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.
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.
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.
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!
It won't be perfect, and that's okay.
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.
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.
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.
If you enjoyed this pan-fried cauliflower recipe, you might love these other cauliflower recipes from my blog. Cauliflower gets so tasty when roasted, especially when dipped into the easy Parsley Pesto sauce! Easy delicious pan-fried cauliflower fritters with an addicting garlic dill aioli. These are great as a side dish or appetizer, or as a savory breakfast or brunch. Do NOT skip the zesty aioli! Bite-sized cauliflower tots are crispy on the outside and cheesy and soft on the inside. Baked, not fried! One of my favorite recipes ever - a keto, gluten free healthy recipe that tastes like comfort food. An amazing keto cauliflower side dish of cheesy cauliflower risotto with caramelized leeks. So much flavor from the caramelized leeks! Amazing served with chicken, steak, shrimp, or other seafood. A cheesy hearty cauliflower and chorizo casserole. Makes a perfect healthy dinner.Other Cauliflower Recipes from Babaganosh:
Roasted Cauliflower with Parsley Pesto
Cauliflower Fritters with Garlic Dill Aioli
Cheesy Cauliflower Tots with Zesty Yogurt Dip
Keto Cajun Shrimp and Cauliflower Grits
Cheesy Cauliflower Risotto with Caramelized Leeks
Cauliflower Chorizo Casserole with Mixed Beans
Crispy Pan Fried Cauliflower Florets
Ingredients
- 1 small cauliflower
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup milk - (any kind, I used 1%)
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
- optional: pinch of powdered cayenne pepper or chipotle pepper
- 1/4 - 1/2 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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)
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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.
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.
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.