These roasted cauliflower fritters are crispy, cheesy and addictive. Add an oozy egg on top or serve with a squeeze of lemon and a blob of Greek yoghurt. Delicious made either in a pan or an air fryer, and you need just 6 ingredients and 30 minutes to make them.
What is it with crispy foods? I think I could eat foods like these tempura zucchini fries, these halloumi burgers or these salmon fish cakes every single day!
Well, add crispy to the subtle nutty, caramelised flavour of roasted cauliflower and you’re on to a true winner.
What makes these cauliflower fritters the best?
- They’re made with just 6 simple ingredients: flour, buttermilk, egg, cauliflower, mint and feta cheese.
- Roasting the cauliflower gives them a delicious nutty, caramelised flavour.
- Fresh mint and feta gives them a tasty Mediterranean style twist.
- The lightly crisp exterior contrasts perfectly with the soft and oozy interior.
- They’re very versatile. With simple tweaks they can be breakfast, brunch, a light meal or even an appetizer or side dish any time of day.
- They’re quick, easy and delicious either shallow fried in a frying pan, or air fried in… an air fryer, of course!
These are so tasty you might find they tempt even the pickiest of eaters to eat some veggies!
Here are the 6 ingredients you need
Pro tip: Make sure you chop the cauliflower into SMALL florets. This will keep the fritters ‘neat’ and help stop them breaking up in the pan. Roast the crumbs as well – they get lovely and crispy!
How to make the best cauliflower fritters
These are so quick and easy to make in just a few simple steps.
Step 1: Roast the cauliflower. This will take just under half an hour. You can prepare the batter in the meantime…
Step 2: Mix together all other ingredients in a big bowl. Add the cauliflower when it’s cooked.
Step 3: Heat some olive oil in a big frying pan. Cook dessert spoonfuls of the mixture on each side until crispy.
Step 4: Serve immediately. Add an egg or serve with lemon wedges and Greek yoghurt for dipping.
How to serve them
There are two (equally as delicious) ways that I usually serve these:
- As a lunch or appetizer with lemon wedges, Greek yoghurt and maybe a simple green salad on the side.
- As a ‘posh’ breakfast or brunch with an egg on top. And maybe some sneaky tomato ketchup 😉
Ways to switch them up
- These fritters would work just as well as broccoli fritters, although I’d steam or boil the broccoli rather than roasting it.
- You can also replace the feta cheese with different types of cheese like cheddar or gruyère.
- I’ve made them successfully with dried herbs instead of fresh mint – half a tablespoon(ish).
- If you wanted to be really fancy, you could sneak some cooked bacon or ham into the batter. Mmm… my mouth is watering!
- If you prefer you can serve them with sour cream or salsa instead of Greek yoghurt. Or any of the dip ideas listed below…
The best dips to serve with fritters
- your favourite salsa, either supermarket bought or homemade. I like this quick and easy fresh tomato salsa.
- sweet chili sauce
- marinara sauce
- cheese sauce
- pesto
- buffalo sauce (a recipe from another great site)
- Greek yoghurt, sour cream or even creamy ranch dressing (add a squeeze of lemon or lime or a spoonful of tahini to these if you like)
Can you make cauliflower fritters in an air fryer?
Yes, you can! I usually put some baking paper under them though. Otherwise they’re a bit messy.
Just spray lightly with oil before air frying. 10 to 15 minutes is about right. Turn the fritters over half way through cooking.
I also use my air fryer for re-heating any leftover fritters that I’ve made either in a frying pan or in my air fryer.
These are delicious cooked both ways, but perhaps even crispier made in an air fryer!
What about the leftovers?
I find leftovers reheat really well either in a frying pan or air fryer. Just crisp up again by frying again for a couple of minutes on each side to heat through.
OR… preheat your air fryer to 180C/355F and air fry for about 4 minutes until hot and crispy again.
More easy and delicious brunch ideas
- Try this croque monsieur brunch bake for something delicious but a bit different
- This roasted eggplant, pesto and mozzarella panini is one of my favourite sandwiches ever! Followed closely by this bacon and artichoke grilled cheese sandwich.
- Ever made potato röstis? You have to try this giant cheddar and bacon rösti – it’s incredible!
- It’s shakshuka! Aka eggs with tomatoes, red peppers and bacon!
or take a peek at all my breakfast suggestions here.
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Cauliflower fritters with feta and mint (frying pan or air fryer)
Equipment (affiliate links)
Ingredients (UK/Australia? Click below for grams/ml)
- ½ cup self-raising flour
- ½ cup buttermilk (I made my own by adding ½ a tablespoon lemon juice to ordinary milk and leaving it to stand for 5 minutes. Vinegar works as well.)
