This recipe comes straight from Wholesome Yum, one of the most widely followed keto and low-carb recipe sites, run by cookbook author Maya Krampf — see the Cauliflower Steak (Roasted or Grilled) recipe on wholesomeyum.com. The site files this dish under its “Keto” and “Healthy Side Dishes” categories, and it’s built for exactly the spot on the plate a baked potato or a scoop of rice usually takes.
The idea is simple: instead of breaking the cauliflower into florets, you cut the whole head into thick, flat slabs. Kept intact this way, cauliflower holds together on the grate, takes a real char on both cut faces, and eats more like a substantial side than a pile of florets does — while staying a fraction of the carbs of the starchy side it’s standing in for.
Ingredients
- 2 heads cauliflower
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Method
- Cut each cauliflower head into slices about 3/4 inch thick, working from the top down through the core. You’ll get two to three full slabs from each head; the loose ends that fall apart into florets can be saved for another dish.
- In a small bowl, mix the olive oil with the sea salt, black pepper, paprika, and garlic powder. Brush this mixture over both sides of each cauliflower steak.
- Grill method: preheat the grill to medium heat. Place the cauliflower steaks on the grate, close the lid, and cook for 5 minutes. Flip, cover again, and cook for another 4-5 minutes, until the steaks are tender and browned with visible char marks.
- Oven method (if you’d rather not grill): preheat the oven to 425°F (218°C — Wholesome Yum publishes both figures) and bake on a parchment-lined sheet for 10 minutes, then flip and bake another 10-15 minutes until tender and browned.
Why the Slab Shape Matters
Cutting through the core rather than separating the florets is what makes this work as a “steak.” The core fibers hold the layers together, so each slab can be flipped once on the grate without falling apart into scattered pieces the way loose florets tend to. Wholesome Yum notes that grilling brings something the oven can’t: a genuine charred flavor and crisp, blistered edges, which is also why it’s worth doing whenever the weather makes firing up the grill more appealing than heating the kitchen.
What the Recipe Publishes on Carbs
Wholesome Yum’s own nutrition figures for this recipe list 100 calories, 8 g total carbohydrate, and 3.3 g fiber per serving, alongside 7.2 g fat and 2.9 g protein. Those are the source’s published numbers for the base recipe as written above — this article doesn’t add, adjust, or estimate anything beyond what’s printed on the recipe card.
Serving It as the Starchy Side
Because the seasoning here is intentionally plain — just salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic — the steaks are built to sit next to whatever protein is already on the grill, the same way a baked potato or a scoop of rice would. Wholesome Yum’s own suggestions include pairing it with grilled chicken, salmon, or steak, and finishing it with a brush of barbecue sauce partway through cooking if you want a sweeter, saucier version. A few readers in the comments mention using smoked paprika instead of sweet paprika for extra depth, and doubling the oil-and-spice mixture if a head of cauliflower turns out larger than average, since the brush-on coating is deliberately light.
Reheating Leftovers
Wholesome Yum files this recipe as freezer- and make-ahead-friendly, and gives three reheating options for leftover steaks: about a minute per side in a skillet over medium heat, roughly 10 minutes in a 350°F oven (177°C, our conversion), or about a minute in the microwave. The source notes the skillet and oven methods do a better job of keeping the browned edges from going soft than the microwave does, though the microwave is the fastest option if texture isn’t a priority.
A Note on This Being a Recipe Style, Not a Health Claim
This article is about a lower-carbohydrate way to fill the starchy-side spot on the plate, nothing more — it isn’t medical or nutrition advice, and individual dietary needs vary, so check with a qualified professional before changing how you eat.
Keep reading
- Keto Coleslaw: Wholesome Yum’s Sugar-Free Recipe
- Sugar-Free Keto BBQ Sauce: Wholesome Yum’s Recipe
- Keto Bacon Cheeseburger Wraps: Diet Doctor’s Recipe
- Weber Spiced Cauliflower Steaks on the Grill