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Home » Recipes » Vegetable Recipes

October 31, 2021 · 2 Comments

Parmesan Fried Cauliflower

Vegetable Recipes

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Fresh steamed cauliflower dipped in a flour and grated Parmesan cheese batter; then pan fried until golden brown.
Fresh steamed cauliflower dipped in a flour and grated Parmesan cheese batter; then pan fried until golden brown.

Fresh steamed cauliflower dipped in a flour and grated Parmesan cheese batter; then pan fried until golden brown.

Parmesan Fried Cauliflower in a bowl

Cauliflower is one of my family's favorite vegetables and my husband loves it breaded and fried, like his mom used to make it. We don't eat a lot of fried foods now, but I came across this recipe for Parmesan Fried Cauliflower and just had to try it. 

Usually my mother in law will bread it like chicken cutlets; then fry it in oil and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. My family devours it! This recipe uses a flour batter instead of breadcrumbs so I was curious to see how it tasted and it was a hit!

Parmesan Fried Cauliflower

Ingredients Needed

For this recipe you'll need the following ingredients: 

  • Cauliflower
  • All Purpose Flour
  • Warm Water
  • Grated Parmesan Cheese (or Pecorino Romano)
  • Salt
  • Garlic Powder
  • An Egg
  • Canola Oil

Personally, my family likes the flavor and texture of fresh cauliflower, but you can use defrosted frozen cauliflower florets as long as you drain them well to soak up any additional moisture before battering them. 

Parmesan Fried Cauliflower in a white bowl

How do you make Parmesan Fried Cauliflower?

Start by cutting the whole head of cauliflower down into florets so they're in bite sized pieces; then add them to a steamer pot. Cover the lid and steam the cauliflower until it is fork tender; approximately 5 minutes after the water comes to a boil. 

Remove the cauliflower from the pot and place on a baking sheet lined with paper towel to absorb any excess moisture. 

In a large bowl, combine the flour, water, cheese, salt, garlic powder and egg; then whisk until the batter is smooth. Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat. You'll need enough oil to come up about ¼-inch up the sides; just enough to fry and not submerge the cauliflower florets. 

Test the oil to make sure it's hot by adding a drop of batter or water to the oil. If the oil "pops", it's hot enough to start frying. 

Dip each floret into the batter; then place in the pan to start frying. Repeat for all pieces making sure each piece touches the pan and are not overlapping. Fry for approximately 5-7 minutes; turning as each side turns golden brown. 

Remove the cauliflower; then drain on paper towels to remove any excess oil before serving. If you'd like, you can also sprinkle a little extra grated cheese on top. 

Serving Suggestions

Honestly, this Parmesan Fried Cauliflower didn't even make it paste coming out of the pan; let along to be served with anything because my family was devouring them! But here are a few suggestions: 

  • Parmesan Encrusted Roast Beef
  • Garlic and Herb Stuffed Chicken
  • Honey Balsamic Pork Loin

VISIT THE RECIPE INDEX TO SEARCH FOR MORE RECIPES BY CATEGORY. 

Fresh steamed cauliflower dipped in a flour and grated Parmesan cheese batter; then pan fried until golden brown.

More Cauliflower Recipes

  • Roasted Garlic Mashed Cauliflower
  • Sticky Sesame Cauliflower
  • Cauliflower Crust Pizza
  • Vegan Cauliflower Buffalo Wings
  • Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole

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Parmesan Fried Cauliflower

Parmesan Fried Cauliflower

Carrie's Experimental Kitchen
Fresh steamed cauliflower dipped in a flour and grated Parmesan cheese batter; then pan fried until golden brown.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 7 minutes mins
Total Time 22 minutes mins
Course Vegetables
Cuisine American
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 1 head cauliflower
  • ⅓ cup all purpose flour
  • ½ cup warm water
  • ⅓ cup grated parmesan cheese
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 large egg
  • ½ cup canola oil

Instructions
 

  • Start by cutting the whole head of cauliflower down into florets so they're in bite sized pieces; then add them to a steamer pot. Cover the lid and steam the cauliflower until it is fork tender; approximately 5 minutes after the water comes to a boil.
  • Remove the cauliflower from the pot and place on a baking sheet lined with paper towel to absorb any excess moisture.
  • In a large bowl, combine the flour, water, cheese, salt, garlic powder and egg; then whisk until the batter is smooth. Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat.
  • Test the oil to make sure it's hot by adding a drop of batter or water to the oil. If the oil "pops", it's hot enough to start frying.
  • Dip each floret into the batter; then place in the pan to start frying. Repeat for all pieces making sure each piece touches the pan and are not overlapping. Fry for approximately 5-7 minutes; turning as each side turns golden brown.
  • Remove the cauliflower; then drain on paper towels to remove any excess oil before serving. If you'd like, you can also sprinkle a little extra grated cheese on top.

Notes

*Depending on the size of your pan, you may need more oil. Make sure it's at least ¼-inch up the side of the pan. 

Nutrition

Calories: 268kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 9gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 54mgSodium: 300mgPotassium: 682mgFiber: 5gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 140IUVitamin C: 102mgCalcium: 129mgIron: 2mg
Keyword cauliflower
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sunny says

    May 20, 2023 at 9:42 pm

    Can you air frying instead?

    Reply
    • Carrie's Experimental Kitchen says

      May 21, 2023 at 6:33 pm

      I'm not sure how long it would take as this recipe is for regular frying.

      Reply

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