Salt and Pepper Cauliflower Love Bites

by Dominic Franks from DomInTheKitchen.com @DomInTheKitchen

These little love bites are the perfectly crispy way to add a little tang to your Valentine’s Day and show your loved one just how sweet you think they are! Great as a starter for two or even as a canape idea if you’re throwing a party for everyone you love. They’re also a brilliantly versatile dish that can be made in the air fryer or the oven.

Kitchen tools that could be useful:

You’ll need plenty of freshly ground salt and pepper in these cauliflower love bites so the gorgeous, deep gloss red London Mills would be perfect.

Prep:  10 mins
Cooking time:  30 minutes
Difficulty: easy
Serves: 2 - 4

Ingredients:

• 1 medium head cauliflower – chopped into bite size chunks
• 90g plain flour
• 180ml half milk / half Greek yoghurt – stirred well
• 1 tablespoon freshly ground pepper
• ½ tablespoon sea salt flakes
• 1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest
• 150g breadcrumbs

Salt and pepper glaze

• The juice of 3 lemons
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon corn-starch + 1 teaspoon water, mix together separately from the rest of ingredients in a small bowl for a corn-starch slurry

Method:

For the cauliflower love bites:

1. Preheat your air fryer to 180C (if using a regular oven then 200C fan / 450F)
2. If using a regular oven, prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper.
3. Chop the cauliflower into small bite size pieces.
4. In a large bowl, whisk the flour, milk, salt and pepper and lemon zest to make a batter.
5. In a second bowl, place the breadcrumbs.
6. Toss the cauliflower in the batter mixture using a spatula or spoon to coat them all. Transfer them to the breadcrumbs and coat completely, then place them into your air fryer or onto the baking sheet.
7. Bake for 15 minutes in the air fryer or 25 mins in the oven until gloriously golden and crispy.
8. Meanwhile, make the glaze by placing all the ingredients into a pan and gently heating whilst you whisk them together.
9. Once the cauliflower love bites come out of the air fryer toss them in the sauce, then place them back into the air fryer for a final 5 minutes.
10. Garnish them with chopped chives, freshly ground pepper and lemon zest and enjoy!

Tip:

Make these ahead of time and then place them back into the air fryer for 5 mins on 180C to crisp up!