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    Home » Side Dishes » Ham & Cheese Cauliflower Fritters

    Published: Apr 13, 2022 by Carolyn

    Ham & Cheese Cauliflower Fritters

    This post may contain Amazon or other affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    42.6K shares
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    Cauliflower fritters are a fabulous keto side dish for any meal. Add a little cheddar and some finely diced ham for a punch of flavor, or leave them plain. It’s a great recipe to customize and make your own!

    A stack of cauliflower fritters on a white plate with chopped sage on top.

    How would I describe these gluten-free cauliflower fritters? Crispy, golden, and full of flavor, that’s how. And a whole sight healthier than hashbrowns. Heck they’re even healthier than most other cauliflower fritter recipes!

    My family loves all kinds of fritters, especially my chicken fritters and my keto zucchini fritters. They also adore my keto tuna patties, which are arguably fritters as well. All of which makes this mama very happy, since it’s tough to get three kids to agree on anything these days.

    We served these with a dollop of ranch dressing on top. But you can easily do sour cream or another dressing of choice. Or serve them for breakfast with a fried egg on top. Oh, the delicious possibilities!

    Close up shot of keto cauliflower fritters on a black plate.

    Updated Cauliflower Fritters Recipe

    Made with simple, clean ingredients, these fritters are a fabulous way to use up some leftover ham. Let’s face it, hams are huge, and unless you have a serious crowd to feed, they can seem virtually endless.

    I first created this recipe back in 2014 for that very purpose. So I decided to revisit it and see if I could improve upon it a little bit.

    Keto cauliflower fritters don’t hold together as well as the conventional variety because they lack flour, and thus have no gluten to bind them. They are a touch fragile but I found a few tricks to help keep them together better. Read my How-To section for more details!

    A black plate with a circle of cauliflower fritters and a white bowl of ranch in the center.

    Ingredients

    Nothing crazy or outrageous in these cauliflower fritters! Just basic ingredients you can find at any grocery store. You will need:

    • Cauliflower – You can chop up a whole head or use pre-cut florets. You can even use cauliflower rice!
    • Eggs
    • Almond flour – See Frequently Asked Questions for nut-free alternatives.
    • Garlic
    • Minced herbs – I used chopped sage, as I had it on hand. But parsley, thyme, or rosemary would also be delicious.
    • Grated cheese – I used sharp white cheddar, but again, so many possibilities here.
    • Ham – Optional. Feel free to leave it out or replace it with some cooked, chopped bacon.
    • Salt and pepper
    • Oil for the pan
    Four images showing the steps for making cauliflower fritters.

    How to make Cauliflower Fritters

    Because these fritters contain no flour or starches, they require a bit of care when making them. Here are my best tips for getting it right:

    1. Process the cauliflower until finely chopped: In the original recipe, I steamed small florets and mashed them, but it made them more fragile. Processing the cauliflower until it resembles rice makes it a lot easier to squeeze out the excess moisture.
    2. Steam the cauliflower until very soft: You can do this in a microwave or in a pan on the stove.
    3. Squeeze out the moisture: Wrap the cooked cauliflower in a tea towel and really squeeze out as much moisture as you can.
    4. Stir in the other ingredients: Make sure that the ham and herbs are finely chopped as well, to make the patties more cohesive.
    5. Form into patties: Keep them on the small side so that they aren’t as hard to flip. 2 tablespoons of the cauliflower mixture is about right for small patties.
    6. Refrigerate 1 hour: Another trick that helps them stay together a little better!
    7. Use a non-stick skillet: I really don’t recommend cast iron here, as I found that it browned them too quickly and they wanted to stick too much.
    8. Use plenty of oil: Make sure that the skillet has a full coating of oil across the bottom and add more as needed.
    9. Don’t crowd the pan! You need room to get the spatula underneath and flip them, so give each fritter a few inches of space.
    10. Let cool a few minutes: They are hot coming off that pan so give them 5 to 10 minutes to cool before serving.
    A stack of cauliflower fritters with a dollop pf ranch dressing on top, sitting on a white plate over a green napkin.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I use pre-riced cauliflower?

    Yes, and either fresh or frozen is fine. You will need 16 ounces to make this cauliflower fritter recipe. Just make sure to cook until very soft.

    How can I make this recipe nut-free?

    My original recipe took 3 tablespoons of coconut flour, so you can do that here as well. It’s no better or worse than almond flour in terms of consistency.

