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Crispy Baked Cauliflower Wings Recipe with Spicy Buffalo Sauce

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These crispy baked cauliflower wings deliver a perfect crunch and spicy buffalo flavor without deep-frying. Easy to make and perfect for snacks or light meals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 large head cauliflower, cut into bite-sized florets
  • 3/4 cup (90 g) chickpea flour (besan)
  • 1/4 cup (30 g) cornstarch
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp smoked or sweet paprika
  • 1/2 tsp salt, or to taste
  • 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • About 3/4 cup (180 ml) water
  • Olive oil spray
  • 4 tbsp (60 g) unsalted butter, melted (or vegan butter for dairy-free)
  • 1/3 cup (80 ml) hot sauce (e.g., Frank’s RedHot)
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup (optional)
  • 1 tsp apple cider vinegar

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Place a cooling rack on the sheet if available.
  2. Wash and dry cauliflower florets thoroughly to ensure batter sticks well.
  3. In a mixing bowl, whisk together chickpea flour, cornstarch, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Slowly add water, whisking until smooth and thick enough to coat florets like pancake batter. Adjust consistency if needed.
  4. Toss cauliflower florets in the batter, ensuring each piece is fully coated. Shake off excess batter to avoid clumps.
  5. Arrange coated florets in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet or cooling rack. Lightly spray or brush with olive oil.
  6. Bake for 20 minutes until coating is golden and crisp, flipping halfway through.
  7. While baking, melt butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir in hot sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, honey or maple syrup (if using), and apple cider vinegar. Mix well and remove from heat.
  8. Place baked cauliflower wings in a large bowl and toss gently but thoroughly with the buffalo sauce.
  9. Return coated wings to the baking sheet and bake for another 8-10 minutes to set the sauce and intensify flavor.
  10. Let cool for a couple of minutes and serve hot with your favorite dipping sauce such as blue cheese or ranch.

Notes

Dry cauliflower thoroughly before battering to ensure crispiness. Use chickpea flour and cornstarch for the best crispy coating. Flip wings halfway through baking for even browning. Toss wings in sauce off the heat to prevent sogginess before the final bake. For dairy-free, substitute butter with vegan margarine. To reheat leftovers, bake at 400°F for 8-10 minutes to restore crispiness. Avoid microwaving.

Nutrition

Keywords: cauliflower wings, baked cauliflower, buffalo sauce, vegetarian snack, vegan buffalo wings, healthy snack, crispy cauliflower

Find it online: https://lucydishes.com/crispy-baked-cauliflower-wings-recipe-with-spicy-buffalo-sauce-easy-and-perfect/