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These healthy vegan tacos are stuffed with oil-free breaded cauliflower and a zesty chili-lime cabbage slaw. This is a super fun recipe using an air fryer!
Vegan Breaded Cauliflower Tacos - Air Fryer Style
I have a pretty ridiculous obsession with tacos - if you found your way here, I'm sure you can relate!
Cauliflower tacos happen to be my favorite, but I didn't feel like I perfected them yet. Partly because my husband was never crazy about them...until now.
When we went to Charleston a couple weeks ago, we took a break from beach loungin' to have a meal at Taco Boy. I was super impressed with their vegetarian/vegan options. Of course I HAD TO HAVE their roasted cauliflower taco. So. Good. I opted out of the chili lime crema that it comes with because dairy, but I knew I had to make my own plant based creamy chili lime sauce at home.
Tasting that delicious taco, and buying an air fryer, gave me a lot of inspiration so I was back at it in the kitchen.
(P.S. this is the air fryer I have!)
How to Make Air Fryer Breaded Cauliflower
It might sound a little daunting, but breaded cauliflower is hands down the easiest thing I've made in my air fryer so far. Even easier than these mouth watering garlic parmesan chips (though they are so worth it).
First, you'll need to make up a "flax seed egg", which is just ground flax seed and water. It thickens and gels up to an egg-like consistency which makes it a great companion to breading. Next, cut up your cauliflower into bite-sized florets. Coat the cauliflower in the flax seed eggs, and then roll around in some bread crumbs and seasoning.
Air fry for 30 minutes at about 330 degrees. Flip and toss around the cauliflower every 10 minutes so it cooks and browns up evenly. Done! I love to use chili powder and paprika when I'm making breaded cauliflower for tacos, but it varies depending on what I'm using them for. Breaded buffalo cauliflower gets a simple bread crumbs + salt mixture. Breaded cauliflower on it's own = bread crumbs + onion powder + garlic powder + paprika + salt for lots of flavor.
If you're gluten-free, try Ian's Panko Breadcrumbs.
Chili Lime Cream Sauce
The chili lime cream sauce uses a cashew base. Soak your cashews for at least 2 hours for a really smooth texture if you don't have a high-powered blender. I have an inexpensive Ninja Professional Blender that whips this sauce up perfectly.
You can enjoy this sauce on it's own in a taco - or you can mix it with cabbage to make a slaw. I love it either way.
Recipe
Breaded Cauliflower Tacos with Chili Lime Cream Sauce
Ingredients
Air Fryer Breaded Cauliflower
- 2 tablespoon ground flax seeds
- ¼ cup water
- 1 head cauliflower
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
Chili Lime Cream Sauce
- ½ cup cashews (soak for at least 2 hours for really creamy sauce)
- ⅔ cup water
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- juice from one lime
- 1 garlic clove
- optional: 1 cup red cabbage, sliced
Instructions
Air Fryer Breaded Cauliflower
- Combine ground flax seeds with water and set aside.
- Chop cauliflower into bite-sized florets.
- Mix together breadcrumbs and remaining ingredients in a bowl.
- Toss cauliflower with the flax seed eggs.
- Coat cauliflower in breadcrumb mixture.
- Place into air fryer and fry for 30 minutes at 330 degrees. Flip/toss every 10 minutes.
Chili Lime Cream Sauce
- While your cauliflower is cooking, blend together all of the sauce ingredients until smooth and creamy.
- If desired, mix with 1 cup of cabbage to make cabbage slaw. Let the mixture sit for at least an hour.
- Assemble your tacos and enjoy! I also love these tacos with avocado.
