These cauliflower bites are incredibly flavorful and serve as the perfect "health-ified junk food" option to satisfy your cravings for something salty, crunchy, and sweet while keeping you on track with your health goals.
SWEET CHILI CAULIFLOWER BITES
✔ 30 Minutes ✔ Weight Loss Friendly ✔ Oil Free ✔ Serves 2 to 4 (depending on if used as a meal or side)
INGREDIENTS
• 1 medium head cauliflower, chopped into bite sized pieces
• 1 to 2 cups (or more) bread crumbs, store bought or homemade
Batter:
• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
• 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme, optional
• 1/2 cup healthier flour, your choice, gluten free works too
• 3/4 cup unsweetened plant based milk
Sweet Chili Sauce:
• 1/3 cup rice vinegar
• 1/3 cup water
• 1/3 cup + 2 tablespoons monk fruit sweetener, or other granualted sweetener of choice
• 1 teaspoon crushed red chili flakes
• 2 large garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced
• 1 teaspoon soy sauce OR coconut aminos
• Slurry made of 2 teaspoons cornstarch or tapioca starch + 1 tablespoon water
Garnish, optional:
• Green onion, chopped
• Sesame seeds
1 Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Chop your cauliflower into bite sized pieces, set aside.
2 Make the batter by combining the dry batter ingredients (salt, nutritional yeast, thyme, flour) in a medium mixing bowl. Then pour in plant based milk and whisk to reach a thick, yet still liquid batter consistency for dipping the cauliflower. Add breadcrumbs to separate bowl and set aside.
3 One by one dip the cauliflower bites into the bowl with batter then into the bowl with bread crumbs.
Place each bite onto the prepared baking sheet as you go. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until golden brown.
4 In the meantime, make the Sweet Chili Sauce by placing all sauce ingredients except for the slurry in a small sauce pan and bring to a boil stirring occasionally. Once the monk fruit sweetener has dissolved add in the slurry and stir constantly until thickened, 1 to 2 minutes. Set aside to cool and thicken a bit further.
5 Once the bites are done, use the sauce as a dip or coat each bite in the sauce and serve garnished with green onion and sesame seeds on top.
NOTE: This recipe works in the air fryer as well at 400 degrees F for the 10 to 15 minutes. If you’d like to create a breaded cauliflower recipe that has an herby flavor and omit the sweet chili sauce just add in a 1/4 teaspoon of each dried oregano, basil, smoked paprika, and black pepper to the recipe.
Watch the video version here:
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