Boiling or oven-baking are the traditional methods for preparing cauliflower — but some claim that's a mistake, and that a different method yields a much tastier and crispier result.
Cauliflower is a very common vegetable in the kitchen, usually cooked with other vegetables like broccoli and carrots. However, according to many home cooks, it’s recommended to stop boiling it and instead use an air fryer. This method is not only very easy but also requires much less oil than baking in the oven. All you need is a head of cauliflower, a little oil, and seasoning to taste — because cauliflower tends to be rather bland.
If you ask home chef Diana from the blog Little Sunny Kitchen, air fryer cauliflower turns out “crazy delicious” and “crispy,” making it the perfect side dish that she says “stars in her meals.” How does she prepare it? Take note...
First, she washes the cauliflower and dries it thoroughly — then separates the florets. Next, she places them in a bowl, adds seasonings — turmeric, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper — and drizzles a bit of olive oil on top. The next step is to mix until the cauliflower is well coated on all sides. She preheats the air fryer to 200°C and cooks the cauliflower for 15 minutes — flipping it every 3 minutes.
Diana isn’t alone: Blogging couple Jeanine and Jack from the site Love & Lemons also say their cauliflower comes out “incredibly tasty” when they cook it in the air fryer — and they have their own version: Instead of using only spices, they dip the cauliflower florets in beaten egg and coat them with breadcrumbs. That way, they give it an extra crispy coating. They also use seasonings like garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, cayenne (hot pepper), and salt. They cook the cauliflower for 9 to 12 minutes at a temperature of about 190°C.
The recipe website Recipe Teacher also praises the air fryer method, claiming the cauliflower made this way has an “exceptional taste.” They use a blend of smoked paprika, turmeric, cumin, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, ground mustard, salt, and pepper.