Cauliflower Hash Browns - in 3 ways. These vegan cauliflower hash browns are delicious low-carb appetizers and sides. Perfect for the keto diet as well. This is quick, healthy, gluten-free, egg-free, and dairy-free. Shallow fry, bake, or air fry the cauliflower hash browns and serve with spicy hot sauce.

Keto Vegan Cauliflower Hash Browns are crispy on the outside and moist and soft inside. This is a delicious appetizer that is a hassle-free and easy recipe.
In classic hash browns, eggs are used for binding. but this is a vegan version of traditional hash browns. Yet this is just delicious and yummy. This is low in carb and hence good for the keto diet also.
What are hash browns?
Hash browns or hashed browns are popular American breakfast dishes. These are shredded and pan-fried potatoes. Also for binding, flour and egg may be used in this recipe.
What is the difference between classic hash browns and vegan cauliflower hash browns?
Cauliflower hash browns are low-carb and healthier alternatives to classic potato hash browns. These hash browns are vegan and gluten-free. For binding, I have used gluten-free chickpea flour and flax eggs for binding the cauliflower rice (grated/ shredded).
However, cauliflower is a great low-carb substitute for potatoes. And so this is one of the best snacks or sides.
Highlights - Vegan Cauliflower Hashbrowns
- Vegan/ Plant-based
- Gluten-free
- Healthy appetizer
- Easy to make
- No fancy ingredients
- Multiple method of cooking
- Healthier alternative to traditional hashbrowns
- Low carb alternative to potato hash browns
- Keto-friendly
Cauliflower Nutritional Values
Cauliflower is one of the low-carb vegetables. It has numerous health benefits as well. This is a rich source of vitamin C, K, calcium, iron, potassium, and magnesium. Cauliflower is considered a superfood because of its nutritional value.
Cauliflower is a low-carb low-fat vegetable that is perfect for a keto diet or any low-carb diet. It can be consumed raw or cooked. It's a good source of fiber and protein. Cauliflower has 92% water in it. Hence it also helps in hydrating. A few health benefits are noted below.
- It has anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antibacterial effects.
- Good source of antioxidants.
- Helps protect cells from damage.
- It helps in preventing cancer.
- Aids in weight loss in a healthy way.
- Keeps the nervous system healthy.
- Lowers the risk of liver and heart disease.
- Helps to delay neurological disorders like dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
Some more vegan cauliflower recipes
- Curried Cauliflower Soup
- Vegan Cauliflower Potato Curry
- Vegan Cauliflower Rice Fry
- Butter Cauliflower (Vegan)
- Cauliflower Stuffed Flatbreads
How to make cauliflower hash browns?
Ingredients:
This is a simple recipe made with all ingredients that must be available in any vegan kitchen. Cauliflower no doubt is the hero ingredient. Let's see what all ingredients are required to make this delicious vegan cauliflower hash brown.
Cauliflower Rice - Fresh home made cauliflower rice. You just need a food processor or even a manual cheese grater.to make it easily at home.
Sping onions - Some green onions/ scallions. You can also add some finely chopped red onion to the cauliflower rice.
Gluten-Free Flour - Here I'm using gram flour (roasted). This gives a nice flavor to the hash browns. If you are not allergic to gluten, you may add regular refined flour. You may also alter any other gluten-free flour like buckwheat flour or water chestnut flour for this recipe. You can also add little cornstarch or arrowroot powder.
Flax eggs - Normally eggs are the binding agents in such fritters. But this is a vegan recipe and hence we have substituted the eggs with vegan eggs or flax eggs. Making flax eggs is easy and works equally great.
Nutritional Yeasts & Vegan Cheese - These add a natural cheesy flavor to the dish. I have vegan parmesan powder that I have used in this recipe.
Salt & Spices - Salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper are the dry spices. Otherwise, you may add finely minced onions, cilantro, and green chilies (as substitute) to the cauliflower rice mixture.
Instructions to make the cauliflower hash browns 3 ways:
Step 1 -Make cauliflower rice:
Clean cauliflower head and break it into large florets. Now wash and clean properly making sure florets are clean and no bugs. Then add them to the food processor and pulse them till you get a grainy rice-like texture. Another way, is just to grate the florets in a medium perforated cheese grater. It takes hardly 5 minutes in any of the methods.
Step 2 - Make Flax Eggs:
Mix flax meal with a double amount of warm milk or water. Stir well and keep aside in the refrigerator for 10 - 15 minutes so that it will be thick and makes an egg-like texture.
Step 3 - Remove excess liquid
Before you add all ingredients, it's really important to get rid of excess liquid from cauliflower rice. So add half tsp salt and leave it for 10 minutes. Then transfer to a muslin cloth or cheesecloth. Squeeze out all excess liquid.
Step 4 - Make the cauliflower cakes
Then in a mixing bowl add all ingredients, and mix well so to make a dough-like structure. Take out a small portion and shape it oval like a hash brown or any shape. Then shallow fry, bake, or air fry the cauliflower hash browns. And serve with a favorite dip.
