Description
Golden Crispy Cauliflower Bites are a delicious, crunchy, and healthier alternative to traditional fried snacks. These cauliflower florets are perfectly seasoned, coated in a crispy breading, and baked to golden perfection. Whether you serve them as an appetizer, side dish, or a fun snack, these bites are sure to please everyone. With a satisfying crunch and irresistible flavor, they’re perfect for a family-friendly meal or game day!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 medium head of cauliflower, cut into florets
- 1 cup all-purpose flour (or chickpea flour for gluten-free)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk (or regular milk)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs (or gluten-free breadcrumbs)
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese (optional for a cheesy touch)
- Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
For Dipping Sauce (Optional):
- 1/4 cup ranch dressing or your favorite dipping sauce
Instructions
-
Preheat the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
-
Prepare the Breading:
- In a shallow bowl, combine the flour, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper.
- In another shallow bowl, pour the almond milk (or regular milk).
- In a third bowl, combine the panko breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese (if using).
-
Coat the Cauliflower:
- Dip each cauliflower floret first into the flour mixture, making sure it’s well coated.
- Next, dip it into the almond milk (or regular milk), and then coat it in the panko breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently to ensure the breadcrumbs stick.
- Place the coated cauliflower on the prepared baking sheet.
-
Bake the Cauliflower:
- Drizzle the cauliflower bites with olive oil to help them crisp up in the oven.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the cauliflower is golden brown and crispy on all sides.
-
Serve:
- Remove from the oven and garnish with fresh parsley, if desired. Serve with ranch dressing or your favorite dipping sauce for extra flavor!
Notes
- For a gluten-free version, use chickpea flour and gluten-free panko breadcrumbs.
- You can spice things up by adding chili powder or cayenne pepper to the seasoning mix.
- These cauliflower bites are best served immediately while they’re still crispy, but you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat in the oven for best results to maintain their crispiness.
- You can also fry the cauliflower bites in hot oil if you prefer a deep-fried version for an even crispier texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of the recipe
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 19g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 0g