Description
Enjoy these Crispy Baked Cauliflower Bites, a delicious and healthy vegetarian appetizer that’s perfectly seasoned and baked to golden crispiness. These cauliflower florets are coated in a flavorful batter and crunchy panko breadcrumbs, making them a guilt-free snack or party favorite best served with your choice of dipping sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
Cauliflower Bites
- 1 medium head cauliflower, cut into bite-sized florets
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 1/2 cups panko breadcrumbs
Optional
- Dipping sauce such as ranch, buffalo, or sweet chili sauce
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C) and prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper or lightly greasing it to prevent sticking.
- Make Batter: In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, water, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper until you achieve a smooth and lump-free batter.
- Prepare Breadcrumbs: Place the panko breadcrumbs in a separate bowl to easily coat the cauliflower florets after dipping them in batter.
- Coat Cauliflower: Dip each cauliflower floret into the batter, allowing excess to drip off, then thoroughly coat it with the panko breadcrumbs. This ensures a crispy texture once baked.
- Arrange for Baking: Place the coated florets in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet, making sure they are spaced slightly apart for even cooking.
- Bake: Bake the cauliflower bites for 25 to 30 minutes, flipping them halfway through the cooking time to achieve an even golden brown and crispy exterior.
- Serve: Once baked, serve your crispy cauliflower bites hot with your favorite dipping sauces such as ranch, buffalo, or sweet chili for added flavor.
Notes
- For extra crispiness, lightly spray the coated florets with cooking oil before baking.
- To make this recipe gluten-free, substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend and use gluten-free breadcrumbs.
- Feel free to experiment with different seasoning blends to customize the flavor to your preference.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 160
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 390mg
- Fat: 4g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 27g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
