Ready for a simple side dish that comes together quickly? You won’t think of cauliflower the same way after trying steamed cauliflower, a delectable side dish that can be made in just a few minutes. It’s quite simple to make, which is excellent for hectic nights when you don’t feel like attempting to prepare a meal. Not only is Easy Steamed Cauliflower with Lemon Dressing a vegetarian dish, but it also creates a stunning display when served to guests and is full of delicious flavors and textures! So let’s get started if you’re ready to add a wonderful side to your weekday supper or holiday celebration!
How to Make the Best Steamed Cauliflower
Making steamed cauliflower is seriously so easy, (no need to cut it into florets) all you need is a steamer basket and a covered pot.
- Once you have trimmed the cauliflower, you’re ready to begin the steaming process. Remove the leaves and leaf stalks, turn the head over and trim out the center core, being careful not to remove too much or the florets will fall apart.
- Place a steamer basket in a pot filled with water just below the basket. Bring to a boil, then place cauliflower in the basket, cover, and steam for 10 – 15 minutes. Don’t overcook the cauliflower because you want to preserve its texture and prevent it from becoming mushy. Steam it just long enough that you can easily pierce it with a knife.
- Remove the cauliflower from the pot, and place it on your serving dish.
How to make the lemon dressing
While it may be tempting to smother the cauliflower in cheese sauces, (and we don’t doubt that’s a delicious way to enjoy it), we prefer to let the taste of the cauliflower shine by accompanying it with a simple lemon dressing. While the cauliflower is steaming, make the lemon dressing. You’ll want the dressing to be ready as soon as the cauliflower is finished cooking.
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Ingredients
- Olive oil
- Oregano
- Parsely
- Salt & pepper
- Lemon
- Rinse the parsley under cold water, shaking it to make sure all leaves get washed or you can soak it in a bowl of cold water and swish gently to remove any dirt. Lay the washed parsley on paper towels and blot dry. Using a sharp knife, chop the parsley into pieces.
- To a small bowl, add the olive oil, oregano, parsley, salt, pepper, and freshly squeezed lemon juice. Whisked until all ingredients are incorporated.
Let’s Serve Easy Steamed Cauliflower With Lemon Dressing
Ready to serve this show-stopper side dish? It doesn’t get much easier than this! Your perfect side dish will be on the table in no time at all.
- Carefully remove the full steamed cauliflower head from the pot and transfer it to a serving platter.
- Immediately pour the lemon dressing over the top of the cauliflower, serve and enjoy!
Want Even More Delicious Cauliflower Recipes? Try these
- Buffalo Baked Cauliflower
- Greek Style Cauliflower
- Healthier Mac & Cheese (Secret Ingredient is Cauliflower)
Give these recipes a try and let us know what you think by leaving us a comment or rating below. We love hearing from you! Plus stay up to date on our latest recipes by following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. And don’t forget, you can get all of our recipes delivered straight to your mailbox by subscribing to our mailing list!
Easy Steamed Cauliflower With Lemon Dressing
Ingredients
- 1 whole head cauliflower trimmed
- 3 tbsp fresh parsley chopped
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ½ lemon
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Remove the leaves and leaf stalks from the cauliflower. Turn the head over and trim out the center core, being careful not to remove too much or the florets will fall apart.
- Place a steamer basket in a pot filled with water just below the basket. Bring to a boil, then place cauliflower in the basket, cover and steam for 10 – 15 minutes. Don't overcook the cauliflower because you want to preserve its texture and prevent it from becoming mushy. Steam it just long enough for a knife to easily pierce it.
- While the cauliflower is cooking, prepare the dressing.
- Rinse the parsley under cold water, shaking it to make sure all leaves get washed or you can soak it in a bowl of cold water and swish gently to remove any dirt. Lay the washed parsley on paper towels and blot dry. Using a sharp knife, chop the parsley into small pieces.
- To a small bow, add the olive oil, oregano, parsley, salt and pepper and the juice from the lemon. Whisk until all the ingredients are incorporated. Set aside.
- When the cauliflower is done steaming, carefully remove it from the pot and place it on a serving dish.
- Immediatley pour the lemon dressing over the top of the caulifloere and serve. Enjoy!
