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Crispy Pan Fried Cauliflower Recipe

This Crispy Pan Fried Cauliflower recipe is a family favorite, and one of the best ways to eat cauliflower! These bite-sized florets make a great snack for kids or vegetarian cauliflower side dish.

crispy pan fried cauliflower florets

This cauliflower recipe has been in our family for generations, and I am so excited to share it with you!

This recipe is super simple and delicious. If you like cauliflower, then this recipe is perfect. The flavor of the cauliflower really comes through because the cauliflower is not drenched with heavy batter. Just a light, crisp dusting of flour.

By the way, if you want to see all my cauliflower recipes, you can find them in one place here: Cauliflower Recipes

How to make crispy pan fried cauliflower:

This recipe is very quick to prepare. You'll start by boiling or steaming the cauliflower so that it is cooked to your liking. If you decide to boil the cauliflower, 7-10 minutes is all it takes, depending on how cooked you like your vegetables.

By the way, don't throw out those cauliflower leaves! Instead, use them to make these crispy roasted cauliflower leaves.

boiling cauliflower to make pan fried cauliflower florets

Here's a quick tip: you can boil the cauliflower in advance, rinse it under cool water to stop the cooking, and set it aside until almost ready to eat. Then it only takes only 20 minutes to pan fry the cauliflower.

After rinsing the cauliflower in cool water to stop the cooking, chop it up roughly into florets. The more flat sides it has, the easier it will be to fry.

cauliflower florets

The next step is to dip the cauliflower into the egg mixture and then dredge it in the flour mixture. I use this same technique for my fried chicken hearts and I am convinced this is the best breading to make fried food!

dipping cauliflower florets into the egg and flour mixture

It won't be perfect, and that's okay.

cauliflower florets ready for frying

After that, just heat the oil in a large skillet and fry for 3-5 minutes per side, until the cauliflower turns golden brown on each side.

pan frying cauliflower florets

Looking for more family-inspired Russian recipes? Try these Sautéed Chicken Hearts with Mushrooms!

What you need for this recipe

As you can see, this is a super simple recipe. The main thing you need are a large soup pot / stock pot to cook the cauliflower, and a large non-stick skillet to fry it.

I like the cook the cauliflower in two pans at once - it halves the cooking time!

Related recipe: Cauliflower Chicken Soup

How to serve this pan fried cauliflower:

This cauliflower tastes best fresh - it is crispy, warm, tender, and oh so good. You can dip it into your favorite dressing - Ranch works great. Or try it with this Lemony Zesty Yogurt Dip from my other cauliflower recipe. Or just serve it as a vegetable side dish with dinner next to your favorite chicken or fish recipe.

crispy pan fried cauliflower florets

There have been times I actually sat down and ate half of the cauliflower for dinner - it is so good, and once you start you really don't want to stop.

It's actually a pretty balanced dish. The cauliflower, eggs, and flour make a very well rounded snack.

And since this cauliflower is pan fried and not deep fried, it is not loaded with fat. It's a great snack for toddlers or kids because it will get them to eat lots of veggies in one meal.

pan fried cauliflower - a recipe for frying cauliflower

Try a healthier take on "fried cauliflower: Air Fryer Cauliflower Steak

Other Cauliflower Recipes from Babaganosh:

If you enjoyed this pan-fried cauliflower recipe, you might love these other cauliflower recipes from my blog.

If you like this recipe, please don't forget to share it on Facebook and Pinterest! And leave me a comment and a rating in the recipe card below - I'd love to hear from you!

crispy pan fried cauliflower florets with dip
Print Recipe
4.72 from 89 votes

Crispy Pan Fried Cauliflower Florets

This recipe for Crispy Pan Fried Cauliflower Florets is a family favorite, and one of the best ways to eat cauliflower! These bite-sized florets make a great snack or side dish.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Course: Dinner, Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine: American, Russian
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Kate
Cost: $1.25 per serving

Ingredients

  • 1 small cauliflower
  • 2 eggs
  • ¼ cup milk - (any kind, I used 1%)
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground pepper
  • optional: pinch of powdered cayenne pepper or chipotle pepper
  • ¼ - ½ cup olive oil

