Description
Golden Crispy Cauliflower Bites are a deliciously crunchy and flavorful appetizer or snack featuring bite-sized cauliflower florets coated in a seasoned batter and fried to golden perfection. These versatile bites can be deep-fried or air-fried for a lighter option and are perfect for dipping in ranch, buffalo, or spicy mayo sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
Cauliflower
- 1 medium head of cauliflower, cut into bite-sized florets
Batter
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¾ to 1 cup cold water (as needed for batter)
Frying
- Vegetable oil for frying (or olive oil spray for air frying)
Optional
- Dipping sauce (ranch, buffalo, or spicy mayo)
Instructions
- Prepare the batter: In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper until evenly combined. Gradually add cold water while stirring until you achieve a smooth, pancake-like batter consistency.
- Heat the oil: For frying, pour about 1 inch of vegetable oil into a deep skillet and heat over medium-high heat until it reaches approximately 350°F (175°C). For air frying, preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
- Batter the cauliflower: Dip each cauliflower floret into the prepared batter, allowing any excess to drip off before cooking.
- Cook in oil or air fryer: For frying, carefully place battered florets into the hot oil in batches. Fry for 3–5 minutes, turning occasionally until florets are golden brown and crispy. For air frying, spray the battered florets lightly with olive oil and place them in the air fryer basket. Cook for 12–15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through for even cooking.
- Drain and serve: Remove the cooked cauliflower bites from the oil and place them on paper towels to drain excess oil. Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce such as ranch, buffalo, or spicy mayo.
Notes
- You can toss the crispy bites in buffalo or BBQ sauce for added flavor.
- For a gluten-free alternative, substitute all-purpose flour with chickpea flour.
- Use olive oil spray and air frying method for a lighter, lower-fat version of this recipe.
