Parmesan Cauliflower Fritters (Low Carb & Gluten-Free)

May 14, 2014

Parmesan Cauliflower Fritters (Low Carb & Gluten-Free)


There's a long line at the grocery check-out counter. Do you sneak a peek at the contents of other people’s carts? Or do you peruse the gossip magazines?
I confess: I definitely peek at other people’s carts.
I try not to be obvious, but I am always curious what other people buy.
It's an entertaining game. I try to guess if they are buying for a family or if they are a single person or a gourmet eater or a convenience food junkie.
Like 10 cases of pop and 20 bags of chips, yeah, maybe they were on sale but still. Or an entire cart filled with lean cuisine, nothing else...weird.
And I try not to judge (even if I do it), because, sadly, healthy food is expensive and I think people are creatures of habit for the most part. They are comfortable buying the same things, making the same 8 recipes in rotation.
Sometimes it gets pretty damn funny. Like this one time I was in line behind someone who had a monster size case of toilet paper, gallons of water and several family size bags of prunes. That's all. Pretty obvious what his plan was. Poor guy.
The only thing that bothers me a bit is when families with kids are buying tons of sugar and junk, but, again, who am I to judge?
Anyway, if I see actual ingredients, like fresh produce or organic meat I’ll give that person a little gold star (mentally of course!)

Parmesan Cauliflower Fritters (Low Carb & Gluten-Free)


Then I look in mine to see what people might be thinking about me too.
I couldn't even tell you how often people comment on my cart items — usually when my cart is loaded with veggies ("Look at all the different kinds of vegetables you have!" huh?) or baking supplies ("Almond meal! what are you making?")
If you’re a serious cart-peeker, I suggest you grab a copy of Hungry Planet. It’s such a cool book.
Beautiful photos of families from around the world pictured with a week’s worth of groceries. It’s so interesting to see how people eat.

Parmesan Cauliflower Fritters (Low Carb & Gluten-Free)


As for my cart, let’s say that it borderlines boredom.
A ton of green stuff, sweet potatoes, avocados, tomatoes, blueberries, bananas, apples, organic yogurt, eggs, etc. Boring.
There’s one thing you’ll always find. Cauliflower. Like I’m obsessed and it’s no secret.
People needs to have milk in their fridge, I need cauliflower.
If I want to make cauli crust something, I need cauliflower. Period.
But sometimes I don’t make cauliflower crust...I know, crazy! And end up venturing into new things.
Yesterday I tried my hands at these Parmesan cauliflower fritters.
And you know what? They’re awesome.
Similar to the taste of a potato pancake and makes a fabulous side dish – your kids will love them (as long as you don’t tell them they’re made with cauliflower!)
Gluten-free, grain-free, Paleo friendly and low carb. Like, for real.

Parmesan Cauliflower Fritters (Low Carb & Gluten-Free)
Parmesan Cauliflower Fritters (Low Carb & Gluten-Free)                           Print this recipe!

Ingredients 
Makes about 12 fritters

1 small head cauliflower, cut into small florets
1 large free-range organic egg
2 scallions, very thinly sliced (white and green parts)
2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley
4 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
½ teaspoon baking powder
¼ cup almond flour (I used Bob’s Red Mill)
1 teaspoon fine grain sea salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil

Directions

In a food processor rice the cauliflower florets (it should be evenly chopped but not completely pulverized).
Transfer cauliflower rice to a microwave-safe dish and microwave on high for 8 minutes, until cooked.
Place the cauliflower rice in a tea towel and twist it to squeeze as much moisture as you can (watch out though, the cauliflower is thermonuclear hot!)
Transfer the cauliflower rice to a mixing bowl, add egg, scallions, parsley, salt and pepper and mix well.
In a separate dish stir together almond flour, baking powder and Parmesan, then add to the cauliflower and stir until combined.
Heat two tablespoons of olive oil in a large heavy frying pan over medium-high heat until shimmering.
Drop spoonfuls of cauliflower mixture onto the skillet (only a few at a time), press them flat with the help of a spatula and cook until golden brown, about 3 minutes on each side.
Drain briefly on paper towels to soak up any excess grease, and immediately transfer to an oven proof dish and then into the hot oven until ready to eat.
Top with a dollop of Greek yogurt or sour cream and sprinkle with finely chopped scallions.

Nutrition facts

One fritter yields about 36 calories, 2 grams of fat, 3 grams of carbs and 3 grams of protein.

44 comments:

  1. They look glorious Mike!

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  2. Don't you love it when people grab shit right out of your cart and start asking you what you make with that and how you use this exactly? I always get so weirded out when this happens that I never really know what to answer. I'm like "dude, that was in my cart and you just pulled it right out of there to ask me for a lesson in cooking? What, do I have food expert written all over my forehead?"

    But yeah, I do plead guilty to checking out the content of other people's cart and often shake my head and roll my eyes uncontrollably. Nothing I can do about it...

