Description
Crispy and spicy Buffalo Cauliflower Bites offer a delicious vegetarian alternative to traditional buffalo wings. Coated in a flavorful batter, baked to perfection, and tossed in a tangy hot sauce and butter glaze, these bites are perfect as a game day snack or appetizer.
Ingredients
Scale
Cauliflower and Batter
- 1 large head cauliflower (cut into florets)
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup water (or milk)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/4 tsp salt
Sauce
- 1/2 cup hot sauce (like Frank’s RedHot)
- 2 tbsp melted butter (or oil)
- 1 tbsp honey (or maple syrup)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure easy cleanup.
- Make Batter: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, water or milk, garlic powder, paprika, and salt until smooth to create a flavorful batter.
- Coat Cauliflower: Toss the cauliflower florets in the batter, making sure each piece is fully coated for a crispy exterior after baking.
- Bake Cauliflower: Arrange the battered cauliflower florets evenly on the prepared baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes until they start to turn golden and crisp.
- Prepare Sauce: While the cauliflower bakes, whisk together the hot sauce, melted butter (or oil), and honey (or maple syrup) in a bowl to create the tangy Buffalo sauce.
- Toss in Sauce: Remove the baked cauliflower from the oven and toss it in the prepared Buffalo sauce until fully coated.
- Final Bake: Return the sauce-coated cauliflower to the baking sheet and bake for an additional 5 minutes to allow the sauce to set and caramelize.
- Serve: Serve the Buffalo cauliflower bites hot with ranch or blue cheese dressing for dipping.
Notes
- You can substitute water with milk or a plant-based milk for a richer batter.
- Use oil instead of butter in the sauce to make it dairy-free.
- For vegan version, replace honey with maple syrup and use vegan butter or oil.
- Adjust the spiciness by varying the amount of hot sauce.
- Serve immediately for best crispness; leftovers can be reheated in the oven.