    Can you make these dairy-free?

    Possibly, but the cheese does help give the fritters some cohesiveness so they may be a little more fragile. I am not sure if any dairy-free grated cheese would help but it might! At the very least, it would be a delicious experiment.

    Can you make these in an air fryer?

    Possibly but I haven’t tried. They may stick and be somewhat tough to flip over. If you try it, let me know how it turns out!

    How do you store keto cauliflower fritters?

    This is a great make-ahead recipe! The fritters actually hold together better the longer they sit, so you can make them in advance by a day or two and simply rewarm them in the oven.

    Store the fritters in a covered container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

    A black plate filled with keto cauliflower fritters, with ham and cheese in the background.

    What to serve with cauliflower fritters

    This tasty cauliflower recipe goes with just about anything! Here are some suggestions:

    • Easy Pork Medallions
    • Spinach Artichoke Chicken
    • Keto Pork Chops
    • Air Fryer Steak Bites
    • Creamy Feta Dressing
    • Keto Parmesan Crusted Fish
    A stack of cauliflower fritters on a white plate with chopped sage on top.

    Cauliflower Fritters Recipe

    Cauliflower fritters are a fabulous keto side dish for any meal. Add a little cheddar and some finely diced ham for a punch of flavor, or leave them plain. It's a great recipe to customize and make your own!
    4.89 from 9 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: cauliflower fritters
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 45 minutes
    Servings: 8 servings
    Calories: 190kcal

    Ingredients

    • 1 medium head cauliflower (about 1 pound)
    • 2 large eggs
    • 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
    • ½ cups finely diced ham
    • ½ cup almond flour
    • 2 cloves garlic minced
    • 1 teaspoon minced fresh sage
    • ¾ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon pepper
    • Oil for the pan (avocado or olive oil)
    US Customary – Metric

    Instructions

    • Chop the cauliflower into 1 inch florets. Add to a food processor or high-powered blender (if using a blender, add a cup or two of water). Process until finely chopped (drain if using a blender with water).
    • Place in a microwave safe bowl and cover with a large plate. Microwave on high for 10 minutes. Alternatively, you can cook in a pan over medium heat until very tender.
    • Set a tea towel into a sieve and drain the cauliflower through the tea towel. Let sit until cool enough to handle and then gather the ends of the tea towel together and squeeze out as much liquid as possible.
    • Transfer the cauliflower to a large bowl and add the eggs, cheese, ham, almond flour, garlic, sage, salt and pepper. Stir well to combine.
    • Line a platter with parchment or waxed paper. Using 2 tablespoons of the mixture at a time, form into small patties about 3 inches in diameter and ½ inch thick. You should get 16 patties. Refrigerate 1 hour to firm up.
    • Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium heat and add enough oil to coat the bottom of the pan. When the oil is hot, add some of the cauliflower patties, taking care not to crowd the pan.
    • Cook 3 to 4 minutes, until nicely browned on the browned on the bottom. Then wiggle a thin-bladed spatula underneath and carefully flip. Press down firmly with the spatula and cook another 3 to 4 minutes.
    • Remove to a paper towel lined plate and repeat with the remaining patties. Let cool 5 minutes before serving.
    Nutrition Facts
    Cauliflower Fritters Recipe
    Amount Per Serving (2 fritters)
    Calories 190 Calories from Fat 139
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 15.4g24%
    Carbohydrates 4.9g2%
    Fiber 1.9g8%
    Protein 7.6g15%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    42.6K shares

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    Nutritional Disclaimer

    Please note that I am not a medical or nutritional professional. I am simply recounting and sharing my own experiences on this blog. Nothing I express here should be taken as medical advice and you should consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. I provide nutritional information for my recipes simply as a courtesy to my readers. It is calculated using MacGourmet software and I remove erythritol from the final carb count and net carb count, as it does not affect my own blood glucose levels. I do my best to be as accurate as possible but you should independently calculate nutritional information on your own before relying on them. I expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website.

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Heather says

      January 02, 2020 at 1:29 pm

      Can these be frozen? I’d love to make a bunch and then have them in the freezer for those days when life is too hectic to cook meals!

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        January 02, 2020 at 4:08 pm

        Yes, they would freeze very nicely.

        Reply
    2. Kara says

      April 06, 2019 at 5:04 pm

      Would almond flour work in place of coconut flour?

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        April 06, 2019 at 6:36 pm

        Possibly but you need to add 3 times the amount which changes the carb count.

