These crispy cauliflower bites with a yum yum sauce are sure to be a hit for your next appetizer or game day food! The cauliflower is baked to perfection and the hoisin yum yum sauce is so creamy and dreamy you will want more!
Cauliflower has been incredibly trendy for the past couple years. It's so versatile with its flavorless profile and structure that can take on just about any method of cooking. I feel like I have so many cauliflower recipes for you guys on this blog, but what's one more?
For these cauliflower bites, they will be baked in the oven until the edges are nice and crispy! They make a great appetizer or game day food if you are having friends over to watch a game!
How to get Cauliflower Bites Crispy
There are basically two ways you can make this recipe.
- You can individually dip each cauliflower floret into the oil then drench through the breadcrumbs
- Or you can combine the cauliflower into a large zip lock bag and pour in ingredients.
I'll explain how to do both of them in the recipe card. I prefer the first method to individually dip each cauliflower floret. Although this will take an extra 3-4 minutes to do, I think it's worth it to ensure that each cauliflower bite is evenly breaded and crispy.
THE HOISIN YUM YUM SAUCE!
Now, you guys, I had a hard time deciding between a bang bang sauce or a yum yum sauce for this recipe. I knew I wanted a sauce with an asian flare, so I dove into the differences between the two.
Basically bang bang sauce uses chili-garlic sauce and sriracha flavors and yum yum sauce is more of a mayo base with tomato paste/ketchup. Both sauces are a little sweet with a touch of spice.
Ingredients in Hoisin Yum Yum Sauce
- Sour cream/Mayo: I used sour cream in the original recipe, but I don't see why you couldn't use mayo!
- Hoisin Sauce: You can find Hoisin sauce in the international foods aisle of grocery store. It's generally near the soy sauce and other Asian dressings.
- Smoked Paprika: Optional to do smoked, but I'm obsessed with it!
- Cayenne Pepper: I think this sauce needs a little bit of heat and the cayenne is a great spice for this!
- Water: I used about 2 tbsp of water to thin out the sour cream a little bit. You can use more if you want more of a thinner consistency. Just whisk it into the sauce.
If you love cauliflower bites and cauliflower recipes, check out these awesome recipes!
- Mediterranean Cauliflower Salad
- Buffalo Cauliflower Wrap
- Butternut squash Cauliflower Curry
- Everything Bagel Cauliflower Casserole
Crispy Cauliflower Bites with Hoisin Yum Yum Sauce
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 3-4 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These crispy cauliflower bites with a yum yum sauce are sure to be a hit for your next appetizer or game day food! The cauliflower is baked to perfection and the hoisin yum yum sauce is so creamy and dreamy you will want more!
Ingredients
- 1 head of cauliflower, cut into florets
- EVOO or avocado oil
- ~1 cup Panko breadcrumbs
- ½ tsp onion powder
- 1.5 tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- pinch of black pepper
- Garnish with chopped green onions and/or sprinkle of smoked paprika or cayenne.
Hoisin Yum Yum Sauce
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 tbsp hoisin sauce
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
- 2-3 tbsp water to thin
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F and grease a sheet pan.
- In a small bowl, pour in a good amount of EVOO. In a separate bowl, combine the panko breadcrumbs and seasonings. Mix to combine.
- Take a cauliflower floret and dip it into a bowl of EVOO, then dredge it through the seasoned panko breadcrumbs making sure the breadcrumbs stick to the cauliflower. Then place it on a sheet pan.
- Bake at 400F for 15 minutes, stir and cook for another 10 minutes.
- While cauliflower is cooking, combine all the ingredients for the hoisin yum yum sauce in a bowl and use a spoon or whisk to combine.
- When the cauliflower bites are done, serve immediately with hoisin yum yum sauce. Optional to add more smoked paprika/cayenne and green onions.
Notes
If you do not want to take the time to individually dip each cauliflower floret into the oil then the panko mixture, you can combine all the cauliflower florets in a large plastic bag. Pour in ~¼ cup of oil (may need more depending on size of cauliflower head) and then add in the seasoned panko breadcrumbs. Close the ziplock bag and toss to combine.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Asian American
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