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Crispy pan Fried Cauliflower is coated in an Asian sweet chili sauce for a tasty veggie appetizer that is sure to be a crowd favorite!
Fried Cauliflower with sweet chili sauce is a delicious appetizer for any occasion. Round out your spread with some Bacon Wrapped Potatoes, Spinach Dip Bites, Jalapeno Poppers, and Cheese Puffs!
pan fried cauliflower
Fried Cauliflower is a quick and easy veggie appetizer that is packed with flavor!
Is fried cauliflower healthy? Cauliflower is considered a superfood because it’s packed full of nutrients.
Unfortunately, once you coat it in flour and fry it in oil it isn’t considered a superfood or even healthy, but it is still delicious and makes a great appetizer, side dish, snack, or even a main entree.
However, if you are vegan or vegetarian, Fried Cauliflower is a wonderful alternative to chicken. You can also use gluten-free flour for those who can’t have it.
How to make fried cauliflower
PREP. Heat oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat.
SEASON. While the oil is heating whisk together flour, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a shallow bowl. Add water and mix until smooth.
Add part of the florets to the batter and toss to coat.
FRY. Fry in the oil (until golden brown). Continue until all the florets are coated and fried.
DIPPING SAUCE. Make the sauce by adding chili sauce, sugar, soy sauce, and rice vinegar to a large skillet. Heat until warmed through and sugar is dissolved, then toss florets in the sauce.
Recipe Tips
Preparing the cauliflower. Rinse the cauliflower well before using it to wash away any hidden dirt, bacteria, or even bugs. Some people like to soak their cauliflower in salt water for 20-30 minutes before rinsing.
After washing, pat the florets dry before coating them in the flour batter.
Fresh or frozen. Use fresh or frozen cauliflower, just note that the frozen cauliflower bites may be a bit softer than if using fresh florets.
Seasoning. Add extra seasoning to the flour mixture such as paprika or cayenne pepper. For added crunch mix in bread or panko crumbs with the flour.
Pan fry tips. I like to pan-fry this dish because it uses a fraction of the oil a deep fryer does. Whether pan-frying or deep-frying the cauliflower, use either vegetable oil, canola oil, or peanut oil.
The hot oil should be about 365°F. Once the cauliflower is golden brown, drain the florets on a paper towel.
- You only need about ¼ inch of oil in the pan.
- The batter isn’t very thick and will only need to fry for 2-3 minutes on each side.
- If the florets are browning much quicker than the 2-3 minutes, turn down the heat or the outside will burn before the cauliflower is tender.
- If they are needing longer to brown then increase the heat or the cauliflower will become saturated with oil and soggy before the batter browns.
Additional sauce suggestions + SToring
I love the sweet chili sauce used to coat these Fried Cauliflower Bites. However, you can easily flavor them with other sauces or dips:
- Coat with Buffalo Hot Sauce, BBQ Sauce, or Teriyaki Sauce.
- Leave them uncoated and dip them in Chipotle Ranch, Artichoke Dip, or Velveeta Spinach Dip.
STORE. Leftover deep Fried Cauliflower will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.
Reheat them in the oven, toaster oven, or air fryer. If you are in a hurry you can use the microwave, but they won’t be as crisp.
For more cauliflower recipes:
- Cauliflower Rice
- Roasted Cauliflower
- Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
- Mashed Cauliflower
- Cauliflower Casserole
Fried Cauliflower Recipe
Ingredients
- vegetable oil
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¾ cup water
- 1 head cauliflower
- ½ cup sweet chili sauce
- ½ cup sugar
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
Instructions
- Heat oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat.
- While the oil is heating whisk together flour, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a shallow bowl. Add water and mix until smooth.
- Add part of the florets to the batter and toss to coat.
- Fry in the oil (until golden brown). Continue until all the florets are coated and fried.
- Make the sauce by adding chili sauce, sugar, soy sauce, and rice vinegar to a large skillet. Heat until warmed through and sugar is dissolved, then toss florets in the sauce.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Followed recipe and all ingredients exactly except used 1 cup flour and added 4 tsp. Old Bay Seasoning, and added extra water for consistency. Served w/Cindy’s Kitchen Spicy Chipotle Aioli I found in Big Y grocery store in the seafood refrigerated section. OMG…this is a keeper! May try adding Panko crumbs next time for a little crunchy texture. Also will try recipe as is when I want an Asian flavor appetizer but I wanted to recreate an appetizer I saw on a bar menu: fried cauliflower tossed in Old Bay seasoning served w/chipotle dipping sauce $11). I paid $1 for a head of cauliflower I found discounted at a farmers market and had all the other ingredients except Chipotle Aioli $4.29 which I will use on other things.