Cauliflower Fritters With Feta And Mint (Air Fryer Or Stovetop)
on Aug 20, 2020, Updated Mar 08, 2023
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These roasted cauliflower fritters are so crispy, cheesy and flavorful that you won’t be able to stop eating them. Add an oozy egg on top or serve with a squeeze of lemon and Greek yogurt. 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, caramelized flavour of roasted cauliflower and you’re on to a true winner.
Table of Contents
- What makes these cauliflower fritters the best?
- Here are the 6 ingredients you need
- How to make the best cauliflower fritters
- How to serve them
- Ways to switch them up
- The best dips to serve with fritters
- Can you make cauliflower fritters in an air fryer?
- What about the leftovers?
- More easy and delicious brunch ideas
- Cauliflower fritters with feta and mint (frying pan or air fryer) Recipe
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!
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 yogurt and maybe a simple green salad on the side.
- As a ‘fancy’ breakfast or brunch with an egg on top. And maybe some sneaky tomato ketchup 😉
They’re also delicious served as part of a main meal with simple salads such as Greek horiatiki salad, pesto orzo pasta salad or Greek lettuce salad on the side.
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)
- Easy tzatziki (Greek yogurt cucumber dip)
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!
Love your air fryer? Need more cauliflower recipes? Try this 15-minute air fried cauliflower as well!
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 perfect quiche lorraine (by famous chef Mary Berry!) for a tasty brunch everyone will enjoy.
- This roasted eggplant, pesto and mozzarella panini is one of my favourite sandwiches ever! Followed closely by this bacon and artichoke grilled cheese sandwich.
- 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
Ingredients
- 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!
Hi Hellen,
This dish looks so good and healthy.
I just discover your beautiful blog,really like it.
Bon week end
Chantal
Merci beaucoup, Chantal! Je suis tres heureuse que tu m’as trouve and que tu aimes le blog! Bon dimanche! 🙂
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. 🙂
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!
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???
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. 🙂
Oh, yes, I definitely adore crispy food! And I need to have some cauliflower fritters in my life…they look fantastic!
I think you do, Liz! Get some down you, and don’t forget the runny egg! 🙂
I love crispy and especially when paired with soft of creamy! It’s just so moreish! 😀
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!
Hi Helen, love everything about these fritters and to top it off there crunchy too, perfect!
Thanks, Cheri! So glad you like them! 🙂
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!
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!
These fritters look amazing, Helen! I love feta, definitely one of my fav cheeses!
Thanks, sweet Jessica! I hope you give them a go some time!
Crispy food is my favorite thing ever ahhh. Especially when runny yolks are involved. This looks like the msot delicious weekend breakfast! xx
Thanks, Consuelo! Maybe this nutritious cauliflowery-eggy brunch would help you with your studying (brain food!) 🙂
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 🙂
Merci beaucoup, Eva! Ces ‘fritters’ ont ete vraiment le bonheur! Bon weekend! 🙂