Cauliflower Buffalo Bites Florets (Print View)

Spicy, crispy cauliflower coated in tangy buffalo sauce—perfect as a plant-based snack or appetizer.

# Components:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 large head cauliflower, cut into bite-sized florets

→ Batter

02 - 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
03 - 1/2 cup water
04 - 1 tsp garlic powder
05 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
06 - 1/2 tsp salt
07 - 1/2 tsp black pepper

→ Buffalo Sauce

08 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter (use vegan margarine if needed)
09 - 1/2 cup hot sauce (e.g., Frank’s RedHot)
10 - 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup (optional)

→ Finishing

11 - Cooking spray or 1 tbsp vegetable oil

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly grease with oil or cooking spray.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together flour, water, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper until a smooth batter forms.
03 - Add cauliflower florets to the batter, tossing to ensure they are evenly coated.
04 - Arrange coated cauliflower in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes, flipping halfway through, until beginning to crisp and lightly golden.
05 - While cauliflower bakes, melt butter (or vegan alternative) in a small saucepan over low heat. Whisk in hot sauce and optional honey or maple syrup until well combined.
06 - Remove cauliflower from the oven. Toss the hot florets in the buffalo sauce until thoroughly coated.
07 - Return the coated florets to the baking sheet and bake for an additional 15 minutes, until crispy and caramelized at the edges.
08 - Serve hot. Garnish with chopped chives or parsley if desired. Pair with celery sticks and ranch or blue cheese dip.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Ready in under an hour from start to finish
  • Perfect vegetarian alternative to buffalo wings
  • Uses simple pantry ingredients you likely already have
  • Healthier than traditional wings but equally satisfying
  • Adaptable to vegan and gluten free diets with simple swaps
02 -
  • These bites are best enjoyed immediately while still hot and crispy
  • Each serving contains only about 165 calories making them a lighter alternative to traditional wings
  • The recipe can easily be doubled for larger gatherings just use multiple baking sheets
03 -
  • Always cut cauliflower florets into similarly sized pieces to ensure even cooking. Aim for bite sized pieces that can be eaten in one or two bites.
  • Pat your cauliflower dry before coating in batter. Excess moisture prevents proper crisping and can make your batter too thin.
  • For an extra crispy finish broil the bites for 1 to 2 minutes after the final bake but watch carefully to prevent burning.
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