        Reply
    3. Jocelyn says

      March 28, 2019 at 5:49 pm

      5 stars
      Oh these are so getting made! Can’t wait to try them!

      Reply
    4. Becky Hardin says

      March 27, 2019 at 8:55 pm

      5 stars
      These are amazing! Love everything about them. So delicious!

      Reply
    5. Anna says

      March 27, 2019 at 3:31 pm

      5 stars
      These fritters are delicious! My family loved them!

      Reply
    6. Kristyn says

      March 27, 2019 at 3:24 pm

      5 stars
      I could eat so many of these!! I love how crisp & tasty they are! The ham adds nice flavor. Perfect for appetizers or snacking!

      Reply
    7. Suzy says

      March 27, 2019 at 2:45 pm

      5 stars
      I love to have a couple of these as an afternoon snack!

      Reply
    8. SHARON J says

      September 16, 2018 at 2:41 am

      Since this recipe came out we can now find cauli rice in the freezer section, SO how many cups of processed cauliflower is in this recipe? I know I know it wont be cost effective at all to use the frozen cauli rice, but I am wondering. Thanks so much.

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        September 16, 2018 at 9:11 am

        It’s hard to say for sure but I think you’re looking at about 16 ounces (3 to 4 cups). I know the Trader Joe’s cauli rice is only 12 ounces.

        Reply
    9. Nina says

      February 28, 2018 at 4:26 pm

      Can you still make this if you omit the cheese?

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        February 28, 2018 at 5:07 pm

        Not sure how well it will hold together.

        Reply
    10. Charity says

      January 24, 2018 at 7:59 pm

      5 stars
      This was so yummy! Next time I’ll cut back on the salt because the ham I used was salty and so the fritters ere a little salty too, but still good! My picky kids didn’t even notice the califlower!!
      Please help! I am trying to determine the serving size for the data listed of calories etc. It says it makes 20-24 fritters and serves 8. For easy math I’m assuming that the serving size is then 3 fritters but that seems high for the data. Could you confirm or give the correct serving size. Thanks so much!

      Reply
    11. Sheila says

      July 19, 2017 at 10:24 pm

      These are delicious! Used asiago cheese and ricotta (had some I had to use up) and green onion. Added a 4th egg because they were not holding together (made them too big – should have listened to your advice). Second pan full much better. Smaller and fried well over 5 min per side. Patties that fall apart fry up really well as a hash. Delicious!

      Reply
    12. Andrea says

      June 12, 2017 at 7:44 pm

      This was a delicious low carb keeper!! Will continue to make and know you can put almost anything you want in it. Delicious!!!

      Reply
    13. Lisa says

      January 29, 2017 at 2:10 pm

      Yummy. I topped worth an over easy egg & low carb yums Avocado ranch dressing. Filling fabulous meal.

      Reply
    14. Season C says

      September 07, 2016 at 3:15 pm

      These were delicious, thank you very much. I used lunch meat ham. I just need to work on getting more water squeezed out of the cauliflower – the last couple patties turned into hash browns in the pan!

      Reply
    15. Ginger says

      August 16, 2016 at 6:51 am

      Would riced cauliflower (fresh not frozen, comes in a bag, already chopped up, each piece is about the size of rice) work?

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        August 16, 2016 at 6:53 am

        Yup, just make sure to cook it until it’s pretty soft.

        Reply
    16. Lise says

      February 10, 2016 at 7:58 pm

      I make something similar but I use spaghetti squash. Will have to try it with the cauliflower. I make a dill and onion sour cream dip for mine. Yumm

      Reply
    17. Margaret says

      February 01, 2016 at 7:50 pm

      OMG! Just made these and they are fabulous, just like potatoe pancakes. Who would think it is cauliflower

      Reply
    18. Juanota Richards says

      January 16, 2016 at 9:35 pm

      They look great and I’d love to try them but I never never have any kind of flour or sugar in my house. No carbs of any kind. So I need recipes like this which cater to my dietary needs,

      Reply
    19. Cindy Horvath says

      January 04, 2016 at 1:27 pm

      Hmm. I have ham. I have a bag of microwaveable garlic cauliflower. I have cheese. Off to try.. (putting cauliflower in a nonstick searing hot pan removes a lot of moisture very quickly, FYI)

      Reply
    20. Candace Spaid says

      December 30, 2015 at 3:04 pm

      Loved the crunchy outside.

      Reply
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