Herb & Lemon Steamed Cauliflower

Here’s an easy way to cook cauliflower: steamed! This herb and lemon steamed cauliflower cooks in minutes and is so tasty, you won’t want to stop eating it.

Did you know steamed cauliflower can taste incredible? Until very recently, we didn’t! Yes, Alex and I have been making cauliflower roasted for years. It comes out lightly charred with a sweet, almost caramelized flavor. The problem is, it takes about 40 minutes to roast: and that doesn’t work for a quick weeknight meal. Enter: steamed cauliflower! This easy side dish cooks in just 10 minutes. Mixed with savory Italian seasoning and bright lemon zest, the flavor was so good we couldn’t stop eating it. This one’s a winner! (Our toddler even was impressed.)

How to make the best steamed cauliflower

Making steamed cauliflower is seriously easy: all you need is a steamer basket and a covered pot or deep skillet. It cooks up in about 10 minutes. You’ll want to make sure not to overcook it, or it gets pretty mushy. The goal here is crisp tender: so make sure to taste it to assess whether it’s done! Here are all our secrets on the very best steamed cauliflower that we know you’ll fall in love with.

Gear required: You’ll need a steamer basket or steamer pan to make this recipe. Here’s a steamer basket you can buy online.

Step 1: Chop the cauliflower into florets.

Chop the cauliflower into bite-sized florets. If you’re not sure the best method, Alex and I have a way to easily cut it without ending up with crumbles all over the counter! Go to How to Cut Cauliflower or see the video below.

Step 2: Bring water to a boil.

Rule number one of steaming vegetables: bring the water to a boil first! It might seem intuitive to put everything in the steamer and bring the water to a boil: but this results in irregular cooking. Boil the water first, then add the steamer basket.

Step 3: Steam for 10 to 12 minutes.

Once boiling, add the cauliflower in the steamer basket and cover the pot with a lid. Steam with the lid on 10 to 12 minutes until just tender. Taste test a piece with a fork to assess doneness. The cook time will be slightly different every time based on the freshness of the cauliflower and thickness of the pieces.

Step 4: Drain and season.

Carefully remove the cauliflower to a bowl. Now here’s where the magic begins! Season with olive oil, sat and pepper, Italian seasoning, and lemon zest. Then give it a taste! We hope you’ll love this steamed cauliflower as much as we do.

Ways to season steamed cauliflower

The best way to season steamed cauliflower is the example in this recipe (we think!): olive oil, Italian seasoning, and lemon zest! But if you’re looking for other options, here are a few ideas for add ons:

Grated Parmesan or Pecorino cheese
Drizzle of balsamic reduction
Slivered toasted almonds or pinenuts and raisins
Goat cheese or feta crumbles
Minced garlic
Panko and dried herbs
Green onion or chopped chives
Fresh dill, oregano or thyme

Our favorite ways to serve it!

Alex and I have made this steamed cauliflower several times already. In particular our son Larson loves to gobble it up. Here are a few ways we’ve served it that we’ve enjoyed:

As a side. It’s a great side along with baked salmon, sauteed shrimp or pasta.
As a snack. Leftovers for us have become a snack, right out of the dish! Serve with Homemade Ranch for a dipping sauce.
With gravy. Might sound odd, but it’s a great low carb version of mashed potatoes and gravy. (We had a bit of our easy vegan gravy left over and accidentally found out it was delicious!)
In a bowl meal. This steamed cauliflower would be perfect in a grain bowl! Make a big pot of brown rice, quinoa, or farro, then top with chickpeas or lentils, baby greens, and our Best Tahini Sauce.
As mac and cheese. Top with your favorite mac and cheese sauce for a cheesy version of your favorite pasta. Make a double recipe of cauliflower, and try our Pesto Mac and Cheese or Best Gouda Mac and Cheese.

This steamed cauliflower recipe is…

Vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan, plant-based, and dairy-free.