    And maaaaaan, I'm completely out of cauliflower. Can you believe this? There is not one single floret to be found in my fridge. Thank goodness, I'm loading up tomorrow. This recipe is in my VERY near future!

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    1. You do have food expert written on your forehead, I'm sorry to be the one breaking the news down to you, but that's how it is. ;)
      And when you do give these bad boys a try you have to promise to report back. OK?

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  3. I peek into people's carts all the time. There're so many things I see on the shelves I don't know how and where to use and foods that I always wonder if anybody ever buys.

    Loving these fritters Mike, they look incredible!

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  4. I LOVE looking in people's carts. I mostly shop at Trader Joe's and the cashiers are always commenting on items in people's carts too. You can get great product recommendations from it.
    Those fritters are fantastic. Thanks for sharing!

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    1. The cashiers at TJ are some chatty folks, I wonder if it's in their store policy or something.
      Thanks for stopping by Erin!

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  5. Cracking up here, I do that all the time at the store! Hilarious; Love these by the way, the cheese, the salt, you name it.

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  6. Looks delicious! Love your blog!

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  7. These look so delicious, I love anything with the word 'fritter' in it!

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    1. Me too Kari, we should get together sometime and a fritter cook-off. Deal?

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  8. Guilty! I always look in others shopping baskets/trollies can't help myself....it amazes me how much brightly colures packets can be in one trolly! Mine is mush the same as yours but I can't deny a bar of chocolate and some crisps now and gain! Love the look of these fritters I have to say I don't use cauliflower that much I am addicted to broccoli!

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    1. OMG I love the word crisps, it's so British and so cool. Let me guess, you get the Salt&Vinegar flavored ones!

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  9. I think I have a tendency to peek at other people's baskets if they're in shape. What are they eating to keep themselves looking so great? I think I have a good system, but I definitely like learning from others! You are TOTALLY the king of cauliflower Mike! Why are your breadsticks not in front of my face right now?? ;-)

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    1. TY Lauren for naming me the king of cauliflower. Soooo what my crown looks like? ;)

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  10. Haha - yup - am guilty of looking in peoples carts - but I am usually with my daughter and she busts me ALL the time! And really all I can do is pretend to be looking at the magazines down low and smile apologetically...GAH!
    You are the king of cauliflower dude! These fritters sound amazing - their texture insane!

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    1. Hahahaha, you and your daughter are quite the tag team. It seems like you two have always a lot of fun together!

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  11. Looks amazing Mike, can't wait to try it!

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  12. Hi Mike, I am guilty of both when I am waiting I line and I try to look like I am not looking at either. Another great cauliflower recipe, you are on a roll. Love it!

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  13. They look great. Can't wait to try them!

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  14. I love looking in other people's carts. I once saw a person who only had items that started with B in his cart: bananas, bread, beer and brussels sprouts. I really want to know what was for dinner!

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    1. Really? Only items that started with B? That's so weird and awesome at the same time.I want to try doing it once as well!

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  15. I def look at other people's grocery carts, too. I buy the same things over and over, too - lots of fruit, yogurt, and tons of baking supplies (you have no idea how quickly I go through bags of chocolate chips). These cauli fritters look AMAZING! I wish I were having some of these for lunch right now!

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    1. I can totally see why you go through bags of choc chips Bianca...l mean the "Chocoholic" thing kind of give it away... ;)

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  16. You can sub the Parm with some dairy-free cheese like GoVeggie!

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  17. Tried this tonight, my husband who has never eaten cauliflower loved it and said definitely make it again. Thank you!

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    1. That's fantastic Tanya, I'm psyched that the fritters were such a big hit!

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  18. I made these twice with chopped shallots instead of scallions (I got them mixed up in my memory of the recipe) and it was a delicious mistake! I made them two more times like that, so amazing!

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    1. I'm going to try them using scallions, thanks for the suggestion! :)

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  19. Always looking for ways to spice up cauliflower. I enjoy it, but don't get creative enough with it :D

    Thanks for sharing!

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  20. These are AMAZING. I made them for my family and everyone, even the picky eaters LOVED them. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe.

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  21. Hi! I forgot to buy cauliflower for this week and instead have broccoli. Do you think it would work with broccoli, or should I go ahead and run to the store and grab cauliflower?

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  22. I really enjoy reading all the "sneaking kart" story....you are SO right!! I do it all the time..jeje..
    I'm a cauliflower lover, also...I'm going to make this "caulilatkes" tonight...they look easy and DELISH!!Thanks!!!!

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  23. top with feta and pom seeds

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  24. I don't have a microwave. I wonder how you can cook the cauliflower??

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  25. I look at gossip magazines usually, but now I'm going to start looking in other peoples carts! Made them tonight, they were great! Modified recipe to fit my food options and they turned out just fine.

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  26. My kids loved this and I loved this. Tastes awesome. The only thing I did differently was change the parsley to basil as my parsley has all gone to seed.

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  27. Just wondering about the sodium count in these. Trying to change my eating habits and one of the things the doctor told me was cut as much salt as possible.

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