This deep-fried cauliflower and buffalo dipping sauce makes for the perfect crispy and spicy snack with a little kick! Serve at a party for happy guests.

When my husband first introduced me to these little gems, a long-time Soukup family recipe, I have to admit, I was a little skeptical. The flour, the egg, the breadcrumbs, the Crisco….they just seemed like SO much work and such a mess for so little payout. I mean cauliflower? Really?

Until, of course, I tasted them.

That’s when the heavens opened up and angels began to sing.

I don’t even like fried food but these little crispy-on-the-outside, soft-and-slightly-salty-on-the-inside nuggets are pure joy and totally worth any effort or mess. Try them, just once. You won’t regret it!

Deep Fried Cauliflower with Buffalo Dipping Sauce

Deep Fried Cauliflower ingredients.

Here is what you need:

1 head cauliflower
Crisco
flour
eggs
bread crumbs
salt
pepper
blue cheese dressing
hot sauce 

Cut the cauliflower into bite sized chunks.

Step 1:  Cut up your cauliflower into bite-size chunks.

Steam cauliflower until tender, then season with salt and pepper.

Step 2:  Steam cauliflower for approximately 6 minutes, until slightly tender. Drain, then liberally sprinkle cauliflower with salt and pepper.

Heat 1-2 cups of crisco oil in a deep frying pan.

Step 3:  Heat a large glob (maybe 1-2 cups?) of Crisco in a deep frying pan to around 350-375 degrees. We never actually measure the temperature, but when the oil starts crackling a little it is probably ready.

Prepare the egg, flour, and breadcrumbs for breading the cauliflower pieces.

Step 4:  In three separate bowls, prepare flour, breadcrumbs, and egg. We don’t generally measure this either, but start with about a cup each of flour and breadcrumbs, then add more to bowl if needed. Whisk 4-5 eggs with salt and pepper.

Coat the cauliflower in flour first.

Step 5:  Start by coating cauliflower with flour.

Coat the flour-coated cauliflower in the seasoned egg mixture.

Step 6:  Move flour-coated cauliflower to bowl of egg, then coat well.

Coat egg washed cauliflower in breadcrumbs before frying.

Step 7:  Finish the battering process by coating cauliflower in a layer of breadcrumbs.

Fry cauliflower in oil for 2-3 minutes per side.

Step 8:  Drop cauliflower into oil, then fry for 2-3 minutes on each side until golden brown and crispy on all sides.

Cool cauliflower and let sit on paper towel to drain excess oil.

Step 9:  Let cauliflower cool and drain for a few minutes on a plate covered with a paper towel.

Mix blue cheese dressing and hot sauce to make the dip for the deep fried cauliflower.

Step 10:  To make buffalo sauce, mix blue cheese dressing with hot sauce to taste. (We like it about 60/40)

This quick deep fried snack is healthy and super easy to make.

Step 11: Serve immediately. Leftovers will keep in the refrigerator up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven at 350 degrees for 10 minutes or so.

 

Print

Deep Fried Cauliflower with Buffalo Dipping Sauce

Crispy on the outside, soft & salty on the inside with a kicky sauce to dip it in!
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Keyword Deep Fried Cauliflower with Buffalo Dipping Sauce
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 6 people

Ingredients

  • 1 head cauliflower
  • Crisco
  • flour
  • eggs
  • bread crumbs
  • salt
  • pepper
  • blue cheese dressing
  • hot sauce

Instructions

  1. Cut cauliflower into bite size chunks.
  2. Steam cauliflower for approximately 6 minutes, until slightly tender. Drain, then liberally sprinkle cauliflower with salt and pepper.
  3. Heat a large glob (maybe 1-2 cups?) of Crisco in a deep frying pan to around 350-375 degrees. We never actually measure the temperature, but when the oil starts crackling a little it is probably ready.
  4. In three separate bowls, prepare flour, breadcrumbs, and egg. We don’t generally measure this either, but start with about a cup each of flour and breadcrumbs, then add more to bowl if needed. Whisk 4-5 eggs with salt and pepper.
  5. Start by coating cauliflower with flour. Transfer flour-coated cauliflower to egg mixture, then coat well again. Finish the battering process by coating in a layer of bread crumbs.
  6. Drop cauliflower into oil, then fry for 2-3 minutes on each side until golden brown and crispy on all sides.
  7. Let cauliflower cool and drain for a few minutes on a plate covered with a paper towel.
  8. To make buffalo sauce, mix blue cheese dressing with hot sauce to taste. (We like it about 60/40)
  9. Serve immediately. Leftovers will keep in the refrigerator up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven at 350 degrees for 10 minutes or so.

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Ruth Soukup

Ruth Soukup

Founder at Living Well Spending Less
Ruth Soukup is dedicated to helping people everywhere create a life they love by follwing their dreams and achieving their biggest goals. She is the host of the wildly popular Do It Scared podcast, as well as the founder of Living Well Spending Less® and Elite Blog Academy®. She is also the New York Times bestselling author of six books, including Do It Scared®: Finding the Courage to Face Your Fears, Overcome Obstacles, and Create a Life You Love, which was the inspiration for this book. She lives in Florida with her husband Chuck, and 2 daughters Maggie & Annie.
Ruth Soukup

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