Get ready for game day with these spicy Buffalo Cauliflower Wings! Lightly battered chunks of cauliflower, baked until crispy, then slathered with a homemade buffalo hot sauce.
When it comes to hot sauces, I am strictly a Cholula guy. I've tried a lot of them, but Cholula has always been my favorite. But one I had NEVER tried is Frank's.....you know - the "I put that s**t on everything" one.
It just so happens, I had an unopened bottle in my pantry AND a very old recipe for Buffalo Cauliflower Bytes that badly needed updating... so here we are.
Researching buffalo sauce I found out it is nothing more than adding butter to Frank's. It makes it creamier and cuts down on the heat a little, so I set off to make my own.
I'm using sunflower seeds to replace the fat in the butter. They have a healthier fat, are relatively inexpensive, and are easy to find. I then add a few common flavorings to spice them up a little.
The result was this bright, neon orange sauce lol, that was INCREDIBLY tasty. Not TOO hot, but with just enough kick to tickle your tastebuds.
If you have Football fans who traditionally go for the Buffalo Chicken Wings during the game, have them try these instead. They might not go for it, but then again they might!
And THAT....would be a touchdown.
Buffalo Cauliflower Wings
Start off by making the Buffalo Sauce
Soak the sunflower seeds for at least 30 minutes, then add them along with all the remaining sauce ingredients to a blender. Process until smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides a few times.
Cover and store in the refrigerator for now.
Preparing the Cauliflower
Preheat your oven to 450° F.
Clean a small to medium head of cauliflower and remove all the outer leaves. Break it into bite-sized florets and set them aside for now.
Then mix all the batter ingredients in a large bowl and whisk until smooth. Dip each piece of cauliflower in the batter making sure they are evenly coated, then place on a parchment-lined cookie sheet.
Bake for 15 minutes or until golden.
Finally, brush the buffalo sauce onto the cauliflower pieces. I used a silicone pastry brush and I generously coated both sides of the cauliflower.
Place them back into the oven for an additional 5 minutes, and then serve with your choice of garnish. Celery sticks and carrots are a popular option along with a Ranch Dressing. I happen to have a Cool Vegan Ranch Dressing Recipe here.
Hope you enjoy!
Buffalo Cauliflower Wings
- Author: Chuck Underwood
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Prep Time: 25 min
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Cook Time: 20 min
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Total Time: 45 minutes
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Yield: 4 servings
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Category: Appetizer
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Method: Oven
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Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Lightly battered chunks of cauliflower, baked until crispy, then slathered with a homemade buffalo hot sauce - perfect for game day!
Ingredients
Units- 1 head cauliflower
Batter
- ¾ cup flour
- ¼ cup cornmeal
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp thyme
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp ground pepper
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 2 tsp apple cider vinegar
Buffalo Sauce
- 1 cup Frank's hot sauce
- ½ cup unroasted, hulled sunflower seeds
- ½ cup water
- 1 Tbs tomato paste
- 2 tsp lemon juice
- 2 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 2 tsp miso (or low-sodium soy sauce)
- 1 tsp maple syrup
Garnish
- celery sticks
- carrot sticks
- vegan ranch dressing
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450° F
- Start the buffalo sauce by soaking the sunflower seeds in the water for 30 min
- Meanwhile, break the cauliflower into bite-sized florets
- Whisk all the batter ingredients together in a large bowl
- Dip cauliflower into the batter to coat
- Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 15 min
- Place the sunflower seeds, water, and remaining sauce ingredients into a blender
- Blend sauce until smooth, scraping down sides as necessary
- When cauliflower is golden brown, generously brush all sides with the buffalo sauce
- Bake for an additional 5 minutes
- Serve with garnish and vegan ranch (optional)
Notes
Like This Recipe? Your Tips & Donations Are Always Appreciated!
Keywords: buffalo cauliflower wings
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