One chunk in and also you’ll marvel how cauliflower obtained this enjoyable; crunchy, saucy, and filled with flavour, Bang Bang Cauliflower is the final word snack improve.
Cauliflower will get a nasty rep for being boring, however this Air Fryer Bang Bang Cauliflower is right here to show everybody unsuitable. We’re speaking crispy, golden crunch with a fiery, creamy, sweet-and-spicy glaze that adheres to each chunk. It’s the sort of snack that disappears quick off the plate. One chunk turns into 5, and out of the blue the plate’s empty.
What I really like most is how low-effort it’s. We skip the deep frying and use the air fryer as a substitute, so that you get all of the crunch with out the mess or extra oil. So you get all of the goodness of a daring and fiery appetizer, whereas nonetheless maintaining issues healthy-ish.
Jump to part: Bang Bang Cauliflower
Bang Bang Cauliflower Ingredients
- Cauliflower Base: Cauliflower florets blanched simply sufficient to melt barely—this helps them cook dinner by means of whereas nonetheless holding form.
- Flour & Spice Mix: A mix of maida (all-purpose flour), cornflour, Kashmiri chilli powder, grated garlic, salt, pepper, oil, and simply sufficient water to coat—this creates that mild, crisp outer layer.
- Bang Bang Sauce: Mayonnaise, sriracha or chilli sauce, and candy chilli sauce come collectively to make the creamy, spicy-sweet glaze.
- Oil: Used for air frying or deep frying, and in addition brushed on throughout cooking for further crispiness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Broccoli, mushrooms, and even paneer cubes work properly—simply modify blanching or cook dinner instances accordingly.
Absolutely. Chicken, tofu, or prawns are nice options. Just marinate and cook dinner them by means of earlier than tossing within the sauce.
You can. Bake the florets at 200°C for 25–half-hour, flipping midway. For further crispiness, broil for the final 2-3 minutes.
It could be! Just swap out the mayo for a plant-based model, and also you’re good to go.
Richa’s Top Tips
- Blanch, Don’t Boil: Just 30 seconds in scorching water is sufficient to soften the cauliflower. Anything longer and it’ll go soggy and received’t crisp up properly.
- Coat Evenly: Add water one tablespoon at a time and blend along with your fingers. This helps the batter cling properly to every floret with out changing into too moist or patchy.
- Air Fry Smart: Don’t overcrowd the basket. Space out the florets and flip them midway by means of whereas brushing with oil. That’s the way you get all-over crispiness.
- Toss Immediately: As quickly as they’re out of the fryer or oven, toss them within the bang bang sauce. This ensures the sauce sticks correctly and the cauliflower stays crispy.
- Batch-Friendly: You can blanch and coat the cauliflower forward of time. Just air fry while you’re able to serve.
Serving Ideas
Storage Tips
- Short-term storage: If you could have leftovers, retailer the air-fried cauliflower (with out the sauce) in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 2 days. Reheat within the air fryer at 180°C for five–6 minutes to deliver again the crispiness earlier than tossing with contemporary sauce.
- With sauce: Once coated in sauce, Bang Bang Cauliflower is finest loved instantly. If wanted, retailer sauced leftovers within the fridge for a day and reheat in a pan, however count on it to be softer.
- Avoid freezing: Cauliflower tends to get watery after freezing and thawing, so this recipe isn’t ultimate for the freezer.
Customization Ideas
- Make it vegan: Use vegan mayo for the bang bang sauce to maintain this 100% plant-based.
- Use totally different veggies: Try broccoli, child corn, and even tofu instead of cauliflower. The batter and sauce work superbly with a spread of textures.
- Spice it up or down: Add extra sriracha or a touch of chilli flakes for those who prefer it further scorching, or cut back the chilli sauce for a milder model.
- Crunch issue: For a fair crispier chunk, toss the florets in panko earlier than air frying.
Did You Know?
The time period Bang Bang really originates from a preferred Chinese road meals dish known as “Bang Bang Chicken,” the place meat was pounded earlier than being shredded. The identify caught round and advanced, particularly in Western and Asian fusion cooking, to explain dishes that includes creamy, spicy-sweet sauces that “hit” your style buds with daring flavour, identical to this one!
This Bang Bang Cauliflower is proof that consolation meals doesn’t should be heavy or sophisticated. It’s crispy, daring, and bursting with flavour, mainly all the pieces you need in a snack or starter. Whether you’re serving it up for a celebration, a weeknight deal with, or simply since you’re craving one thing enjoyable, this one’s at all times successful.
If you give it a go, I’d like to see your model! Tag me on Instagram @my_foodstory and let me know the way it turned out.
Watch Bang Bang Cauliflower Recipe Video
Prevent your display from going darkish
Blanching cauliflower
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Add cauliflower florets & salt to boiling water, combine for 30 seconds and drain them instantly. Do not preserve longer. Rinse them with chilly water & drain once more. Set apart. See observe 1
4 cups cauliflower florets, 4 cups boiling water, ½ teaspoon salt
Marinating cauliflower
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Take blanched cauliflower florets in a large bowl or deep plate. Add all substances given for the flour & spice combine besides water and mix properly along with your fingers. Add water, 1 tablespoon at a time and mix properly. Mix along with your fingers to verify the batter coats the cauliflower properly. See observe 2.
2 teaspoons kashmiri chilli powder, 1 tablespoon grated garlic, ¼ cup maida, 2 tablespoons cornflour, ¼ + ⅛ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon pepper powder, 2 teaspoons cooking oil, 3 tablespoons water
Bang bang sauce
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Add all substances for the sauce to a bowl, combine properly and put aside. Prepare this earlier than frying the cauliflower.
3 tablespoons mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon sriracha or crimson chilli sauce, 2 tablespoons candy chilli sauce
Deep Frying cauliflower
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Heat ½ cup oil in a deep pan or kadai and as soon as it’s medium scorching, drop the marinated florets into the oil & fry on medium warmth for 4-5 minutes or till they flip golden and crisp. Toss them instantly within the sauce and serve.
Airfryer methodology
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Pre-heat airfryer at 180 C. brush the airfryer basket with oil. Place the cauliflower florets with some hole between one another and air fry at 180C for 20 minutes whereas flipping and brushing oil each 7 minutes. Air fry at 200 C for two minutes until they flip golden and crisp. Toss them instantly within the sauce and serve. see observe 4.
3 tablespoons cooking oil for brushing
- Cauliflower is blanched precisely for 30 seconds to make it barely tender however don’t cook dinner or depart within the boiling water for longer than 30 seconds. Over blanched cauliflower doesn’t work for the recipe.
- Water is added 1 tablespoon at a time to verify the coating is even. If you add all 3 tablespoons of water at one spot, it would prove watery there & keep dry at different locations. Mixing properly may be very essential to verify all of the cauliflower florets get marinated properly with the coating.
- Prepare the bang bang sauce earlier than frying the cauliflower because the fried cauliflower should be coated within the sauce instantly after frying. This is to make sure the
- Fried cauliflowers should be tossed with bang bang sauce instantly after frying, so the sauce sticks properly.
Calories: 228kcal, Carbohydrates: 21g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 15g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g, Monounsaturated Fat: 9g, Trans Fat: 0.1g, Cholesterol: 2mg, Sodium: 608mg, Potassium: 346mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 7g, Vitamin A: 311IU, Vitamin C: 51mg, Calcium: 40mg, Iron: 1mg
This article was researched and written by Harita Odedra.
