These gluten-free crispy cauliflower bites use a tempura batter mixed with nutritional yeast for an umami-rich snack. Served with a trio of quick homemade dipping sauces, these fritters are the perfect homegating game day appetizer!
5 from 3 reviews
Ingredients
Crispy Cauliflower Bites
1large head cauliflower, cut into small florets (1-2 inches)
1¾cupwhite rice flour
½cupnutritional yeast
1teaspoonkosher salt
½teaspoonbaking soda
2large egg yolks
1¾cupscold seltzer water
3-4cupsvegetable oil, for frying
Buttermilk Ranch
2tablespoonssour cream
2tablespoonsbuttermilk
2tablespoonsgood-quality mayonnaise
1teaspoonfreshly squeezed lemon juice
1teaspoonfresh dill
1teaspoonfresh chives
1teaspoonfresh parsley
¼teaspoongarlic powder
⅛teaspoonkosher salt
Smoky Marinara Dip
½cupgood-quality marinara, I use Rao's Roasted Garlic
½teaspoonsmoked paprika
Special Fry Sauce
⅓cupgood-quality mayonnaise
¼cupketchup
2teaspoonspickle brine
¼teaspoonsmoked paprika
⅛teaspoonsweet paprika
⅛teaspoongarlic powder
⅛teaspoononion powder
Smidgen cayenne
INSTRUCTIONS
Prepare any desired dipping sauces by mixing all the ingredients together for the respective sauce in a bowl. Chill until ready to serve.
Heat 1½ inches of oil in a medium pot over medium-high heat until it reaches 350°F. Adjust the heat to keep the oil at 350°F. Set a paper-towel-lined wire rack set over a plate or baking sheet near the stove.
Whisk together white rice flour, nutritional yeast, salt, and baking soda in a large mixing bowl.
In a small mixing bowl, whisk together egg yolk and seltzer water until smooth and fizzy. Pour the egg and water into the flour and mix gently with a fork until just combined.
One at a time, dip a cauliflower floret into the batter, making sure to the floret is covered in batter. Shake off any excess batter. Drop directly into the heated oil. Repeat. frying a batch of 6-8 florets at a time (more or less depending on the size of your pot), and fry for 2 minutes, turning gently with a spoon until crispy and lightly golden.
Use a slotted spoon to transfer each cauliflower bite to the paper towel-lined wire rack. Repeat with the remaining cauliflower.
Sprinkle cauliflower with salt and serve immediately with dipping sauces.
Leftovers can be stored in the fridge and reheated in a air fryer at 400°F for 3 minutes.
This nutritional information has been automatically calculated, and as such, may be incomplete or inaccurate. Please reference the specific ingredients you use for the most accurate nutritional information.