- 1 egg
- 1½ tablespoons of chopped fresh mint (or use ½ tablespoon dried mint – or other herb(s) of your choice)
- ¼ large cauliflower (about 9 ounces/250 grams) chopped into small pieces
- 3½ ounces feta cheese crumbled
- 3 tablespoons olive oil for cooking
- eggs/Greek yoghurt/tomato ketchup/lemon wedges/green salad leaves to serve (all optional)
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 390F/200C. Line a large baking tray with baking paper. Spread the cauliflower pieces out on it. Drizzle them with about 1½ tablespoons olive oil and grind over plenty of salt and pepper.
- Roast for about 25 minutes until starting to go golden and caramelised.
- Meanwhile, whisk the egg into the flour. Slowly add the buttermilk until you have a fairly thick batter.
- Stir the mint, feta, and finally the cooked cauliflower into the batter. Mix well.
- Heat the rest of the olive oil (about 1½ tablespoons) in a large frying pan. Drop dessert spoonfuls of the mixture into the pan and flatten slightly. Cook for a few minutes on each side until golden brown and crispy. Alternatively spray lightly with oil and cook for 10 to 15 minutes on each side in your air fryer at 200C/355F. (on a piece of baking paper to avoid mess!).
- Serve immediately with a poached egg on top and tomato ketchup or with Greek yoghurt/tzatziki and lemon wedges. Some fresh green salad leaves go well either way!
Tina @ Tina's Chic Corner says
Lol! My sisters and I still fight for the crispiest piece of any dish that’s served! I love fritters and I love cauliflower so this is a brilliant idea!! You know how much I love feta so this is clear winner in my book. 🙂
Helen says
Glad to have ticked all the boxes for you with the fritters, Tina! I have to stop myself from adding feta to things sometimes … it really does go well with so many savoury dishes!
Laura @ Raise Your Garden says
Looks delicious! Yum!
Helen says
Thank you so much, Laura, and thanks for passing by the blog!
Shelley @ Two Healthy Kitchens says
“CREEEESPEEEEE” … yep! I’m feeling it! Totally in on the crispy thing – plus the cauliflower and feta thing, just because I love them both (and I guess especially so if they’re “CREEEESPEEEEE”!!! :D). Seriously – these look awesome, and I would totally do an egg on top – I think Mr. Scrummy missed out on that one! And, geez – this post seriously has EVERYTHING going for it – you even managed to work in another Jim Gaffigan reference – lol!!!! 😀 Pinning, of course!
Helen says
Haha … thanks, Shelley! This comment sure made me smile … so glad that you’re feeling the CREEEESPEEEE thing!
Cindy @ Pick Fresh Foods says
Yum, crispy food is always good. Something about that crunch that makes it amazing! Amazing like these fritters looks. What a fantastic idea and recipe!!
Helen says
Thank you for saying so, Cindy! 🙂
Norma | Allspice and Nutmeg says
I love crispy food. These are similar to cauliflower fritters I’ve made except without feta. I want to try them with feta, it sounds delicious!
Helen says
Thanks, Norma. Do try making them with feta … they really are tasty!
Chris @ Shared Appetite says
What a great idea to make fritters out of cauliflower and feta!!! And that oozing egg… oh my gosh I want it right now!
Helen says
Haha … I would happily share with you and your wife, Chris, if you lived nearby! So glad they tempted you!
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely says
I’m all about crispy. Especially when it comes to my bacon. These fritters look delicious! Love that poached egg on top. Yum!
Helen says
Ah yes, of course, bacon … for the ultimate crispy factor!! 🙂
Melanie @ Carmel Moments says
Whoa! Those sound really yummy. I’d love to try a cauliflower fritter. Looks delish!
Helen says
Hello, Melanie, and thanks so much for stopping by and saying nice things about the fritters! 🙂
Joanne says
I do love me some crispy foods! Especially crispy foods covered in egg yolks. THese fritters look AWESOME.
Helen says
Thanks, Joanne! I love me some crispy foods, too! 🙂
Erin | The Law Student's Wife says
Crispy is a FANTASTIC word, and these fritters look just as fabulous!
Helen says
It is, isn’t it?! Thanks, Erin! 🙂
Chrissy says
Ha- I have the same reaction when I hear the word fritter. It’s like Pavlov’s dog.
Helen says
Haha … that’s right, Chrissy! Hilarious!
Cate @ Chez CateyLou says
Ohhh Helen, your whole first paragraph is making me drool. The crispy bits are always the best part. And these fritters look absolutely incredible – so browned and cripsy. And such great flavors! Love that poached egg too!!
