Description
These crispy buffalo cauliflower bites are a vegetarian, air-fried alternative to traditional wings. Coated in a light, crunchy batter and tossed in a tangy, spicy buffalo sauce, they are ready in just 30 minutes and serve as a perfect crowd-pleasing appetizer.
Ingredients
- 1 medium cauliflower head (about 2.5 lbs / 1.1 kg), cut into 1.5-inch florets
- 1 cup (120g) all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons (15g) cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup (120ml) cold sparkling water or seltzer
- 1/2 cup (120ml) Frank’s RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce
- 3 tablespoons (42g) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1 small garlic clove, minced
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar
- Ranch or blue cheese dressing, for serving
- Chopped celery, for serving
Instructions
- Wash the cauliflower and pat it completely dry. Cut into 1.5-inch florets and place in a large bowl.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. In a separate container, mix the cold sparkling water.
- Pour the sparkling water into the dry ingredients and whisk gently until just combined (consistency of thick pancake batter). Do not overmix.
- Drop cauliflower florets into the batter and coat thoroughly. Let sit for 5 minutes to help the coating adhere.
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Line the basket with parchment paper.
- Arrange battered cauliflower in a single layer in the air fryer basket (cook in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding).
- Air fry for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and crispy.
- While cauliflower cooks, melt butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir in Frank’s RedHot, brown sugar, minced garlic, and vinegar. Simmer for 1 minute to meld flavors.
- Transfer hot cauliflower to a large bowl. Pour warm buffalo sauce over the bites and toss gently with tongs until evenly coated.
- Serve immediately with ranch or blue cheese dressing and celery sticks.
Notes
Ensure cauliflower is completely dry before battering to prevent sliding. Keep batter cold for maximum crispiness. Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket; cook in batches if needed. Toss cauliflower in sauce immediately while hot for best adherence. For a gluten-free version, use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend. For a vegan version, use vegan butter and dairy-free hot sauce.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approximately 1 cup
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 8
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 22
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 5
Keywords: buffalo cauliflower, air fryer recipes, vegetarian appetizer, healthy wings, crispy cauliflower, game day food, gluten-free option, vegan option