Best 3 Crispy Baked Cauliflower Recipes

CRISPY ROASTED CAULIFLOWER

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425 degrees.
• On a rimmed baking sheet, drizzle cauliflower florets with olive oil. Season with salt. Roast, turning occasionally, until golden brown and just tender, about 20 minutes.
• Sprinkle with red chili flakes.

VEGAN CRISPY BAKED CAULIFLOWER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400F
• Destem cauliflower and chop into small florets. You want to make sure the florets are small enough for bite-size pieces, anything larger won't come out right!
• In a medium bowl, combine 1 cup flour, 1 cup non-dairy milk, and half of the spices [so 1 teaspoon of each]. Mix until well combined. The mixture should be like a thin pancake batter. If it is still too thick, add more milk.
• On a large plate, add half the breadcrumbs and 3 TBS of flour as well as the remaining half of the spices. Use a fork to combine.
• Put cauliflower florets into a huge bowl and then pour the wet mixture over the florets. Using a spoon or your hands, toss to combine so that every floret is coated in the wet mixture.
• Now, using your clean hands, take each floret and dredge it through the dry panko breadcrumbs mixture. Then, place it on a lined baking sheet. NOTE: About halfway through, the breadcrumbs will become soggy and no-good. Throw them away and replenish with the remaining half of your breadcrumbs, more spices, and more flour. Continue until all cauliflower is on your baking dish.
• Cook cauliflower for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, take the cauliflower out and turn/flip it. At this point, you can use a pastry brush to coat each cauliflower bite with a little bit of oil or you can spray oil on. Feel free to skip this step if you are oil-free.
• Cook for 15 minutes more and remove from the oven when the breading is golden brown.
• Serve immediately with the dipping sauce of your choice. [1 part vegan mayo to 1 part ketchup or 2 parts maple syrup to 1 part dijon mustard]

QUICK CRISPY CAULIFLOWER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (232 C) and get out a large, oven-safe rimmed skillet (we prefer cast iron).
• Add chopped cauliflower to a large mixing bowl and top with oil, salt, seasonings of choice, and maple syrup (optional for a bit of sweetness). Toss to coat (see photo).
• Heat your large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add just enough oil to coat the pan (about 1-2 Tbsp / 15-30 ml as recipe is written - adjust amounts as needed if adjusting serving size).
• Heat oil for 1 minute. Then add cauliflower (add only as much will fit comfortably in the pan - crowding will lead to soggy cauliflower) and sauté for about 5 minutes, stirring / tossing occasionally until your cauliflower has a slight sear / golden brown exterior.
• Carefully transfer pan to the preheated oven and bake on the center rack for 10-15 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes to ensure even cooking, until the cauliflower is golden brown and cooked through. It should be tender with a slight bite and crispy edges.
• Garnish with desired herbs or nuts, such as cilantro and slivered almonds (optional), and serve immediately. We also like adding a drizzle of fresh tahini (also optional) for another layer of flavor and creamy texture.
• Store cooled leftovers covered in the refrigerator up to 3-4 days. Not freezer friendly. Best when fresh for optimal texture.