Cauliflower Schnitzel: the Recipe for Fried or Baked Crispy Vegetarian Schnitzels
Cauliflower schnitzels are a very appetizing and tasty recipe, a vegetarian variation of the classic meat schnitzels. A very simple and quick preparation that will change the mind of even those who don't particularly like this vegetable, especially the little ones at home, to be served as a main course together with a mixed seasonal salad or as a rich side dish, even with other friend or battered vegetables.
All you need to do is remove the outer leaves of the cauliflower and cut it into slices of about one and a half cm thickness; these are then dipped in flour, beaten eggs and finally in breadcrumbs, then cooked in the oven or fried in peanut oil: two different cooking options to suit all tastes and needs. The result is a dish that is soft at the heart and super crunchy on the surface, perfect for any family lunch or dinner.
If you like, you can enrich the breadcrumbs with aromatic herbs, spices or grated parmesan, to make it even tastier. To obtain an even crunchier breading and prevent it from falling apart during cooking, just dip the schnitzels in the egg and breadcrumbs twice.
Find out how to make cauliflower schnitzels by following the step-by-step procedure and advice.
How to Prepare Cauliflower Schnitzel
Remove the outer leaves of the cauliflower. Wash it under cold running water.
Remove the outer leaves of the cauliflower. Wash it under cold running water.
Cut the cauliflower into slices of about 1.5 centimeters thickness.
Cut the cauliflower into slices of about 1.5 centimeters thickness.
The central slices will be perfect and don't worry if the first ones will break: you can still bread them, even if they're broken into smaller pieces.
The central slices will be perfect and don't worry if the first ones will break: you can still bread them, even if they're broken into smaller pieces.
Beat the eggs with a pinch of salt and pepper.
Beat the eggs with a pinch of salt and pepper.
Flour the cauliflower slices.
Flour the cauliflower slices.
Roll them in the flour and press to make them stick well.
Roll them in the flour and press to make them stick well.
Dip them in the beaten egg.
Dip them in the beaten egg.
Remove them from the egg and coat them in breadcrumbs.
Remove them from the egg and coat them in breadcrumbs.
To make the breading even tastier and crunchier, dip the cauliflower schnitzels in the eggs again.
To make the breading even tastier and crunchier, dip the cauliflower schnitzels in the eggs again.
And then, again, in the breadcrumbs.
And then, again, in the breadcrumbs.
Cauliflower schnitzels are now ready: you just have to choose if you'll bake them or fry them.
Cauliflower schnitzels are now ready: you just have to choose if you'll bake them or fry them.
In Case You Want to Bake Them
In case you choose to cook them in the oven, place the cauliflower schnitzels on a baking tray lined with baking paper.
In case you choose to cook them in the oven, place the cauliflower schnitzels on a baking tray lined with baking paper.
Drizzle the schnitzels with extra virgin olive oil.
Drizzle the schnitzels with extra virgin olive oil.
Bake at 356°F/180°C for about 40 minutes until they are soft when pierced with a fork and they take on a nice color.
Bake at 356°F/180°C for about 40 minutes until they are soft when pierced with a fork and they take on a nice color.
Take the cauliflower schnitzels out of the oven.
Take the cauliflower schnitzels out of the oven.
In Case You Want to Fry Them
For fried cauliflower schnitzels, immerse them in boiling peanut seed oil and reduce the heat.
For fried cauliflower schnitzels, immerse them in boiling peanut seed oil and reduce the heat.
Cook over low heat for about 10 minutes. To prevent the oil overheating too much and to cook the cauliflower perfectly, turn the schnitzel evenly to cook on both sides.
Cook over low heat for about 10 minutes. To prevent the oil overheating too much and to cook the cauliflower perfectly, turn the schnitzel evenly to cook on both sides.
Once they're cooked, drain the cauliflower schnitzels from the oil.
Once they're cooked, drain the cauliflower schnitzels from the oil.
Fried and baked cauliflower schnitzels are ready to be served.
Fried and baked cauliflower schnitzels are ready to be served.
Serve the cauliflower schnitzels while they're still piping hot.
Serve the cauliflower schnitzels while they're still piping hot.
How to Store Cauliflower Schnitzels
Cauliflower schnitzels are excellent eaten freshly fried or baked, otherwise they should be stored in the refrigerator, in a special airtight container, for a maximum of 2 days. When ready to serve them, reheat them in the oven or inside of an air fryer.
