Air Fryer Cauliflower Bites
Equipment
- Air fryer
Ingredients
- 1 large head of cauliflower, cut into florets, (about 1.5 to 2 pounds), rinsed and pat dried
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- Salt and ground black pepper to taste
- 1 cup Panko bread crumbs
- Cooking spray or olive oil spray
Buffalo Dipping sauce (optional)
- 1/2 cup Mayonnaise 1 teaspoon blue cheese crumbles
- 2-3 tablespoons buffalo sauce, (like Frank's red hot)
- Blue cheese crumbles , (optional)
- Ranch dipping sauce , (optional)
Instructions
- Note: It's best to cut the cauliflower into even sized small florets. After rinsing, pat dry with a clean kitchen towel or with paper towels.
- Place the cauliflower florets in a large mixing bowl.
- Preheat the air fryer to 380º F (192º C).
- In a small bowl, whisk the eggs until frothy.
- Pour the whisked, frothy eggs over the cauliflower florets and toss to combine.
- Sprinkle in the spices and toss to distribute them evenly.
- Add the panko breadcrumbs and toss to coat.
- Lightly grease the air fryer basket with cooking spray and transfer the cauliflower, one by one in the air fryer basket on a single layer, leaving space between the florets so the hot air can circulate properly. Don’t overcrowd the basket. Work in batches if necessary.
- Cook the cauliflower until crisp tender with browned edges, about 14-18 minutes, tossing the florets by shaking the basket a couple of times throughout the cooking process. The exact cooking varies depending on the brand, size and type of air fryer as well as the size of the florets.
- Remove cauliflower from the basket and repeat the process with the remaining cauliflower. Serve with the buffalo dipping sauce or with your favorite dipping sauce.
Buffalo Dipping Sauce
- Combine the mayonnaise and the buffalo sauce in a small bowl. Serve, topped with blue cheese crumbles.
Notes
- Pat Them Dry: After rinsing, pat the cauliflower dry with paper towels. Excess moisture prevents the cauliflower from crisping up.
- Evenly Sized Florets: Cut the florets into even pieces so they can cook evenly.
- For Crispy Results: Don’t overcrowd the basket.
- Cooking Spray: Use cooking spray to keep the cauliflower from sticking to the basket.
- Make it Vegan: Replace each egg with one tablespoon of flax seeds and three tablespoons of water. Use vegan mayonnaise to make the dipping sauce or use your favorite vegan sauce.
- Dip It: Serve these crunchy bites with your favorite dipping sauce.
- Storing: While these crispy air fryer cauliflower bites are best served hot, they can be stored in an airtight container for up for 3 days.
- The dipping sauce is not calculated in the nutrition facts as it is an optional serving suggestion.
Nutrition
Calories: 98 kcal, Carbohydrates: 12 g, Protein: 5 g, Fat: 3 g, Saturated Fat: 1 g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1 g, Trans Fat: 0.01 g, Cholesterol: 93 mg, Sodium: 146 mg, Potassium: 82 mg, Fiber: 1 g, Sugar: 1 g, Vitamin A: 433 IU, Vitamin C: 0.1 mg, Calcium: 43 mg, Iron: 1 mg
