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Air-Fried Korean Chili Cauliflower


  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Diet: Vegan

Description

A crispy, spicy delight featuring cauliflower, perfect for game nights or as an upscale appetizer.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 medium heads cauliflower (about 650g), cut into florets
  • 1 ½ cups gluten-free flour blend (e.g., brown rice flour)
  • 2 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1 tbsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
  • 1 ¾ cups extra cold seltzer water
  • ½ cup maple syrup (or reduce to ¼ cup)
  • 6 tbsp soy sauce (low-sodium if preferred)
  • ¼ cup light brown sugar
  • 3 tbsp minced garlic (23 cloves)
  • 2 tbsp minced fresh ginger
  • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
  • 5 tbsp Korean Chili Paste
  • ¼ cup mirin
  • 2 tbsp cornstarch
  • Cooking spray or 1-2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • ¼ cup chopped green onion
  • 1 tbsp toasted white sesame seeds
  • 1 lime, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Preheat air fryer to 400°F (or oven to 425°F).
  2. Line the air fryer basket or baking sheet with parchment paper.
  3. In a large bowl, combine gluten-free flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, garlic powder, and black pepper. Gradually stir in cold seltzer water until achieving a thick pancake batter consistency.
  4. Dip cauliflower florets into the batter, ensuring they are evenly coated. Arrange in a single layer in the air fryer basket or on the baking sheet.
  5. Spray florets with cooking spray or brush lightly with oil. Cook for 17 minutes, flipping halfway through, or bake for 20-22 minutes until golden and crispy.
  6. While cauliflower is cooking, whisk together maple syrup, soy sauce, brown sugar, minced garlic, minced ginger, apple cider vinegar, toasted sesame oil, Korean chili paste, and mirin in a small bowl.
  7. Once cauliflower is done, toss with the sauce until well-coated. Serve hot, garnished with chopped green onion, toasted sesame seeds, and lime wedges.

Notes

Chill the batter for a light and crispy texture. Cook in batches to avoid overcrowding.

  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Category: Appetizer
  • Method: Air-Frying
  • Cuisine: Korean

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 serving
  • Calories: 250
  • Sugar: 10g
  • Sodium: 600mg
  • Fat: 6g
  • Saturated Fat: 1g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 5g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 40g
  • Fiber: 4g
  • Protein: 8g
  • Cholesterol: 0mg

Keywords: air-fried, cauliflower, Korean, appetizer, vegan, spicy