This low carb cauliflower popcorn is possibly the yummiest (and most fun!) way to eat cauliflower. No soggy business here! With its delightfully crispy coating, this dish is a hit with the entire family, whether they are watching their carbs or not. Works well as finger food, as an appetiser or as a side dish.
I’ve had so many nice reviews from readers who are loving my keto zucchini fries that I just had to make cauliflower popcorn and share it with you all. These cauliflower bites are super crispy on the outside and OMG addictive!
The secret of the crunchy "breading" is the mix of flaxmeal and almond flour. Flax is amazing for sticking things together and turns wonderfully crisp in the oven. I found this out when I perfected my recipe for this Low Carb Granola.
I mixed parmesan into the grain free crumb mix because, let's be honest, parmesan just lifts everything in terms of flavour. Cauliflower on its own is a bit of a blank canvas and it NEEDS a good helping of oommph to take it to the next level 🙂
Serve with my keto blender mayonnaise, tzatziki or sugar free sweet chilli sauce.
How to make crispy cauliflower popcorn - step by step:
1.) Remove the leaves and stalk from the cauliflower and break into florets (about 2 cm in diameter).
Note: I like to keep both stalk and leaves, provided they are fresh and perky. You can either roast them in the oven or use them in soups.
Line two baking trays with parchment.
2.) Whisk the eggs with a fork and place in one shallow bowl. In the second bowl, mix the almond flour, ground flax, garlic powder, parmesan, seasoning and optional Italian herbs or spices.
Dip each cauliflower floret in egg, shake off the excess, then dip into the ‘breadcrumb’ mix. Do in small batches of 3 - 4 florets at a time to prevent too much clumping.
TOP TIP: When I made this recipe a second time, I split the crumb mixture into two lots. I found that by not putting the entire "breading" in the bowl at once, it really prevented clumping.
3.) Place on the baking tray and repeat until all the cauliflower is used up. Drizzle with olive oil or generously spray. Bake for about 30 minutes until crisp, turning after 15 minutes, depending how big you cut your florets. The smaller the florets, the less time it may take.
Remove the cauliflower popcorn from the oven and allow to cool slightly to crisp up.
Flavour Variations for your cauliflower popcorn
Instead of Italian seasoning (a mix of rosemary, marjoram, thyme, sage, oregano and basil), consider trying cajun seasoning, taco seasoning or the delicious Middle Eastern spice mix za’atar.
Can you make this recipe in the air fryer?
Absolutely! Set the air fryer temperature to 200 C / 400 F and arrange the cauliflower in a single layer. Cook for around 10 minutes or until crispy.
You'll probably need to do this in two batches.
How to store keto cauliflower bites
If you have any leftovers, you can store them in the fridge for 1-2 days.
Storing will cause the crust to lose its crispness. When you’re ready to eat them, crisp them up in the oven for a few minutes.
Can you freeze them?
Of course! So they don’t clump together, freeze the florets lined up on parchment paper.
Once frozen, you can transfer the cauliflower popcorn into a freezer bag.
Don’t defrost – instead, bake straight from frozen for around 10-12 minutes until they have crisped up again.
Can you make this cauliflower popcorn recipe dairy free?
Absolutely! You can use nutritional yeast instead, approximately, ⅓ - ½ cup to taste (aff link).
More delicious low carb cauliflower recipes:
- Keto Cauliflower And Broccoli Mac and Cheese
- Keto Cauliflower Egg Fried Rice
- Crispy Low Carb Cauliflower Hash Browns
Tried this recipe? Give it a star rating below!
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Keto Low Carb Cauliflower Popcorn
Note: The servings slider only changes the first amount in each line and not any subsequent amounts. Please make your own calculations where necessary. ***As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Ingredients
- 1 large cauliflower leaves and stalk removed (650g of florets)
- ½ cup almond flour 50g
- ½ cup ground flaxseed 60g
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese 90g
- 2 large eggs
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp salt or to taste
- ¼ tsp cracked black pepper
- Optional 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425F / 220C / 200 fan.
- Remove the leaves and stalk from the cauliflower and break into small florets (about 2 cm in diameter).
- Line two baking trays with parchment.
- Whisk the eggs with a fork and place in one shallow bowl. In the second bowl, mix the almond flour, ground flax, garlic powder, parmesan, seasoning and optional Italian herbs or spices.
- Dip each cauliflower floret in egg, shake off the excess, then dip into the ‘breadcrumb’ mix. Do in small batches of 3 - 4 florets at a time to prevent too much clumping.
- Place on the baking tray and repeat until all the cauliflower is used up. Drizzle with olive oil or generously spray. Bake for about 30 minutes until crisp, turning after 15 minutes, depending how big you cut your florets. The smaller the florets, the less time it may take.
- Remove the cauliflower popcorn from the oven and allow to cool slightly to crisp up.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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Sally-Anne says
Ever since a local restaurant started serving their version of crispy cauliflower, I have been craving it more and more! (I just needed bigger portions!) I'm so excited to try your recipe.
Katrin Nürnberger says
Keep me posted and let me know how you like the recipe 🙂
Carolyn Stoker says
Could this be reheated in a microwave as I want a snack to eat at work?
Katrin Nürnberger says
Yes of course, although it will lose some crunch.
Elizabeth Mccambridge says
I normally am not a cauliflower fan and trying to expand my recipes repertoire. I was unsure, but this recipe has changed my mind. I actually enjoyed them (not words that I say about cauliflower)
Thank you
Katrin Nürnberger says
That's so good to hear! Cauliflower can be a tricky one 😉
Kristie says
Scrumptious!!! You are a total genius and everything of yours that I have tried is absolutely the same!!! Delicious the first time trying!!! Thank you so much for sharing your skills with us!!!
Margo says
Hi. Can I use a non nut flour eg coconut flour? I have a family member with a severe nut allergy. Thank you. 🙂
Katrin Nürnberger says
I would try using a mixture of sesame flour (you can just grind sesame seeds at home in a food processor) and coconut flour.
Wendy komorowski says
Nice ♥️♥️♥️
Katrin Nürnberger says
Glad yo ulike it! 🙂
Jaena says
I ran out of flaxseed, can I grind my chia seeds...
Katrin Nürnberger says
Yes, that would work too I think! I've used chia seeds in place of flax in my granolas before and it bakes up nice and crisp