Because trust me when I say these Vegan Buffalo Cauliflower bites are addictive, especially when dipped in my vegan ranch dressing. Cauliflower florets are coated in a seasoned batter, baked in the oven, then doused in a spicy, tangy, and slightly sweet buffalo sauce! All of those rich and spicy flavors bake right in, giving you a crunchy and comforting snack that tastes like it was ordered from your favorite sports bar (if you are like me and don’t have a favorite sports bar, just pretend that you do).
Why this recipe works
Serious comfort food
Unlike some recipes that just roast cauliflower and toss the florets in buffalo sauce, these vegan buffalo cauliflower bites are prepared with extra care and finesse to pack them with flavor and texture. You’d never guess that they’re vegan and gluten-free and allergen-friendly (they’re nut-free and soy-free; just be sure to use oat milk and to use soy-free vegan butter like this; if making the ranch dressing, use soy-free mayo like this). Baking them in the oven seals in their flavor, meaning you get the “bar food” experience with none of the excess grease.
No need to deep fry
There’s nothing wrong with deep fried buffalo cauliflower in my book. After all, I am the number #1 fan of my deep-fried Gobi Manchurian. However, I know most of my readers don’t want to deep fry for a variety of reasons, and through many rounds of testing, I found you can achieve fantastic results by baking the cauliflower in this recipe as long as you follow the tips in this recipe. These crispy baked cauliflower bites have a great crunch factor thanks to a mix of rice flour and cornstarch. Once they’re hit the dry heat of the oven, the batter fuses to the exterior of the cauliflower wings and gives each piece a light and crispy crust.
The quintessential buffalo flavor
Just like regular buffalo chicken wings, these gluten-free and vegan cauliflower wings have the rich and spicy buffalo flavors you know and love. First, the batter is enhanced with smoky spices and Frank’s RedHot sauce. Then, halfway through baking, the bites are drizzled with a mixture of Frank’s hot sauce, melted vegan butter, and a little sugar. This delivers the buttery, spicy, and slightly sweet flavors you expect from finger-licking-good wings. Want the real secret to making each bite even better than the last? Ranch dressing! When you dip the bites in my tangy, garlicky vegan ranch dressing, your taste buds will be in heaven. The herby, tangy, and creamy cooling dressing is the perfect complement to the heat from the spicy buffalo sauce.
Ingredient notes
Cauliflower
Naturally! You’ll need one medium-to-large sized cauliflower head, cut into small-medium sized florets.
White rice flour
We’ve tested this recipe with different kinds of flours and starches, and white rice flour came out on top. It’s what we use in our Gobi Manchurian recipe as well because it gives the cauliflower the crispiest coating possible. Plus, it’s naturally gluten-free so everyone can enjoy these bites :) Where to buy: You can find rice flour at some well-stocked grocery stores. Bob’s Red Mill sells white rice flour, and you can even find it through Walmart. And many Asian grocery stores typically sell it.We’ve also used this brand and this brand with great results (affiliate links). Be sure to buy regular white rice flour, not “sweet rice flour” or brown rice flour (the latter is too gritty).
Cornstarch
White rice flour + cornstarch = the BEST coating for baked and fried cauliflower! Cornstarch forms a crispy, crunchy coating around each cauliflower floret as they cook. Prepare yourself for a bold crunch with every wing! Substitute: We haven’t tested this recipe with anything other than cornstarch so we can’t say for sure whether arrowroot powder would work. In some of our other tests, arrowroot powder works great and sometimes it leads to a gummy consistency, so stick with cornstarch if you can.
Frank’s RedHot sauce
While most hot sauces would be fine to use here, Frank’s RedHot Sauce is the only option when you want that classic buffalo flavor (affiliate link). Where to buy: You can find Frank’s hot sauce at most major grocery stores. You want the RedHot sauce, NOT the buffalo wings sauce. If the latter is all you can find, use less vegan butter in the sauce since the buffalo wings sauce already contains some oil. If using the latter, don’t worry about the “butter flavor”—it’s vegan.
Vegan butter
Stirring melted vegan butter into the hot sauce adds great flavor and a richness that tames the heat. Don’t skip it!
Sugar
A little bit of sugar enhances the salty, savory flavors and tames the fiery acidity of the hot sauce.
Tips for making this recipe
Cut the cauliflower florets into small-medium pieces.
Too big, and the cauliflower won’t get tender on the inside. Too small, and they’ll burn in the oven.
Batter in batches
Only dip a handful of cauliflower florets at a time in the batter. This way, the batter has a chance to find its way into all of the nooks and crannies in each floret. Inadequately battered cauliflower tastes like regular roasted cauliflower, which is delicious, but not what we’re going for.
Use parchment paper
Be sure to use parchment paper to line your sheet pans. Otherwise, the battered florets will stick to the pans and it will be difficult to clean your pans! Plus the buffalo sauce will burn in the oven.
Tailor to your heat level
Buffalo cauliflower bites (or buffalo wings) are meant to be spicy, but not TOO spicy. The heat levels and flavors should be perfectly balanced when dipped into the cooling ranch dressing. If you love spicy food, try making these with Frank’s Xtra hot sauce (affiliate link). And if you want milder heat, omit the 2 tablespoons of hot sauce in the batter.
Room temperature hot sauce is key
After combining the hot sauce, butter, and sugar, it’s important to set the mixture aside to cool to room temperature. If you pour hot-temperature sauce on the warm baked cauliflower, it will cause them to steam and they won’t crisp up as much. You can either (1) make the buffalo sauce before you batter the florets, so the sauce has plenty of time to cool down; or (2) make the buffalo sauce while the florets bake so you can multitask… but be sure to put the bowl of buffalo sauce in a larger bowl of cold water so that the buffalo sauce quickly comes to room temp.
Spray with cooking spray
Spraying the florets with cooking spray after the first bake helps them stay crispy, even after being coated in the buffalo sauce. It also helps the buffalo sauce adhere to the florets better.
Use a gentle hand
When tossing the baked florets in the buffalo sauce, use a gentle hand (or a silicone spatula). Too much vigorous tossing will cause the florets to start falling apart.
Always serve with vegan ranch dressing!
These buffalo cauliflowerbites are great on their own, but they become pretty much life-changing when served with my tangy, savory, and creamy vegan ranch dressing. The contrast of smoky, rich, and spicy buffalo sauce next to the creamy and cooling ranch is heaven. The dressing only takes 10 minutes or less to whip up, which gives you something fun to do while the cauliflower bakes! If you love this epic Vegan Buffalo Cauliflower bites, be sure to rate and review it below :) And tag me on Instagram with your remakes!
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