Baked Crunchy Cauliflower

If you’ve lost your affection for cauliflower, this dish can reignite your passion for it. crunchy Cauliflower is a fast, flavorful, and incredibly versatile dish that can be enjoyed as a holiday side or added to bowls, salads, and other dishes for an extra crunch.

Preparing this recipe is a breeze, as it only requires 4 ingredients and takes just 30 minutes to make!

Let us guide you through the process with our article!

Ingredients For Crunchy Cauliflower

Flour Mixture: Consists of flour, oat milk, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.

Panko Bread Crumbs: By using Panko bread crumbs, you can take the crunchiness to the next level, so it’s recommended to skip regular bread crumbs.

Hot Sauce: Feel free to use your preferred hot sauce in the recipe. As for myself, I used Carolina Gold sauce by Underwood Ranches and I particularly enjoy their products, incorporating them in various recipes. I’d also like to highlight their Spicy BBQ Sauce, which is really exceptional!

Plant Butter: For a luscious texture and taste, we will combine melted plant butter with hot sauce.

How to make Crunchy Cauliflower?

Make the Batter: In a substantial bowl, blend the flour, onion powder, paprika, salt, pepper, and oat milk. Aim for a batter-like consistency, similar to that of pancake batter. Add more milk as necessary.

Dredge the Cauliflower: To coat the cauliflower, add the cauliflower pieces to the bowl and use a spoon or your hands to evenly cover them with the flour mixture.

Ensure the pieces are evenly coated.

Cover with Panko: Place the Panko bread crumbs in a bowl that is of medium size. Next, coat the cauliflower pieces completely by rolling them in the bread crumbs.

Bake: After you have coated the cauliflower, transfer it onto a baking sheet that has been lined with parchment paper, and then proceed to bake it. Then make sure the baking tray is large enough to fit all of the cauliflower pieces. To bake the cauliflower, adjust the oven temperature to 425°F and leave it in for 15 minutes.

Make the Sauce: As the cauliflower bakes in the oven, prepare the sauce by combining the melted butter and hot sauce in a mixing bowl. Then mix the ingredients well until well blended.

Add the Sauce and Bake Again: After taking the cauliflower out of the oven, drizzle the hot sauce mixture over the bites.

Make sure that all the pieces are evenly coated with the sauce. Resume baking by putting the baking sheet back in the oven and leaving it for an extra 10 minutes.

My Best Tips

• Roast it: Roasting is a great way to bring out the natural sweetness of cauliflower while also achieving a crispy texture. Preheat your oven to 425°F (218°C), toss cauliflower florets with oil, salt, and any seasonings you like, and spread them in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake until the cauliflower turns golden brown and crispy, which usually takes around 20-25 minutes.
• Bread it: Another way to get a crunchy texture is to bread the cauliflower before cooking. Dip florets in beaten egg, then coat them in a mixture of breadcrumbs and any seasonings you like. Bake or fry until crispy.
• Air fry it: If you have an air fryer, it’s a great tool for achieving a crispy texture without the added fat of frying. Toss cauliflower florets with oil and seasonings, and air fry at 400°F (205°C) for 10-15 minutes, shaking the basket occasionally.
• Blanch it: To keep cauliflower crunchy, you can blanch it before using it in a recipe. To prepare the cauliflower, begin by filling a pot with water and adding salt. Put the pot on the stove and heat the water until it boils. Once the water is boiling, add the cauliflower florets and cook them for 1-2 minutes until they turn vibrant in color. Afterwards, take out the cauliflower from the pot and move it to a bowl filled with chilled water and ice. This will prevent the cauliflower from cooking further and help it to maintain its crispiness.
• Use it as a dipper: Instead of cooking the cauliflower, you can also enjoy it raw as a dipper. Cut it into florets and serve it with your favorite dips like hummus, tzatziki, or guacamole.

The step-by-step instructions crunchy Cauliflower pictures can be found in the recipe card below.

