Description
These Vegan Cauliflower Buffalo Wings are a spicy, crispy, and flavorful plant-based appetizer perfect for game day or a tasty snack. Coated in a seasoned batter and tossed in a tangy buffalo sauce, they deliver all the flavor of traditional buffalo wings without the meat, and they can be made in the oven or air fryer for convenience.
Ingredients
Scale
Cauliflower Wings
- 1 small cauliflower, cut into small bite-sized florets
- 1/2 cup brown rice flour (or flour of choice if not avoiding gluten)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1.5 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 3/4 cup unsweetened cashew milk (or milk of choice)
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/4 cup white vinegar
Buffalo Sauce
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 3 tablespoon tomato paste
Dairy-Free Ranch Dressing
- 1 recipe dairy-free ranch dressing (prepared separately)
Instructions
- Prepare the Ranch Dressing: If making the ranch dipping sauce yourself, begin by soaking your cashews as required. Once soaked, blend or prepare the ranch dressing according to your recipe and refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Preheat and Prepare Baking Tray: Line a baking tray with parchment paper and preheat your oven to 450°F (232°C) for optimal crispiness.
- Make the Batter: Place the cauliflower florets in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together the brown rice flour, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cumin, sea salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Add the cashew milk and water, mixing well to create a smooth batter.
- Coat Cauliflower: Pour the batter over the cauliflower florets and toss thoroughly to coat each piece evenly in the seasoned batter.
- Bake the Cauliflower: Arrange the coated cauliflower pieces in a single layer on the prepared baking tray. Bake for 20 minutes, flipping the florets once halfway through to ensure even cooking and browning.
- Prepare Buffalo Sauce: While the cauliflower bakes, combine the paprika, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, sea salt, and tomato paste in a small saucepan. Whisk the ingredients together and simmer over medium heat for 3-5 minutes to meld the flavors.
- Coat with Buffalo Sauce: Remove the cauliflower from the oven. Using a silicone brush, generously brush each piece with the buffalo sauce to fully coat them.
- Final Bake: Return the buffalo-coated cauliflower to the oven for an additional 10-15 minutes, flipping once halfway to ensure the sauce caramelizes slightly and the coating crisps up.
- Serve: Remove from oven and serve hot, accompanied by the chilled dairy-free ranch dressing for dipping. Enjoy your game day snack!
Notes
- These cauliflower buffalo wings offer a perfect balance of spice and flavor with a crispy exterior and tender interior.
- They make a fantastic plant-based alternative to traditional buffalo wings, ideal for sharing at parties or as a snack.
- If preferred, you can cook the wings in an air fryer at 400°F for about 15-20 minutes, shaking halfway through for even crisping.
- Adjust the cayenne pepper according to your spice tolerance to make the wings milder or hotter.
- Make sure the cauliflower pieces are uniformly sized to ensure even cooking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 118 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 732 mg
- Fat: 1 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 23 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
