Take this crispy breaded cauliflower bites and turn it into a well loved Japanese street food snack: Vegan-ish Okonomiyaki Cauliflower bites. It's 100% plant based and SO delicious! It is almost vegan!
Maybe Meatless Mondays is a trend, but we try to eat less meat when it makes sense! Although I'm not a vegan by any means, I do love a delicious healthy plant-based meal any chance I get. Sometimes, it is modernizing a traditional dish with a healthier spin; sometimes, it is making delicious bite-sized snacks that makes eating plants fun and exciting like this breaded no-fry baked Japanese okonomiyaki cauliflower bites!
Breaded No-Fry Baked Cauliflower Bites
There's nothing worse that cauliflower bites that comes out soggy. We've had our run with bad store-bought cauliflower buffalo wings that's just 100% disappointing! So we started making our own. We started frying some but it was too oily. So we tried to bake cauliflower nuggets instead and they were brilliant! Baking this breaded cauliflower recipe was a success! It is totally crispy and crunchy on the outside while still being tender on the inside! Thumbs up!
How to make Crispy Cauliflower Bites
The secret to making the cauliflower bites crispy and crunchy is creating the breading: panko and spices. Instead of olive oil which gets a bit thin, use maple syrup with soy sauce! Coat the cauliflower florets and then roll it around in the breaded mixture. Make sure you cut the cauliflower into large florets - this makes it easier to bake!
Set the oven at 400F for 30 mins!
Next, we layer on the creamy and rich cashew mayonnaise. Drizzle it over the crispy breaded cauliflower bites and sprinkle some Marumiya Furikake seasoning and bonito flakes. Viola! vegan-ish Okonomiyaki Cauliflower Bites!
This recipe is almost (if you omit bonito flakes) vegan, vegetarian, plant-based, and gluten-free and dairy-free1
In case you are wondering, what are bonito flakes? They are Katsuobushi. It is dried, fermented, and smoked skipjack tuna!
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PrintVEGAN-ISH OKONOMIYAKI CAULIFLOWER BITES
Take this crispy breaded cauliflower bites and turn it into a well loved Japanese street food snack: Vegan-ish Okonomiyaki Cauliflower bites. It’s 100% plant based and SO delicious! It is almost vegan!
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 30
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 1 plate 1x
- Category: Appetizers and Snacks
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: Japanese, American
Ingredients
- 1 medium head cauliflower, cut into large florets
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs (use gluten-free panko if desired)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ ground white pepper
- ½ tsp sea salt
- 1-2 tablespoon maple syrup
- 2 tbsp soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
- 2 tbsp vegan cashew mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp Marumiya Furikake seasoning
- Sprinkle of Bonito Flakes
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400F.
- Cut the cauliflower into large florets and place in a large mixing bowl. See notes.
- In a small mixing bowl, mix together the Panko breadcrumbs with garlic powder, smoked paprika, grounded white pepper and sea salt.
- Add half of the maple syrup on to the cauliflower florets and toss until evenly coated but not drenched. You want a thin coat.
- Pour about ½ the dry mixture to the coated cauliflower and mix well. Repeat the process until the dry mixture evenly coats the cauliflower.
- Remove breaded cauliflower from bowl and from onto a baking sheet (lined with parchment paper.)
- Bake the breaded cauliflower for 20-25 minutes (flipping half way at 12 minute mark) or until golden brown.
- Remove from pan onto a large plate immediately.
- Drizzle rich and creamy vegan cashew mayonnaise on top of the crispy breaded cauliflower bites.
- Sprinkle some Marumiya Furikake seasoning and bonito flakes (omit if you want it to be a vegan dish).
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Use fresh cauliflower instead of frozen florets. Frozen florets tends to get soggy.
- Omit bonito flakes if you want it to be a vegan dish.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 cups
- Calories: 191
- Sugar: 9.2 g
- Sodium: 770.2 mg
- Fat: 2.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 36.9 g
- Protein: 8.7 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: VEGAN-ish OKONOMIYAKI CAULIFLOWER BITES, crispy breaded cauliflower bites, cauliflower nuggets, japanese street food, vegan japanese street food, healthy okonomiyaki, vegan cashew mayonnaise, panko breadcrumbs, gluten-free snacks, vegan snacks
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Oscar says
These were so good, I love cauliflower bites. Saving this recipe.
★★★★★
Ramona says
Absolutely amazing! I will be making these again. I am so lucky to have found all the ingredients needed for this yumm recipe. Definitely a keeper!
★★★★★
Bernice says
Almost vegan? Close enough for me...I love the taste of bonito flakes. If there's cauliflower wings, why not cauliflower Okonomiyaki?
★★★★★
Andrea says
these bites are delicious! so tasty and so good!
★★★★★
Kelly Neil says
Whoa this dish looks like a total flavour bomb! Everything about it appeals to me. Pinning it to make later!
★★★★★
Nancy says
Total Umami flavours and texture!! Thanks for the pin. Hope you like it!
Sabrina says
This is so good! I love okonomiyaki but this is easier and simpler. Really a great veggie based meal. Thanks for this great recipe!
★★★★★
Nancy says
It's makes a really great snack and party appy too!
Cynthia at Cynful Kitchen says
Do you know if I can find Marumiya Furikake seasoning at T&T? My kids will eat most things deep fried or oven fried.
★★★★★
Nancy says
yes!! T&T and most Asian supermarkets will carry Marumiya Furikake seasoning - it is great on this okonomiyaki on with rice, soup, noodles toO!
Terri says
Soggy cauliflower has been my experience too so I'm really excited to try these!!!
★★★★★
Nancy says
soggy cauliflower is such a disappointment! Hope this works for you!
Kristen says
So excited to make this recipe, love that the cauliflower is baked and not fried.
★★★★★
Nancy says
less oil, more crunch! yummy yummy!
Joyce says
I love cauliflower as a meat or even grain substitute (i.e. cauliflower rice)! This recipe sounds tasty and I can't wait to try it.
★★★★★