Instructions

  • Boil or steam the whole cauliflower (do not separate it into florets yet) to your desired doneness - I prefer mine fork-tender and boil it for 7-10 minutes. Rinse in cold water and allow to cool. Separate the cauliflower into florets, cut the larger florets in half.  
    boiling cauliflower to make pan fried cauliflower florets
  • Prepare 2 small containers for the batter. In one, whisk together the eggs and milk. In the other, mix together the flour, salt, and black pepper. If you want, add some spice with a pinch of cayenne or chipotle powder. 
    dipping cauliflower florets into the egg and flour mixture
  • Dip each cauliflower floret into the egg mixture (really mix it around in there), and then dip it into the flour mixture, making sure to coat each side in a light layer of flour. Set aside until ready to fry. 
    cauliflower florets ready for frying
  • Pan fry the battered cauliflower in batches: heat about 2-4 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet, and make sure the oil thinly coats the bottom of the skillet. You might need more or less oil, depending on the size of the skillet. Place the cauliflower pieces flat-side down into the hot oil (if there is a flat side), and fry without disturbing them for about 3 minutes, or until the underside is a nice golden brown. I was able to get 8-10 pieces in a large skillet at a time without crowding the cauliflower. 
    pan frying cauliflower florets
  • Use tongs to gently flip each cauliflower piece, and cook until the other side is nicely browned. The cauliflower florets are obviously not flat on each side, so try to cook each floret on at least three sides. The heat of the skillet will cook all the delicious batter that is inside the cauliflower floret. 
  • Set the cooked cauliflower florets on a paper towel while you finish cooking. Serve warm, and dip into a Greek Yogurt Sauce (see notes)
    crispy pan fried cauliflower florets with dip

Video

Notes

These cauliflower florets of goodness are best served fresh and hot. If you have any left over, it is best to reheat the florets in an oven (about 10 minutes at 375F), so they crisp up again and don't get mushy in the microwave.
Serve with this easy Greek Yogurt Sauce!

Nutrition

Calories: 192kcal (10%) | Carbohydrates: 24g (8%) | Protein: 6g (12%) | Fat: 2g (3%) | Saturated Fat: 1g (5%) | Cholesterol: 83mg (28%) | Sodium: 329mg (14%) | Potassium: 83mg (2%) | Vitamin A: 145IU (3%) | Calcium: 34mg (3%) | Iron: 1.8mg (10%)

The nutritional information displayed is an estimate and not to be used as dietary or nutritional advice. Consult a nutritionist or dietician for nutritional info based on the exact ingredients you use.

pan fried cauliflower - how to fry cauliflower florets

Comments or questions about the recipe?
Recipe Rating




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Michelle

Thursday 24th of November 2022

Delicious!

Kate

Monday 19th of December 2022

Thanks, Michelle!

Edgar Gomes

Thursday 30th of June 2022

I will try with quail eggs and fry with thin vegetable oil. Then put olive oil when served.

Denise

Monday 7th of February 2022

I looked on your website for tips about frying Cauliflower.

My family is sicilian. My mother used to make this. She would fry a small amount of the Cauliflower to eat as a fried snack , then with the rest she would add to speghetti. She would cook the speghetti in a limited amount of water then add fresh cauliflower, salt and olive oil. She would time adding the Cauliflower so that the speghetti and Cauliflower would be finished cooking at the same time. It was the consistency of a thick soup. Ummmm, so good. Haven't made it in some time.

Marie

Sunday 6th of August 2023

@Denise, my mom did this but also added a little Marinara sauce to it, she came from Sicily, So delish. .

Kate

Tuesday 8th of February 2022

That sounds really good! Thanks for sharing that memory, Denise!

Lisa

Tuesday 9th of November 2021

Could I use kefir instead of the milk?

Kate

Tuesday 9th of November 2021

Yes! I haven't tried that with cauliflower but regularly use that for chicken and other fried foods, so I don't see why not. Maybe just thin it out a tiny bit with a splash of water, because you don't want it getting stuck in the cauliflower nooks and crannies, you want any extra to drip out.

Gary

Sunday 5th of September 2021

Amazing really, how much scrolling is required to get to actual recipe...

Kate

Tuesday 7th of September 2021

Not much, if you click the "Jump to Recipe" button at the top and want to avoid the cooking tips.

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