- Laura Cognetti
Maple Sriracha Cauliflower
Sriracha has quickly become one of my favorite hot sauces. I am of the belief that hotter is better. You know the Frank's commercial tag line "I put that **** on everything?" They are talking about me. I first had sriracha about 12 years ago. It was introduced to me by a nurse I used to work with and I've been a fan ever since. You can now find it almost everywhere you go- there are sriracha potato chips, almonds, popcorn, almost any food item out there has a version that is sriracha flavored. While it was first created in Thailand in the early 1930s it made an American debut by Huy Fong Foods in the 1980s. In 2013 there was actually a documentary titled Sriracha that gives the origin and production of the popular condiment.
Before I got my air fryer I used to make this in the oven - and it's great that way, but the air fryer makes it even better. The outside has a great crispness to it, and the sauce really caramelizes. It is the perfect balance of spicy and sweet. It is very important that you use pure maple syrup in this recipe, it effects the way the sauce cooks. If you do not have pure maple syrup, only an alternative, substitute honey. You can always increase the amount of sriracha, but be careful to not go crazy as it'll throw off the ratios and wouldn't caramelize as well. This is the perfect side dish for any occasion. Thanks for following along ~ LC
Preheat your air fryer to 375 degrees. If you're starting with a full head of cauliflower and not a bag of pre-cut florets cut up into florets. Next, you'll want to spray the basket of your air fryer with non stick cooking spray. Sprinkle salt and pepper on the cauliflower and cook at 375 for 10 minutes.
While the cauliflower is cooking mix together the olive oil, maple syrup and sriracha. At this point it should be lightly crisping up on the edges. Once the ten minutes is over, remove from the air fryer and toss in the maple sriracha glaze. Return coated cauliflower to the air fryer for another 10 minutes at 375. Remove and enjoy!
Maple Sriracha Cauliflower
1 head of cauliflower
1 ½ Tbsp olive oil
1 ½ Tbsp sriracha
2 ½ Tbsp pure maple syrup
1. Pre heat air fryer to 375 degrees. Cut cauliflower into florets.
2. Spray air fryer basket with non-stick cooking spray. Place cauliflower in the basket and season with salt and pepper to taste. Cook on 375 for 10 minutes.
3. While cauliflower is cooking prepare the maple sriracha glaze. In a medium sized bowl combine olive oil, maple syrup and sriracha. Whisk to combine.
4. Once cauliflower is done, toss in the maple sriracha glaze and put back in air fryer at 375 to cook for remaining 10 minutes. When done, remove from basket onto serving plate and enjoy!
Alternative: If you do not have an air fryer, you can make this in the oven. Add an extra tablespoon of olive oil to the glaze mix. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Spray the pan generously with non-stick cooking spray. Cook cauliflower on 375 for 15 minutes, remove, toss in glaze and cook again from another 10-15 minutes. Turning once while cooking. Enjoy!