Buffalo Cauliflower Wings

This is a great appetizer or side dish, and can also be a great main. There are lots of similar cauliflower wings recipes online and ours definitely originated from some of those.

The spiciness level is medium and the ranch dip helps cool it off with a nice complimentary flavour. If spicy flavours are not your thing, you could skip the buffalo sauce and simply enjoy the breaded + cooked wings as is, with any dipping sauce you like! We’ve done this many times, adding the un-sauced wings to wraps, tacos, salads, or bowls. They make a great addition to any meal.

For that classic buffalo wing sauce however, we’ve used Frank’s RedHot original hot sauce because the flavour works well and it’s vegan with only 5 ingredients. If you try this recipe with a different hot sauce, let us know how it turned out!

Nutrition benefits of cauliflower:
- Nutrient-rich profile
- High in B vitamins + fiber
- Low carb alternative to grains + legumes
- Full of antioxidants + phytonutrients
- Anti-cancer effects

This recipe has been UPDATED since first posted.


INGREDIENTS:

1 head of cauliflower

1 + 1/4 cup panko crumbs (Japanese-style bread crumbs)

Batter:
1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

1/2 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp paprika

1 tsp garlic powder

1/2 cup + 2 tbsp plant milk (soy, almond, oat, etc.)

Buffalo sauce (medium spicy):
1/2 cup Frank’s RedHot original hot sauce

2 tbsp vegan butter melted (we use Earth Balance)

2 tbsp maple syrup

Quick Vegan Ranch Dipping Sauce:
2/3 cup Vegenaise (or other vegan mayo)

2 tsp vinegar (any vinegar works or lemon juice)

2 tsp pickle juice

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp onion powder

1 tsp parsley


METHOD:

1 - Wash + pat dry the cauliflower, cut into large bite-sized florets, set aside.

2 - Heat oven to 450° F, and line a baking tray with parchment paper (you may need 2 trays!).

3 - Add batter ingredients (except the panko) in a large mixing bowl and whisk to combine. Add panko crumbs in a separate smaller bowl and season with some salt and pepper.

4 - Add all the cauliflower pieces into the batter mixture and stir to coat each piece evenly. Then set up your assemble line. Spoon 1-2 pieces of cauliflower at a time into the panko crumbs and lightly roll to coat. Then place each piece on the lined baking sheet making sure to leave some space between each piece. They should not be touching.

5 - Ensure your oven is fully heated and bake for 20-25 minutes. While baking, prepare the sauce by heating the hot sauce, vegan butter, and maple syrup in a pot over low heat. Once combined remove from heat and set aside.

6 - Remove the cauliflower wings and let rest for a few minutes. Gently add half the cauliflower wings to a large bowl and pour half the sauce over. Gently stir. Add each cauliflower wing back on the lined baking tray and repeat with the remaining half of wings and sauce. Bake for an additional 15-20 minutes, until desired crispiness level is reached. Make the vegan ranch dipping sauce while waiting. It really compliments the wings. Enjoy!!!

Makes: 4-5 side servings

Prep time: 30 minutes

Cook time: 40 - 45 minutes

Store leftovers: Fridge - Airtight container or wrapped to seal

Lasts: 4 - 6 days in fridge