Salt and Pepper Cauliflower Bites; a healthy take on a classic chinese dish!
What's your ultimate takeaway craving? For me it has to be anything Chinese, Thai or Japanese.
And if we treat ourselves to some weekend takeout the first thing on our order is always Salt & Pepper Chicken.
The whole family absolutely loves this dish (except the baby, we haven't yet introduced him to the delights of takeaway!).
There's something about the delicious blend of salt, pepper, garlic and spices that makes it so incredibly moreish.
So in an effort to save some money AND get my family eating as healthy as possible I tried to recreate my own Salt & Pepper Bites, but made with cauliflower instead of chicken!
Cauliflower can be a tricky veg to convince fussy eaters to try.
When most people think about cauliflower, they think of pungent over-boiled bland cauliflower florets.
Baked cauliflower has a much milder taste. I also find that cooking with very fresh cauliflower keeps the taste quite mild. The older the cauliflower is the stronger it seems to taste.
So cauliflower haters fear not. These bites honestly taste nothing like that over-boiled cauliflower from your childhood!
The mix of five spice powder, garlic, salt and pepper, together with the breadcrumbs, gives a lovely delicately flavoured coating. Have I convinced you to give it a try yet?!
The recipe calls for fresh breadcrumbs but dried is fine too. Panko breadcrumbs would work really well too as they are super crunchy!
These bites won't keep well so its best to eat them warm straight from the oven. Enjoy!
If you liked my Cauliflower Bites recipe, then please do leave me a comment and a star rating below. You can also share your pictures with me on Instagram. I always love to see your creations!
HERE ARE SOME MORE TAKEAWAY INSPIRED RECIPES YOU MIGHT ENJOY:
Peri Peri Chicken With Sweetcorn (Nando's Inspired) - My take on this classic Nando's meal - Peri peri chicken with roasted sweetcorn, red cabbage coleslaw and spicy rice.
Chicken Katsu Curry (Wagamama's Inspired) - Make this Wagamama favourite at home. Chicken Katsu Curry, super mild and suitable for kids!
Baked Salt & Pepper Cauliflower Bites
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 12 mins
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 2-4 1x
- Category: Main Meal
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: European
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Salt and Pepper Cauliflower Bites; a healthy take on a classic chinese dish!
Ingredients
- 1 medium cauliflower
- 3 slices / 100g bread
- ½ tsp chinese five spice
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 eggs (use non dairy milk for a vegan alternative)
- 30g flour
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200c / 400f. Line a baking tray with greaseproof paper and lightly grease with oil or butter.
- Cut the cauliflower into florets. The size is up to you, just remember if they are very large or very small this will affect the cooking time.
- Using a food processer, blitz the bread until it reaches a small crumb consistency. Add the chinese five spice, garlic powder and salt and pepper to taste and blitz again until it has all combined. Transfer the breadcrumbs onto a large plate.
- Spread the flour out on to another large plate and crack the eggs into a bowl and beat with a fork.
- Next make a little assembly line on your kitchen counter. Each of the cauliflower florets need to be rolled in flour, dipped in egg, coated in breadcrumbs and placed onto the baking dish. Once all the cauliflower florets have been rolled, dipped and coated, bake them in the oven for 12-15 minutes or until they have cooked through and are nicely browned on the outside.
- Serve immediately with some sweet chilli sauce for dipping.
Notes
If you don't have a food processor, or any bread to hand, it's ok to use dried breadcrumbs instead.
Tara says
I don't normally like cauliflower but made these for my family to try and I'm a cauliflower convert! Lovely healthy alternative to our normal takeaway dish!
Sarah says
I made these tonight for my 2 year old and 4 year old, and they loved them! Truly! Delish, and best when right out of the oven.
Ciara Attwell says
Thanks Sarah. So glad your children enjoyed them!
Louise says
It says you can use milk instead of eggs
What measuremt of milk should you use?
Is there a substitute for breadcrumbs?
Ciara Attwell says
Hi, just enough milk to dip each cauliflower floret in, maybe 2 or 3 tablespoons. If you are looking for a grain free alternative to breadcrumbs try almond meal or almond flour.
Dhiren says
has anyone actually tried making these?
Erica says
Oh my gosh these look so so good!! I have a head of cauliflower just waiting to be used for this!! Pinned!
Ciara Attwell says
Thanks Erica. Hope you like them!
Julia Olsen says
Gosh, it looks delicious! It's a must try for me! Yum!
I'm cooking on youtube and I've just uploaded a recipe for homemade falafels, hope you will check it out! Thank you! 🙂 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anFe4nYoX9s
Thank you for an awesome recipe!
Ciara Attwell says
I'm getting more and more into you tube so will definitely check our your recipe!
Bintu @ Recipes From A Pantry says
What a fab idea. Do you think this would work with frozen cauliflower?
Ciara Attwell says
I don't know. If you let the cauliflower defrost first maybe. I haven't tried it though so can't be 100% sure!
Thalia @ butter and brioche says
I love little savoury nibbles like these cauliflower poppers. It's crazy that they are baked too.. they look so crisp, golden and crunchy!
Ciara Attwell says
Thanks Thalia. The breadcrumbs stick really well to the cauliflower so maybe that's why!!