Ricette di Sicilia

Name: Crispy Cauliflower Croquettes
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 70 min
Total time: 90 min
Yield: Serves 4
Cuisine: Sicilian
Ingredients: 1 cauliflower, about 1.2 kg; 2 tablespoons grated pecorino cheese; plain flour, as needed; extra virgin olive oil, for frying; 1 egg; salt, to taste; freshly ground black pepper

Cibo, cultura e tradizioni siciliane

Crispy Cauliflower Croquettes

Discover how to make these scrumptious cauliflower croquettes — a cosy winter starter that’s perfect for Christmas gatherings!

Author: Laura Lombardo • Published on: July 19, 2020

Categories: Starters Christmas Recipes

Tags: cauliflower flour extra-virgin olive oil pecorino cheese black pepper salt eggs

⏱️

Prep Time

about 20 minutes

🔥

Cook Time

around 1 hour and 10 minutes

👥

Serve

Serves 4

📊

Difficulty

moderate

💰 budget-friendly

🗓️ winter

⭐ 4.7/5

🛒 Ingredients

✓ 1 cauliflower, about 1.2 kg

✓ 2 tablespoons grated pecorino cheese

✓ plain flour, as needed

✓ extra virgin olive oil, for frying

✓ 1 egg

✓ salt, to taste

✓ freshly ground black pepper

📊 Nutritional Information

Calories

238 kcal

Protein

9 g

Fat

14 g

Carbohydrates

20 g

Fiber

3 g

Sodium

220 mg

Cauliflower croquettes are a beloved winter starter from Sicilian tradition, especially popular during the festive season. Crispy on the outside and tender within, they capture the bold flavours of cauliflower and pecorino cheese, their golden, fragrant fry giving them a lovely crunch. Equally delightful served hot or cold, they make a brilliant starter, finger food, or a vegetarian main.

👨‍🍳 Preparation

1

Clean the cauliflower and break it into florets, then blanch them in lightly salted boiling water.
2

Drain and transfer to a large bowl; mash roughly with a fork until you have a coarse puree.
3

Stir in the pecorino, egg, and a pinch of freshly ground black pepper, mixing until the mixture comes together.
4

Add enough plain flour to make the mixture easy to shape.
5

Using two spoons, form slightly elongated croquettes and dust them lightly with flour.
6

Fry them in plenty of hot extra virgin olive oil until golden and crisp.
7

Remove with a slotted spoon and rest on kitchen paper to drain any excess oil.
8

Serve warm or at room temperature, drizzled with a little raw olive oil.

💡 Tips and Variations

For a twist, add some finely chopped parsley to the mix or swap pecorino for caciocavallo cheese for a milder flavour. If you prefer a lighter option, bake them in a fan oven at 200°C for about 25 minutes, turning halfway through.

📦 Storage

• Store the croquettes in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
• Reheat them in the oven to restore their crispness before serving.

🍷 Pairing

Pair these cauliflower croquettes beautifully with a glass of Menfi Nero d’Avola — a Sicilian red wine bursting with intense aromas and harmonious flavours, best enjoyed at 14°C.

There’s something wonderfully comforting about these cauliflower croquettes — their crisp exterior giving way to a creamy, cheesy heart is simply irresistible. They’re perfect for sharing with loved ones, whether as a festive starter or a cosy midweek treat. Give this recipe a go in your own kitchen, and I promise it’ll soon become a firm favourite you’ll want to make again and again. Don’t forget to share the joy (and the croquettes!) with family and friends — good food is always best enjoyed together.