How to cook crispy cauliflower
In an air fryer or oven: quick and tasty
With these methods, we’ll make cauliflower the unexpected star of your kitchen.
Forget the usual boiled and unappealing side dish.
Cauliflower is experiencing a true gastronomic renaissance, transforming from a “forgotten vegetable” to a versatile ingredient capable of surprising even the most demanding palates.
Whether served as soup or a pie, as a topping for pasta, or even crepes, this vegetable is ready to become the king of your table.
Why Should You Eat More Cauliflower?
Besides its mild taste that pairs well with many dishes, cauliflower is a true wellness powerhouse.
Here are its main benefits:
Rich in nutrients: it’s an excellent source of vitamins, and a natural antioxidant.
Low-calorie and versatile: with very few carbohydrates and calories, it’s the perfect ally for those seeking lightness without sacrificing satiety.
Today, I’ll propose a challenge
The Challenge: Air Fryer or Traditional Oven?
To achieve the perfect cauliflower — crispy on the outside and tender on the inside — the choice of cooking method is crucial.
Say goodbye to boiling (which disperses nutrients and ruins texture) and focus on dry heat.
1. In the Air Fryer (The quick choice)
The air fryer is the secret weapon for those with little time. Thanks to the forced circulation of hot air, cauliflower florets become incredibly golden in just 12-15 minutes. It’s the ideal method to achieve the typical crispiness of frying, but with only one tablespoon of oil.
2. In the Oven (The choice for big occasions)
If you’re cooking for the whole family or prefer whole cauliflower slices (the famous “steaks”), a static or convection oven is the best solution.
It takes more time (about 25-30 minutes), but allows for the caramelization of the vegetable’s natural sugars (Maillard reaction) that delivers a nutty and deep flavor, hard to beat.
My advice: Whatever method you choose, don’t be afraid to experiment with spices! Smoked paprika, turmeric, or some simple Parmesan can turn your cauliflower into a gourmet dish.
Recipes crafted for you:
- Cost: Very cheap
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 4
- Cooking methods: Oven, Air Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Fall, Winter, and Spring
- Energy 131.52 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 10.29 (g) of which sugars 3.83 (g)
- Proteins 3.90 (g)
- Fat 9.91 (g) of which saturated 1.60 (g)of which unsaturated 0.14 (g)
- Fibers 4.08 (g)
- Sodium 254.23 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 200 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients for Cooking Crispy Cauliflower
Ingredients and choice of cauliflower
- 1.76 lbs cauliflower (of any color and type)
- 2 cloves garlic (or 2 teaspoons of paprika)
- to taste extra virgin olive oil
- to taste salt
- to taste black pepper
- to taste rosemary
- to taste roast seasoning
How to Cook Crispy Cauliflower
Tools for Cooking Crispy Cauliflower
- 1 Knife
- 1 Oven
- 1 Parchment paper
Steps for Cooking Crispy Cauliflower
the perfect recipe in air fryer or oven
Choose any type of cauliflower, remove the leaves but make sure not to throw them away (I’ll explain here how to recover them, click),
Wash the cauliflower and divide it into florets, dry it well after washing; residual moisture would make it soft instead of crispy, make a cross cut at the base of thicker stems. This way they will cook evenly.
Season the florets in a bowl with oil, salt, pepper, and seasonings (paprika or garlic). Mix well and then, arrange them in a single layer with parchment paper underneath and some rosemary sprigs, in an oven tray or the air fryer basket,
For a more robust flavor, after oiling, in addition to the seasonings mentioned above, you could sprinkle some Parmesan before cooking the cauliflower or a sprinkle of Sicilian-style seasoned breadcrumbs, click here for the recipe
Air Fryer
It’s the quickest method and guarantees superior crispiness.After placing the cauliflower well spread in the basket, preheat your appliance and cook at temperature: 392°F.
Time: 12-15 minutes.
Halfway through cooking, shake the basket so the florets turn to the other side
How to cook cauliflower in the oven:
For oven-cooked cauliflower, the secret is high temperature to achieve that roasted effect without boiling the vegetable.
Preheat the static oven to 392°F (or 356°F with fan).
Arrange the florets on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, making sure they’re well spaced apart: if the tray is too crowded, the released steam will make them soft instead of crispy.
Generously season with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and all the other ingredients mentioned above and bake for about 20-25 minutes.
Halfway through cooking, turn the florets with a spatula to even out the browning.The cauliflower will be ready when the edges are slightly browned and the inside is tender when pierced with a fork.
Storage and Reheating
How to cook crispy cauliflower can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days but may become soft, so it’s advisable to give it another pass in the air fryer or oven to reheat it.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) How to Cook Crispy Cauliflower
Feel free to ask me
How to prevent cauliflower from becoming soft?
Leave it uncovered; otherwise, water vapor will form and make it soft.
What light accompanying sauces do you recommend?
Bell pepper cream, click here.
Chili cream, click here
Light mayo, click here
How to Cook Crispy Cauliflower
