Preparation

1. Wash and cut the head of cauliflower into 1-inch florets. Pat dry with a paper towel.
2. Prepare the marinade. In a medium mixing bowl, add in dry ingredients. Mix well. Add in oat milk and whisk together.
3. Add cauliflower florets into the oat milk marinade. Cover the mixing bowl with saran wrap and let marinate for 20 minutes to 1 hour.
4. Prepare the breading mixture in a medium mixing bowl. Mix well.
5. Drain the marinated cauliflower florets from the oat milk marinade into another large mixing bowl. Set aside to use for breading the cauliflower.
6. Bread the cauliflower 2 times: Dip the cauliflower florets into the breading flour mixture and ensure it is evenly coated. Shake off excess. Dip the cauliflower into the oat milk marinade and bread the cauliflower again.

Frying the Cauliflower

1. In a large saucepan or wok, heat up vegetable oil over medium heat. The oil should be deep enough to cover half of the cauliflower. Check to see if the oil is hot with a wooden chopstick. If it there are bubbles around the chopstick, the oil is ready for frying.
2. First Fry: Add in breaded cauliflower florets into the frying oil and fry until golden brown. Remove from the frying oil and let rest on a plate lined with a paper towel.
3. Second Fry: Repeat and set stove temperature to medium-high heat.
4. Add in previously fried cauliflower for 30 seconds to 1 minute, watching closely, so it does not burn.
5. Remove and let rest on a plate lined with a paper towel.
6. Immediately sprinkle the cauliflower with seasoning: white pepper, salt and sugar. Toss and mix well.

Frying Basil Leaves

1. While the cauliflowers are resting, fry your basil leaves. Ensure the basil leaves are dry.
2. Reduce frying oil temperature to low-medium heat. Add in basil leaves and fry them for 5 to 10 seconds. Be careful of some oil splatters because there is some water content in the basil leaves. Cover the pot with a lid if desired. Remove from oil and let rest on paper towel.
3. Turn off the stove.
4. Garnish Vegan Taiwanese Popcorn Cauliflower with fried basil leaves.

Air Fryer Method:

1. Spray the tray and the cauliflower florets with some oil. We use a simple oil spray mister bottle.
2. Place the coated cauliflower florets in the air fryer tray/basket with ¼-inch space between each piece.
3. First Fry: Set the temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for 15 minutes. Flip halfway through and lightly spray the turkey with more oil.
4. Remove air fryer tray/basket and let cool for 5 minutes, then air fry a second time.
5. Second Fry: Set the temperature to 425 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for 5 minutes.
6. Remove from the air fryer basket and let rest for 5 minutes.
7. Toss and garnish with white pepper, sea salt, and sugar, and air fried Thai basil.

Serve immediately and enjoy! 🙂