This sweet and spicy Fried Cauliflower is based off of one I tried when visiting Miami. It's now become my new favorite appetizer to make for friends and family. It's light, crispy, sweet, spicy, everything you'd want from a savory appetizer. Plus, it's dairy free and gluten free which will make all guests happy.

Spoon pouring sweet chili sauce over cauliflower.

I had this appetizer at a restaurant located in Miami during their Miami Spice restaurant week and I feel in LOVE. So much so that I went home to recreate it just a few days later.

I asked the chef what was in it and he responded saying, "it's very simple", followed by a list of ingredients which I quickly put into my notes. I do however think he left a few out since it says "sesame" on the menu and he didn't mention that one. But that's okay!

I managed to play around with the recipe a bit and finally landed on one. I'm calling it my Sweet n' Spicy Fried Cauliflower. I say "my" but I give full credit to Chef Pawan, Executive chef at Sérêvène. He is amazing and so was his food!

Ingredients Notes

Cauliflower: Cut into small florets to make it bite-sized.
Sweet chili sauce: This comes in spicy and mild. Choose whichever you prefer.
Gochuchang: A fermented chili pepper paste. It's savory, spicy, sweet condiment used in Korean cooking. It's so good! It comes in a tube and can be found in the international foods aisle.
Egg yolk: To keep the crust from falling off after frying.
Brown Sugar: This adds another deeper layer of sweetness to the sauce.
Sesame Oil: I love sesame oil. It adds so much flavor and goes perfectly with the spicy flavors.

Fried sweet spicy chili cauliflower on a black plate.

Cauliflower florets in batter in a bowl.

How To Make Fried Cauliflower

Cut your cauliflower florets into small bite-sized portions.
Toss in the rice flour batter until it is fully coated. Make sure to get it in the small nooks and crannies!
Heat 3-4" of oil in a saucepan or pot and fry cauliflower for 5 minutes or until golden brown on the outside and tender on the inside. Use a fork to help tell.
Let fried cauliflower drain on a rack or paper towels.
Let cool and drizzle generously with the sweet n' spicy sauce.
Garnish with scallions and serve hot!

The Sweet Spicy Sauce

The sauce on this appetizer is everything. It's the reason I fell in love with it when I tried it at the restaurant. It's sweet, savory, spicy, tangy, all the umami flavors you'd want in an Asian dish.

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I like to double the recipe and serve it on the side so that guests can drizzle more if they wish. You can even wait to add the sauce so it doesn't soften the cauliflower and just serve a small bowl in the center of the fried cauliflower for guests to dip into.

Close up of sweet fried cauliflower on plate.

Making This In Advance

When it comes to frying food, making it in advance can be tough. Cauliflower does contain water which will eventually cause the crunchy coating to become soft after a while. But here are some options for you to try when entertaining at home.

Lightly fry the cauliflower but remove a few minutes short of being done. Then when your ready to serve, drop them in the hot oil once more to finish them off. This will ensure the cauliflower is crispy and hot.
Keep the cauliflower warm in the oven after frying. Do so on a wire rack to keep the bottoms from getting soggy.
Make in advance and pop them in the air fryer to reheat them before serving. This is my favorite technique that ensures you get that crispy coating!
Always wait until last minute to add the sauce!

Fried cauliflower on a small plate with scallions and chili sauce.

Eating this cauliflower appetizer at a Serevene restaurant in Miami.

Sérêvène

The photo above is of us food bloggers eating this fried cauliflower appetizer at Sérêvène in Miami for The Fresh Air Retreat I attended. It was such an incredible restaurant that I cannot wait to go back to next fall. At the restaurant, Chef Pawan infuses Japanese ingredients and French techniques into all his dishes. So make sure to add that one to your itinerary if you are visiting Miami!