Baked Cauliflower Cheese Crackers
Transforming Surplus Cauliflower into a Homemade Healthy Snack: Crispy Cauliflower Crackers
Have you ever found yourself with too much cauliflower after a sale, wondering how to use it all? While it’s great in traditional dishes, why not try a creative snack? Inspired by popular cauliflower pizza crust recipes, I’ve created these delicious cauliflower cheese crackers that are wonderfully crispy on the outside and satisfyingly tender on the inside. For an even easier approach, use store-bought frozen cauliflower, which requires no pre-trimming. Enjoy a healthy and tasty homemade treat, even on busy days!
Ingredients
- Cooked cauliflower, 500g (weight after draining)
- Grated Parmesan cheese, 1/2 cup
- Garlic powder, 1/2 tsp
- Dried parsley flakes, 1 tsp
- All-purpose flour, 2 tbsp
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Start by preparing 500g of cooked cauliflower. If using frozen cauliflower, ensure the weight is 500g after thawing and thoroughly draining any excess water. For fresh cauliflower, trim the thick stem, wash the florets well, and boil them until tender. Drain completely.
Step 2
Place the cooked cauliflower into a food processor or blender. Do not add any water. Process until the cauliflower is as finely ground as possible. Aim for a very smooth consistency.
Step 3
Transfer the finely ground cauliflower onto a clean cheesecloth or fine-mesh kitchen towel. Spread it out evenly.
Step 4
Gather the edges of the cheesecloth and twist firmly to squeeze out as much liquid as possible from the cauliflower. This step is crucial for achieving crispy crackers, so be thorough.
Step 5
After squeezing out the water, the cauliflower should look like a moist, cohesive mass, similar to a dough. This level of dryness is ideal.
Step 6
Transfer the squeezed cauliflower to a large mixing bowl. Now, get your other ingredients ready to combine.
Step 7
Add the grated Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, parsley flakes, and 2 tablespoons of flour to the bowl with the cauliflower. Mix everything together thoroughly, kneading it slightly to ensure all ingredients are well incorporated.
Step 8
Once the cracker dough is formed, shape it into a ball and let it rest for about 10 minutes to allow it to hydrate. Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 400°F (190°C). This usually takes around 10 minutes.
Step 9
When the oven is preheated, line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the rested dough onto the parchment paper. Using a spatula or the back of a spoon, spread the dough thinly and evenly into a rectangular shape. Aim for a uniform thickness for even baking.
Step 10
After shaping the dough, place the baking sheet into the preheated oven and bake for 5 minutes. The surface should start to look slightly set.
Step 11
After 5 minutes, remove the baking sheet from the oven. Use a pizza cutter or a bench scraper to score the dough, creating lines that will help you break the crackers apart later. Return the sheet to the oven and bake for another 5 minutes.
Step 12
Another 5 minutes later, take it out again. Press down more firmly along the scored lines with your scraper or the back of a knife to further define the cracker shapes. Bake for an additional 5 minutes.
Step 13
After a total of 15 minutes (three 5-minute intervals) of baking, carefully remove the crackers from the oven. Use your scraper or a dull knife to fully separate them along the scored lines. Flip each cracker over to expose the other side.
Step 14
Now, turn off the oven. However, the oven cavity is still very hot. Place the flipped crackers back into the still-warm oven. Let them bake for an additional 5 minutes using the residual heat. This helps them become extra crispy.
Step 15
Finally, remove the crackers and assess their crispness. Depending on thickness and oven placement, some may be crispier than others. If some crackers are not yet done, place them back into the turned-off oven and bake for an additional 5-15 minutes, checking every 5 minutes to prevent burning. Continue until they reach your desired crispness.
Step 16
Your delicious and healthy homemade cauliflower cheese crackers are ready! Allow them to cool completely on a wire rack.
Step 17
Enjoy these savory and crunchy cauliflower crisps – your very own healthy, homemade snack!