Air Fryer Cauliflower Hash Browns:
An air fryer cooks in a similar way to a convection oven. Preheat the air fryer to 375 F for 4 - 5 minutes. Now grease the basket nicely to avoid sticking the hash browns.
Here you can also use perforated baking papers made specifically for air fryers only. But you can manage without the butter paper also. Make sure to nicely squeeze out excess moisture from the cauliflower rice so that the mixture doesn't turn water and sticky. Then it will not at all stick to the pan.
Now place the hash brown patties in the air fryer basket. Start the air fryer at 380 F for 20 - 25 minutes. Flip it at the midway mark at 12 minutes and spray a little oil if required. If you want more crispy, cook at 400F for the last 2 - 3 minutes. Every air fryer is different. So check out your timing if making for first few trials.
Shallow Fried Hash Browns: Heat oil in a pan. Place the patties on the pan. Don't overcrowd, make in batches of 3 to 4 maximum depending on the size of the griddle and those of patties.
For Baking (Baked Vegan Cauliflower Hash browns): Preheat the oven to 400 F or 200 degrees C. Then grease a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Place the patties and bake at high temperature for 30 - 35 minutes flipping in midways.
Read other healthy vegan appetizers on the blog:
- Zucchini Fritters
- Broccoli Fritters
- Broccoli Tots
- Classic Tater Tots
- Vegan Potato Latkes
- Baked Vegan Chicken Nuggets
Recipe Card for Vegan Cauliflower Hash Browns
Vegan Cauliflower Hash Browns
Equipment
- Air Fryer (Optional) for air frying method only
- Baking Tray
- Parchment paper
- Cheese Grater Either food processor or cheese grater
Ingredients
- 1 large cauliflower head
- 1/4 cup chickpea flour
- 1 tbsp corn starch (optional)
- 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
- 1/4 cup vegan parmesan cheese
- 1 small red onion finely chopped (optional)
- 1/4 cup spring onions (chopped) (substitute - cilantro leaves)
- 1/2 green chili/ jalapeno finely chopped (optional)
- salt to taste
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp Cayenne pepper optional
Instructions
- Wash and clean cauliflower head and break into large florets.
- Grate with a food processor or cheese grater.
- Add a pinch of salt and squeeze out with the help of cheesecloth.
- In a large mixing bowl, add in the cauliflower rice, flour, all the spices mentioned above in the list, cilantro/ spring onions, salt (if required*), pepper, nutritional yeast, vegan cheese.
- Mix well and make a dough-like mixture.
- Grease your palms and take a small portion of the mixture.
- Flatten it with the help of palms and shape it oval like hash browns.
Air Fryer Cauliflower Hash Browns
- Preheat the air fryer at 375 F for 4 - 5 minutes.
- Grease the basket nicely to avoid sticking the hash browns.
- Place the shaped patties in the basket.
- Start the air fryer at 380 F for 20 minutes.
- Flip the patties at around 15 minutes.
- Spray oil on top if required.
- For extra crisp, cook last 4 - 5 minutes at 400 F (200C).
- Be careful after 20 minutes mark as all air fryers are not the same.
For Shallow Frying:
- Heat oil generously in a pan or griddle.
- Place the shaped patties on pan.
- Cook on medium low flame.
- Fry each side for 3 - 5 minutes or till it's golden brown in color.
- Don't overcrowd the pan.
- Cook it in batches of 3 - 4 one time.
Baked Cauliflower Hash Browns
- Preheat oven at 400 F (200C).
- Line parchment paper in a baking tray.
- Place shaped patties on the tray.
- Brush with little oil each side.
- Bake for 30 - 40 minutes flipping in midways at 20 minutes.
Serving Ideas
- Serve with any dip/ any spicy dip.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
If you like the recipes and want to stay updated, subscribe via email. Also, I would request you to like and share my Facebook Page. Follow My Dainty Kitchen on Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.
PIN IT FOR LATER
(Disclosure: This post contains affiliate link which means if you will buy a product through the link shared here, I will get some percentage of commission at no extra cost to you.)
Rachel
Do you think you could substitute the vegan Parmesan cheese?
Ipsa Faujdar
Yes you can add or skip vegan parmesan. Nutritional yeast is good enough for the flavor.
Tabata
Hi! What a great recipe! I fell in love at first sight but when I took it to the kitchen with me i didn't succeed in reproducing the same results as you .. my patties fell apart completely!! How do you keep it together?
Ipsa Faujdar
Thank you so much. I'm glad you loved it. Have you squeezed out excess moisture? This is the most important step. If still there is a problem with binding, you can add a bit of roasted chickpea flour. And make smaller size patties. Also, let one side get cooked completely before flipping to another side. Use a plain spatula to flip. These are probabilities I can guess. Just try them. If baking then you can just place the mixture on the baking tray and try to shape it there. Hope this helps.