Questions and answers about the crunchy Cauliflower recipe

Recipe variations

Cauliflower is a flexible vegetable that can be prepared using different techniques to make nutritious and delectable dishes. Here are some crispy cauliflower variations that you can try:

Baked Cauliflower Wings: Coat cauliflower florets in a mixture of breadcrumbs, grated parmesan cheese, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. To achieve a crispy and golden brown texture, bake cauliflower in the oven. Afterward, pair the baked crispy cauliflower with your preferred dipping sauce for a satisfying snack or meal.

Cauliflower Tater Tots: Combine grated cauliflower, egg, breadcrumbs, grated cheddar cheese, salt, and pepper. Form into small tots and bake until crispy and golden brown. Serve as a fun and healthy snack.

Roasted Cauliflower Popcorn: Drizzle a combination of olive oil, salt, and pepper onto small cauliflower florets, making sure each piece is evenly coated. Roast in the oven until crispy and golden brown. Serve as a healthy alternative to popcorn.

Cauliflower Fritters: Mix grated cauliflower with eggs, flour, grated parmesan cheese, chopped herbs, salt, and pepper. Shape the mixture into patties and cook them in a pan until they turn crispy and achieve a golden-brown color. To create a flavorsome and wholesome meal, serve the patties along with a side salad.

Cauliflower Tempura: Dip cauliflower florets in a batter made from flour, cornstarch, egg, and cold water. Deep-fry until crispy and golden brown. Serve as an appetizer with dipping sauce.

What Do I Serve With cauliflower crispy?

As Is: Simply add a sprinkle of parsley as a finishing touch and savor the dish.

With a dip: I love dipping these in vegan mayo! Other great dipping sauces are Avocado Crema, Yum-Yum Sauce, and Cilantro Lime Sauce.

In tacos: Include these in your tacos, in addition to your preferred taco toppings.

On top of your salad: The crunchy Cauliflower adds a delightful crunch and can definitely add some zest to a salad.

As a side: Your favorite dishes would be perfectly complemented by these as a side.

Have a look at our other Cauliflower recipes, how about whole roasted cauliflower with butter sauce

Can You Freeze crispy oven cauliflower?

Crispy oven cauliflower is freezable if you follow the proper procedure of flash freezing before baking straight from the freezer. After cooling, spread the cauliflower pieces out on a baking sheet, ensuring they don’t touch, and freeze for one hour. Transfer them to a freezer bag and store until you’re ready to serve. To cook, place the frozen pieces on a baking sheet and bake in the oven at 375°F for 15 minutes.

Can You Store Crunchy Cauliflower?

To keep the Crunchy Cauliflower fresh, store them in an airtight container or ziplock bag in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days. When reheating, use an oven and place the pieces on a baking sheet for 5-10 minutes to regain their crunchiness. It’s best to avoid using a microwave, which can make the batter soggy.

What Spices Taste Best On Cauliflower?

Cauliflower is a flexible vegetable with numerous ways to enjoy it, and incorporating spices can significantly enhance its flavor. Below are some of the top spices to incorporate into your cauliflower dishes:

Cumin: Cauliflower is well-paired with cumin, which adds a warm, earthy flavor to it. You can roast cauliflower with cumin for a simple and tasty side dish.

Turmeric: Turmeric has a slightly bitter and warm flavor that complements the mild sweetness of cauliflower. It also gives the cauliflower a bright yellow color. You can use turmeric when making cauliflower curry or roasted cauliflower.

Paprika: Paprika adds a smoky and slightly sweet flavor to cauliflower. It can be used in roasted cauliflower or in cauliflower soup.

Garlic: Garlic is a classic seasoning that goes well with many vegetables, including cauliflower. Roasting cauliflower with garlic can add a lot of flavor to the dish.

Red pepper flakes: Red pepper flakes add a bit of heat to cauliflower, which can balance out its mild flavor. To give your roasted cauliflower an extra punch of flavor, you can add a sprinkle of red pepper flakes.

Curry powder: Curry powder is a combination of spices, such as turmeric, cumin, coriander, and others, that can be used to add flavor and a mild level of spiciness to cauliflower curry.

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