Cauliflower Popcorn in Air Fryer with Sour Cream and Herb Dressing

• cauliflower↗1 середня

  (about 1 kg)

• all‑purpose flour↗125g g
• parmesan↗25g g

  or vegetarian alternative, grated

• onion granules↗1 ч. л. tsp
• dried oregano↗½ ч. л. tsp
• paprika↗1 ч. л. tsp
• egg↗1
• milk↗150ml ml
• panko breadcrumbs↗80g g
• olive oil↗

  for drizzling (optional)

• sour cream↗150ml ml
• onion granules↗дрібка
• chives10g g

  chopped

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Make the sauce: in a bowl combine the sour cream, a pinch of onion granules, the chopped chives and the remaining spices, leaving out 1 tbsp of chives for sprinkling. Stir, transfer to a small bowl, top with the remaining chives and refrigerate until serving – it keeps for up to 24 hours.

2. 2

   Separate the cauliflower into small florets. In a large bowl combine the flour, grated Parmesan, 1 tsp onion granules, dried oregano and paprika. Add the egg and milk, mixing to a thick, smooth batter. On a separate plate prepare the panko. Dip the florets into the batter, shake off excess, coat in panko and place on a sheet.

3. 3

   Preheat the air fryer to 200 °C (2‑3 minutes). Lay the cauliflower in the basket in a single layer (cook in batches if needed) and fry for 15‑20 minutes until golden and crisp. Optionally you can bake in the oven: drizzle with olive oil and bake 20 minutes at 200 °C (180 °C with convection). Serve immediately with the prepared sauce.