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Crispy Buffalo Cauliflower Bites

These crispy battered and fried cauliflower bites tossed in homemade buffalo sauce are a great vegetarian alternative to buffalo chicken wings.
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Keyword buffalo, buffalo sauce, cauliflower, football, gluten free, tailgating, vegetable, vegetarian
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 316kcal

Ingredients

For the buffalo sauce:

  • ¼ cup melted butter
  • ¼ cup hot sauce of choice, I use Frank’s Red Hot®
  • 1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire
  • 1 clove garlic, minced

For the cauliflower:

  • 1 large head cauliflower, cut into florets
  • Vegetable oil, as needed, for frying
  • ½ cup cornstarch
  • ¾ cup rice flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

For serving:

  • Carrots, for serving
  • Celery, for serving
  • Ranch dressing or blue cheese dressing, for serving

Instructions

For the buffalo sauce:

  • In a small bowl whisk together the butter, hot sauce, vinegar, Worcestershire and garlic until completely combined.
  • Set aside until ready to use. If not using right away, store the sauce in an airtight container for up to a week – whisking to combine before using.

For the cauliflower:

  • Fill a large pot with enough oil to reach 2" (5cm) up the side of the pan. Heat oil to 350°F (180ºC).
  • In a large bowl whisk together the cornstarch, flour, baking powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
  • Slowly add ¾ cup cold water, whisking until a thin batter forms (about the consistency of pancake batter). If needed, add more water 1 tablespoon at a time until the desired consistency is reached.
  • Working in batches, dip the cauliflower in the batter, letting the excess batter drip off. Add to the hot oil and deep-fry until the cauliflower is golden brown, about 4 minutes.

For serving:

  • Remove to a large bowl and toss with ¼ cup of the buffalo sauce. Serve immediately with carrots, celery and ranch or blue cheese dressing.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 316kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 1187mg | Potassium: 506mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 381IU | Vitamin C: 81mg | Calcium: 74mg | Iron: 1mg