Popcorn Cauliflower

, from Issue #119. February, 2025
Photography by Yuki Sato.
Popcorn Cauliflower

These make the perfect summer evening snack out on the deck. I like to keep the cauliflower in quite chunky pieces so if yours are smaller, the cooking time will be less.

Serves: 3 as a snack

INGREDIENTS

½ small head cauliflower
3 tablespoons store-bought barbecue sauce
30 grams butter, melted
1 tablespoon cornflour
2 teaspoons maple syrup
½ teaspoon each onion and garlic powder sea salt and ground pepper
¾–1 cup panko breadcrumbs
olive oil cooking spray

TO SERVE
runny honey for drizzling, optional
½ cup store-bought barbecue sauce
½ cup sour cream or good-quality egg mayonnaise

METHOD

Break or cut the cauliflower into same-sized florets, mine are two-bite pieces.

Whisk the barbecue sauce, butter, cornflour, maple syrup, onion and garlic powders together in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Add the cauliflower and keep tossing until it’s all well covered in the sauce.

Put the panko breadcrumbs in a medium bowl then add the cauliflower, one piece at a time and toss to coat well.

Preheat the air fryer to 170°C on air fry.

Place the cauliflower in the basket and spray with olive oil cooking spray. Cook for 10 minutes, turning once. If they need more crisping, turn the air fryer to max crisp and cook for about 2 minutes, but watch carefully so that they don’t over-brown.

Transfer to a plate, drizzle with a little honey, if using, and serve with bowls of barbecue sauce and sour cream for dipping.