Name: Fried Cauliflower
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1 head of fresh cauliflower washed and cut into floret pieces; 1/2 cup flour; 1/2 cup cornstarch; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1 teaspoon sugar; 1/2 teaspoon sea salt; 1 teaspoon each granulated garlic powder, oregano, Italian seasoning; pinch of cayenne pepper; 1 egg; 2/3 cup ice water; oil for frying

This fried cauliflower is a huge favorite appetizer in our Italian family. The herbs and spices in this batter complement the cauliflower perfectly.

It has a nice crisp crunch on the outside and soft fried cauliflower inside. These appetizers taste great plain or dipped in your favorite sauces.

Growing up in East Utica, New York, my mom made these often for an appetizer before a big Holiday Italian meal.

Now, I carry on that same tradition with my children.

I think of my mom and dad often in the kitchen and the foods we grew up on when I cook them they keep their memory alive in the kitchen.

This little appetizer is just perfect for the Holiday season, I always make them on Thanksgiving and around Christmas time. That's when most of the family gets together for a big meal.

But now, everyone loves them so much, we make them all year round!

These really are addicting!

If you want an appetizer that will fly off the plates, this is it!

Scroll down to see this easy cauliflower recipe, it's perfect with any meal.

Cauliflower is so versatile

I love cauliflower, I even make a cauliflower mashed potato that is awesome as a side dish.

I like eating it raw on an appetizer board or even in a salad.

This fried cauliflower is a delicious appetizer and so easy to make.

This is how to make a crispy coated batter fried cauliflower with herbs and spices as an appetizer. The cauliflower is cut up into small bite size pieces and then coated with a tempura batter and pan fried

Change it Up

You can make this as spicy as you would like and add more or less cayenne pepper to your taste or even hot sauce.

I love herbs and spices, the more garlic the better you can use fresh minced garlic or granulated.

Don't be afraid to sprinkle more on after they're fried.

These are delicious dipped in Asian sauce, I like mine plain.

this is a tempura herb and garlic batter to fry cauliflower or any vegetables and fish in recipe

Shopping List Recipe below in the Printable Recipe card for Fried Cauliflower

fresh cauliflower washed and cut into floret pieces
flour
cornstarch
baking soda
baking powder
sugar
sea salt
granulated garlic powder, oregano, Italian seasoning
pinch of cayenne pepper
egg
ice water
oil for frying

More Tips

make sure the cauliflower is blotted dry after washing
use fresh for best results
make sure the water is very cold
always heat the oil before frying
place on paper towels to saturate the oil from the cauliflower

this is cut up washed cauliflower getting ready to be battered and then fried recipe

Serving Hot Cauliflower!

These are bland if you don't use sea salt which enhances the flavor in the batter in my opinion.

If you love spicy add more cayenne pepper or hot sauce into the batter.

Use marinara sauce, Asian sauce or other sauce recipes you like, here are some
sauce suggestions here.