Ever find yourself with a head of cauliflower in the fridge, wondering how to transform it into something the whole family will actually get excited about? These Cheesy Cauliflower Patties are about to become your new go-to! Golden, crispy on the outside, soft and cheesy on the inside, they’re the perfect way to sneak more veggies onto the dinner table without anyone complaining. We’ve all heard of zucchini patties or vegetable patties, but some have intense flavours or green bits! Eeeek. Some family members freak out when they see the green bits, don’t they?

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These will have them guessing, provided you don’t over boil the cauliflower. I choose to use the microwave because it’s easy, but you can steam or boil if you wish. Oh, and we’re only part cooking it at this stage, we’ll be cooking it further when we’ve formed up the patties. The microwave won’t introduce any extra water either. Make them as burgers or as a side as I have, with some yummy pork.

What sort of cheese could you use with a cauliflower patty?

The recipe I’ve written calls for 200g of cheese. The cheese is used to help bind your patties together and give them a lovely flavour. You can change the cheese to whatever type you like, but I tend to add a portion of this as mozzarella because it’s perfect for binding and stringy fun for the kids and husbands.

I usually have a bag of Pizza Cheese Blend in the fridge. I keep a bag on hand most of the time. I know it says “Pizza” on the packet, but it has so many uses. The flavour of mozzarella is light, so having a blend is better (with more flavour). Of course, you can make your own, and I do that too. I hardly ever buy mozzarella.

You can even add a little parmesan to give it a little more of a cheesy hit. Any recipe like this is great for using up odd bits of cheese that are laying around in the fridge. Blue cheese and cauliflower are a match made in heaven if your family enjoys some bolder flavours. Maybe it will freak out the kids though???

Cheesy cauliflower patties with some lettuce and cheery tomatoes. — Cheesy cauliflower patties served with **Creamy Mustard Pork** and salad

Ingredients used in our Cheesy Cauliflower Patty

Cauliflower – You’ll need this of course. As I’ve stated above I like to microwave but if you don’t then when you steam or boil make sure you pull it out before its totally cooked. You just want to blanch it really. The other thing you need to do is drain it well, no extra moisture or they could fall apart.
Other veg – the onion is there for flavour and the zucchini is optional although replace it by rough weight with more cauilflower. Zucchini has a lot of water so sqeeze out some of the liquid after grating, oh and if your kids are scared of green, you can always peel them first.
Ingredients used for binding, self-raising flour, eggs, breadcrums and cheese. Missing out on any of these will cause your patties to be, well, splatties?
Flavour – Rosemary, salt flakes, black pepper. The rosemary can be replaced with any herb you wish. remember if you’re changing fresh to dried you’ll need to halve it. For example 1 tsp fresh rosemary = 1/2 tsp dried.
olive oil – to caramalise and help prevent sticking in your pan. Check out my free download on oil smoke points.

Serving suggestions

These are incredibly versatile! Serve them as a side dish with grilled meat or fish, pop them in a burger bun with salad and sauce, or enjoy them as a light vegetarian meal with a fresh garden salad and yoghurt or sour cream for dipping.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make these patties gluten-free?
Absolutely! Simply swap the regular breadcrumbs for gluten-free breadcrumbs or almond meal. The texture will be slightly different, but they’ll still be delicious.

Can I freeze these cauliflower patties?
Yes! These freeze beautifully. Place the cooked and cooled patties between layers of baking paper or go-between freezer paper, add them to an airtight container, and freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat them in a hot oven (180°C) for 15-20 minutes or in an air fryer for extra crispiness.

Can I bake these instead of frying?
Definitely! Preheat your oven or air fryer to 200°C (400°F), place the patties on a lined baking tray or air fry basket, spray lightly with cooking oil, and bake for 10 – 15minutes, turning if needed. They’ll be slightly less crispy than pan-fried, but still absolutely delicious.

My mixture is too wet—what should I do?
If your mixture feels too runny, simply add more breadcrumbs, a tablespoon at a time, until it firms up enough to form patties. Remember, squeezing out excess moisture from the cooked cauliflower is key to preventing this issue.

Can I use frozen cauliflower?
You can, but fresh is definitely better. If you do use frozen, make sure to thaw it completely and squeeze out every drop of water before using—frozen cauliflower tends to hold more moisture.

I’ve only added the conventional method for these patties, but you could easily convert sections of the recipe for the Thermomix.