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Air-Fried Korean Chili Cauliflower

Transform humble cauliflower into crispy bites bursting with a flavorful kick with this easy, quick, and budget-friendly air-fried recipe.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine: Korean
Calories: 250
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the cauliflower
  • 2 medium heads cauliflower (cut into florets, about 650g)
  • 1.5 cups gluten-free flour blend (or brown rice flour)
  • 2 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1 tbsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 0.25 tsp black pepper
  • 1.75 cups seltzer water (extra cold)
  • 0.5 cups maple syrup (or agave nectar)
For the sauce
  • 6 tbsp soy sauce (use low-sodium if sensitive to salt)
  • 0.25 cups light brown sugar
  • 3 tbsp minced garlic (2-3 cloves)
  • 2 tbsp minced fresh ginger
  • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
  • 5 tbsp Korean Chili Paste or sauce
  • 0.25 cups mirin
  • 2 tbsp cornstarch (for sauce)
Garnishes
  • Toasted sesame oil (or vegetable oil)
  • 0.25 cups chopped green onion
  • 1 tbsp toasted white sesame seeds
  • 1 lime

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (or your oven to 425°F if baking). Line the air fryer pan with parchment paper.
  2. Cut the cauliflower into small florets.
  3. In a large bowl, mix the dry ingredients for the tempura batter.
  4. Stir in the cold seltzer water until just combined—it should be as thick as pancake batter.
  5. Coat the cauliflower evenly in the tempura batter and spread it in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Lightly spray the cauliflower with cooking spray or brush with about 1-2 tbsp of oil.
Cooking
  1. Air fry for 17 minutes, flipping halfway. If baking, do it for 20-22 minutes.
Making the Sauce
  1. For the sauce, mix all remaining ingredients in a bowl.
Finishing
  1. Toss the cooked cauliflower with the sauce afterwards.

Notes

Got leftovers? Store them in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to three days. If you want to save them longer, feel free to pop them in the freezer for up to a month. When you’re ready to enjoy again, just reheat in the air fryer for a few minutes to revive that crispy texture!