Some like it hot! Just like our Nashville Hot Cauliflower Waffle Sandwich. It’s breaded cauliflower (prepped in the air fryer for the perfect crunch) with a sweet and spicy glaze between two pillowy-soft kefir waffles. For texture, add in shredded lettuce, a spicy kefir sandwich sauce made with pickles, and tomatoes. Cauliflower is an extremely healthy vegetable that provides an excellent source of fiber, vitamin C, and antioxidants. It’s no wonder that this versatile ingredient is used as a sandwich alternative to meat and grain-based recipes.
Lifeway Kefir is an ancient superfood brimming with incredible health benefits, including protein, calcium, and vitamin D. It’s the perfect way to liven things up and support your gut health!
Cultured Dairy: The Nutrition Benefits You Need to Know
With increasing research linking the correlation between probiotics, gut health, and immunity, it’s no secret that the integrity of our gut is vital to our health. Although additional factors such as stress, antibiotic usage, and individual health conditions can contribute to the condition of our gut, a focus on healthy food choices is one of the easiest ways to support the microbiome.
Several studies have shown a strong association between the gut-brain-microbiota. Probiotics introduced to the gut have been found to support immunity, improve allergies, and improve digestion.
Studies have shown that reduced diversity of healthy gut bacteria during early years is associated with an increase in food allergies during school age years. In addition, kefir made from whole milk helps absorb key nutrients such as Vitamins A, D, E, and K. Vitamin K is important because it helps your bones absorb calcium. It’s important to know that kefir contains a special trio: vitamin D, K, and calcium – all three crucial elements to support bone health.
Servings: 4-6
Ingredients
Fried Cauliflower
- avocado oil, for frying
- 1 1/2 cups any gluten-free flour mix
- 1/2 cup arrowroot starch
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- salt
- 1 cup Organic Whole Milk Plain Kefir
- 2 tsp hot sauce
- 1 egg
- 4 large cauliflower pieces, 1/2 inch thick
- 2 tbsp + 2 tsp cayenne
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp black pepper
Kefir Waffles
- 2 cups Plain Whole Milk Kefir
- 2 cups gluten-free flour mix
- 2 tbsp. dry sweetener of choice
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/3 cup butter, melted
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla
For the Sandwich Sauce
- 2 tbsp. dill pickles
- 1/4 tsp. onion powder
- 1/4 tsp. paprika
- 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/4 cup Lowfat Plain Kefir
- Assembly: lettuce of choice and tomatoes if preferred
Directions
- Cauliflower: In a large skillet, add sliced cauliflower and enough water to come halfway up the sides of cauliflower. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, cover, and steam until fork-tender, 5 minutes. Drain and place the cauliflower on a cooling rack.
- Add a 1/2 inch of avocado oil to a skillet. Set that over medium-high heat. Set up your dredging station: gluten-free flour, arrrowroot starch, baking powder, and a pinch of salt in a bowl; kefir, hot sauce, egg, and a pinch of salt in another bowl. Whisk each mixture with a fork until well combined.
- Bread the cauliflower: First, season the cauliflower with salt. Now, dredge in the dry mixture, then dunk in the kefir, then back into the dry. Check the avocado oil by dropping a piece of the flour mixture into the pan. It should instantly sizzle.
- When the oil is hot, add the breaded cauliflower into the pan. Fry for about 5 minutes per side. Sprinkle with salt when done.
- While they’re frying, combine the cayenne, sweetener, garlic powder, paprika, and black pepper in a bowl. When you’re done frying the cauliflower, add about 1/2 cup hot frying oil to the bowl with the spices and whisk until smooth. Dunk the fried cauliflower in the spiced oil. Add more frying oil if the spice mixture gets too thick.
- Waffles: In a medium bowl, whisk together dry ingredients. In another medium bowl, whisk together wet ingredients. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and whisk until just combined. Let batter sit for 10 minutes. Preheat waffle iron and grease. Pour about 1/2 cup of batter into the waffle iron. Cook until golden brown.
- Sandwich: Blend together the ingredients for the sandwich sauce until creamy, then slather both sides of the waffle with the sauce, then put everything together. Layer with your favorite lettuce and tomatoes if using with the bread and put the cauliflower piece in the middle, then add the other half of the waffle sandwich.
- If cooking with Air Fryer: Spray the cauliflower steaks evenly with cooking spray. Place into the air fryer at 400 degrees and cook for 10 minutes, flipping the slabs over halfway through the cooking time. Apply a little more spray over any areas that look dry and cook for an additional minute or two if needed to achieve a deeply golden color all over. Place the Nashville oil mixture into a bowl, then carefully turn the steaks around in the bowl to coat. Place back into the air fryer and fry on each side for 3-4 minutes, or until the edges look crispy.