: Range Prime
- Delicacies: American
Diet
- Serving Measurement: 1 cup
- Energy: 45
- Carbohydrates: 4
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 2
Key phrases: Steamed Cauliflower,easy cauliflower recipe,simple cauliflower recipe,cauliflower with herbs
In regards to the Writer
Katie Webster
Katie Webster studied artwork and images at Skidmore School and is a graduate of the New England Culinary Institute. She has been knowledgeable recipe developer since 2001 when she first began working within the check kitchen at EatingWell journal. Her recipes have been featured in quite a few magazines together with Form, Health, Mother and father and a number of other Edible Communities publications amongst others. Her cookbook, Maple {Quirk Books} was revealed in 2015. She launched Wholesome Seasonal Recipes in 2009. She lives in Vermont together with her husband, two teenage daughters and two yellow labs. In her free time, you’ll find her on the health club, cooking, stacking firewood, making maple syrup, and tending to her overgrown perennial backyard.
