Description
This Air Fryer Bang Bang Cauliflower recipe offers a crispy, flavorful twist on cauliflower with a spicy, creamy bang bang sauce. Perfect as a snack or appetizer, this recipe uses an air fryer to achieve a golden, crunchy coating without deep frying, making it a lighter yet satisfying dish packed with bold Asian-inspired flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Cauliflower and Coating
- 1 large head of cauliflower, cut into bite-sized florets
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup cornmeal
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
Bang Bang Sauce
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
- 1 tablespoon sriracha (adjust based on spice preference)
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- Fresh cilantro, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare Cauliflower: Cut the large head of cauliflower into bite-sized florets and set aside to use for breading.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, cornmeal, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, and paprika. Stir well to blend all dry ingredients evenly.
- Prepare Wet and Coating Bowls: In a separate bowl, beat the egg well. In a third bowl, place the panko breadcrumbs ready for coating.
- Coat Flour: Dip each cauliflower floret into the flour mixture, coating thoroughly and shaking off excess flour to avoid clumps.
- Dip in Egg: Next, dip the floured cauliflower into the beaten egg, allowing any surplus egg to drip off for even coverage.
- Coat in Breadcrumbs: Finally, roll the cauliflower floret in the panko breadcrumbs, pressing gently to ensure a good adherence for crispiness.
- Preheat Air Fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for approximately 5 minutes to get it ready for cooking.
- Arrange in Air Fryer: Place the breaded cauliflower florets in a single layer inside the air fryer basket, taking care not to overcrowd for even cooking; cook in batches if necessary.
- Air Fry: Cook the cauliflower at 400°F for 12-15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through the cooking time to promote even browning and crispness.
- Prepare Bang Bang Sauce: While the cauliflower cooks, mix mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, and lime juice in a small bowl until smooth and ready to drizzle or dip.
- Serve: Remove the crispy cauliflower from the air fryer and transfer to a serving dish immediately for the best texture.
- Add Sauce: Drizzle the prepared Bang Bang sauce over the hot cauliflower or serve on the side for dipping, depending on preference.
- Garnish and Enjoy: Garnish with fresh cilantro if desired and serve the snack immediately to enjoy the crispy, spicy flavors at their peak.
Notes
- Adjust the sriracha quantity to control the heat level of the sauce according to your taste.
- For extra crispiness, do not overcrowd the air fryer basket; cook in batches if needed.
- Fresh cilantro garnish is optional but adds a fresh herbal note to the dish.
- Can be served as an appetizer, snack, or side dish with your favorite main courses.
- Use gluten-free flour and breadcrumbs to make this recipe gluten free if needed.
