Black Pepper and Garlic Sauce Fried Cauliflower

It’s rare that we have a vegetarian meal in my home. When we do, it usually involves some type of egg dish like an omelet. This asian dish has so much flavor and texture and the sauce would go well with any protein. I tried it with leftover beef and it was a hit.

Tips:

• You can easily make this dish gluten-free using a gf flour. The cornstarch can also be replaced with arrowroot.

• This recipe works with traditional frying too. Just add enough oil to a pot to come up 2”. Heat the oil over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot enough add the coated cauliflower in batches. Cook for a few minutes or until golden brown. Drain on a paper towel before coating in the sauce.

Black Pepper and Garlic Sauce Air Fried Cauliflower

PREP 15 minutes

COOK 10 minutes

INGREDIENTS

SAUCE

1 1/2 cup vegetable stock

1 1/2 tsp black peppercorns, ground slightly

1/2 onion, chopped

1 teaspoon ginger, grated

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 tablespoons oyster sauce 

3 tablespoons soy sauce

2 tablespoons butter

1 teaspoon ketchup

1 teaspoon corn starch, mixed with 1 tablespoon of warm water

FRIED CAULIFLOWER

1 head cauliflower, cut into small to medium florets

2 eggs

1 cup flour

1 1/2 tablespoons corn starch

1 teaspoon Kosher salt

1 teaspoon black pepper 

2 tablespoons chopped green onion, for garnish 

3 tablespoons olive oil or other oil you prefer

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat your air fryer at 400 degrees.

2. In medium saucepan over a medium heat, melt butter and sauté onions for about 5 minutes.

3. Add garlic and continue to sauté for 3 minutes. 

4. Add the remaining ingredients for the sauce and bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally as the sauce thickens a bit.

5. Place the eggs in a shallow bowl and whisk them. In another bowl mix the flour, cornstarch, salt and pepper.

6. Toss the cauliflower in the egg wash then into the flour mixture. Shake off any excess flour. Place the cauliflower in the air fryer basket as you finish each one.

7. Drizzle the cauliflower with oil. Be generous.

8. Fry the cauliflower for 5 minutes. Flip the cauliflower and using a pastry brush coat any parts of the cauliflower you missed with the oil. Some oil pooled in the tray below the basket and I used that to coat the cauliflower.

9. Bake for another 5 minutes.

10. Serve the cauliflower over a bed of sushi rice. Drizzle your sauce on top and enjoy!