Helen says
Sorry to have made you drool so much, Cate! Glad you like them, though! 🙂
Kathi @ Deliciously Yum! says
Crispy foods are the best and these fritters look ah-mazing!! Love that you added feta and the runny egg definitely sets it over the top. Soo good and beautiful. Hope you had an amazing weekend!!
Helen says
Aw, thanks Kathi! I really hope you had a good weekend, too! So glad you like the fritters (or the idea of them anyway!)
Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl says
Cauliflower fritters sound like such an amazing idea, Id eat so many of these babies!
Helen says
I actually did, Pamela, because hubby prefers plain old scrambled eggs on toast for brekky I think, when it comes down to it. So guess who ends up gobbling up most of these more ‘adventurous’ brunches?
Kaylee @ Lemons and Basil says
I am totally with you on the crispy thing! I want the slightly “too-done” edge of the brownies and the roasted vegetables around the outside that dry out and crisp up. In my book, crispy is always better!
And these Cauliflower Feta Fritters look wonderful, especially with the egg on top! I’ll have to give these a try!
Helen says
Mmm … me too. Super crispy roast potatoes … perfect! I really hope you do give these a go, Kaylee. So glad you liked them!
Mary Frances @ The Sweet Tooth Life says
Helen, these sound amazing! Haha, you can talk all you want if you we’ve me these – I totally sounded out crispy as you typed it. 🙂
Mary Frances @ The Sweet Tooth Life says
*serve* not we’ve Sorry !
Helen says
Glad I had the desired effect on you, Mary Frances!
Layla @ Brunch Time Baker says
These Fritters look so crispy and delicious!
Helen says
Hello, Layla! Thank you so much for visiting and so glad you liked the fritters!
Chantal says
Hi Hellen,
This dish looks so good and healthy.
I just discover your beautiful blog,really like it.
Bon week end
Chantal
Helen says
Merci beaucoup, Chantal! Je suis tres heureuse que tu m’as trouve and que tu aimes le blog! Bon dimanche! 🙂
Alyssa @ My Sequined Life says
Oh, I am all about crispy satisfaction! I’m in constant search of yummy ways to incorporate cauliflower into our meals, and combining it with feta and mint in this wonderful looking fritter sounds like just the way to do it!
And crispy food definitely gets my mouth watering. I’d have to say one of my favorite crispy foods is pizza, when the crust is well done and has small charred spots. YUM. 🙂
Helen says
Glad I could please you with the fritters, Alyssa! I’m with you on the pizza … I just need to train my oven to get hot enough and help it to get all crispy like that!
Ashley says
Ha! I totally agree – there is just something about crispy foods! These fritters look wonderful! I love feta and with cauliflower and topped with that gorgeous runny egg???
Helen says
So glad you like them, Ashley! The runny egg on the top was a bit of a last-minute decision, but I thought it worked well. 🙂
Liz says
Oh, yes, I definitely adore crispy food! And I need to have some cauliflower fritters in my life…they look fantastic!
Helen says
I think you do, Liz! Get some down you, and don’t forget the runny egg! 🙂
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says
I love crispy and especially when paired with soft of creamy! It’s just so moreish! 😀
Helen says
I didn’t think of that reason that crispy is so good, Lorraine. It’s the contrast of the crispy against other textures. Ah-ha!
cheri says
Hi Helen, love everything about these fritters and to top it off there crunchy too, perfect!
Helen says
Thanks, Cheri! So glad you like them! 🙂
Jessica @ Jessiker Bakes says
I am making these! OMG. I have been trying to figure out what to do with my roasted cauliflower and this is an AMAZING idea!! I just know this is going to taste amazing. Thanks Helen, will let you know how they turned out!
Helen says
Aw, Jessica, you’ve just made my bleary-eyed early Sunday morning with this comment! So glad you are going to give these a go and please DO let me know how they go! Make sure you press them down in the pan a little to get that lovely crisp!
whatjessicabakednext says
These fritters look amazing, Helen! I love feta, definitely one of my fav cheeses!
Helen says
Thanks, sweet Jessica! I hope you give them a go some time!
Consuelo @ Honey & Figs says
Crispy food is my favorite thing ever ahhh. Especially when runny yolks are involved. This looks like the msot delicious weekend breakfast! xx
Helen says
Thanks, Consuelo! Maybe this nutritious cauliflowery-eggy brunch would help you with your studying (brain food!) 🙂
Eva says
J’adore les brunchs! Un bon café et un plat comment celle que tu as fait….c’est le bonheur! Ta recette est vraiment super 🙂
Helen says
Merci beaucoup, Eva! Ces ‘fritters’ ont ete vraiment le bonheur! Bon weekend! 🙂