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–+ servings
Steamed cauliflower florets topped with crispy fried breadcrumbs in a white bowl.
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How To Steam a Cauliflower

Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Author: Aleksandra

Ingredients

for the steamed cauliflower:

  • 1 medium cauliflower
  • water
  • salt
  • melted butter optional, to serve

breadcrumb topping: (optional)

  • 1/2 cup (115g) butter
  • 1/2 cup fine breadcrumbs or 1/2 cup Panko breadcrumbs + 1/4 fine breadcrumbs
  • salt

Instructions

  • Prepare the cauliflower: Remove the stem of the cauliflower close to the florets. Cut out the core and remove the outer leaves. Divide the cauliflower into florets (you can do that with a knife or just break them apart with your hands). Cut bigger florets in half so that all the florets cook evenly.
  • Prepare equipment to steam the cauliflower. You will need three things:
  • - A large pot
    - Something to place the cauliflower on/in, such as a steaming basket, a colander or sieve, or a splash guard
    - Something to cover the cauliflower: a tight-fitting lid or a second pot (see the photos in the body of the post for a reference).
  • Steam cauliflower: Add about 1-2 inches (2-5 cm) of boiling water to the pot. Place the steaming basket, colander, sieve, or splash guard over the pot. Arrange the cauliflower florets, stem side down, in the basket, layering them if necessary. Try not to layer the cauliflower too much; if you have multiple layers, it's better to cook it in batches. Place a tight-fitting lid on top, or if using a splash guard, another pot.
  • Cook over medium heat until the cauliflower can be easily pierced with a fork, which will take about 10-20 minutes. The steaming time will depend on what you have used to steam the cauliflower, whether the lid is tight-fitting, and the size of the florets. Check on the cauliflower and cook it to your preferred texture.
  • Serve: Remove from the heat, transfer to a plate, drizzle with melted butter, and sprinkle with salt to taste. Alternatively, you can make a breadcrumb topping, which is my favorite topping for steamed cauliflower.
  • Breadcrumb topping: Melt the butter in a saucepan, then add the breadcrumbs. Cook the mixture for a couple of minutes, stirring from time to time to prevent burning, until the breadcrumbs are golden in color. Drizzle the buttered breadcrumbs over the cauliflower and season with salt.
  • Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 25kcal