Italian-Style Fried Cauliflower
Whether you are a vegetarian or someone who refuses to eat your veggies, you will love this fried cauliflower recipe! This recipe is actually my mother-in-law's, so all credit goes to her! Beautifully crispy cauliflower covered in Italian breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, and seasoning that will be a hit with any child. Serve these with a lemon wedge, marinara sauce, or as a substitute for chicken nuggets!
Ingredients
- 1 medium head of cauliflower cut into florets (*1)
- Avocado oil for frying (*2)
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- 2 large eggs
- ⅓ cup whole milk
- 1 ¼ cups breadcrumbs
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ⅓ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp fresh chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Bring a lightly salted large pot of water to a boil. Drop in the cauliflower and allow to parboil for 3-5 minutes, just until you can break the cauliflower apart, but it's not completely soft. Create an ice bath in a separate bowl with half ice, half water, then use a slotted spoon to transfer the cauliflower to the ice bath to stop the cooking process. Transfer the cauliflower to a colander and allow it to drain for a few seconds.
- In one bowl, add the flour, salt, and pepper. Mix to combine. In a second bowl, beat together the eggs and milk. In a third bowl, mix together the breadcrumbs, oregano, basil, garlic powder, and parmesan cheese.
- In a large skillet, add enough avocado oil and fill half of the skillet, then heat on medium-high heat to 375F. To test if it is hot enough, drop some flour in. If it bubbles, it's hot enough.
- In order, coat the cauliflower in flour, dip in the eggs, and coat in the breadcrumbs. Drop the cauliflower in the oil and fry for 1-2 minutes total. Turn the cauliflower around so it browns on all sides; they fry pretty quickly. Be sure to watch them carefully. Serve immediately with parsley sprinkled around it.
Notes
(*1) Don't feel like cutting a full head into florets? Buy a prepacked cauliflower floret bag, such as Green Giant! Do not buy frozen florets.
(*2) Feel free to use vegetable oil for frying. Avocado oil is just healthier, and I have it on hand.