Championship Buffalo Cauliflower Bites (Printable version)

Crispy cauliflower morsels tossed in spicy buffalo coating, great for sharing or snacking.

# List of ingredients:

→ Vegetables

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

→ Batter

02 - 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
03 - 1/4 cup cornstarch
04 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
05 - 1 teaspoon onion powder
06 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
07 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
08 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
09 - 3/4 cup water
10 - 1 tablespoon olive oil

→ Buffalo Sauce

11 - 1/2 cup hot sauce (such as Franks RedHot)
12 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
13 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup (optional, for a touch of sweetness)

→ To Serve

14 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives or parsley (optional)
15 - Ranch or blue cheese dressing, for dipping
16 - Celery sticks and carrot sticks

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, water, and olive oil until a smooth batter forms.
03 - Add the cauliflower florets to the batter and toss until well coated.
04 - Arrange the battered cauliflower on the prepared baking sheet in a single layer, shaking off excess batter as needed.
05 - Bake for 20 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and crisp.
06 - Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk together hot sauce, melted butter, and honey or maple syrup (if using).
07 - Remove the cauliflower from the oven and transfer to a large clean bowl. Pour the buffalo sauce over and toss to coat evenly.
08 - Return the coated cauliflower to the baking sheet and bake for an additional 10 minutes, until slightly caramelized and extra crispy.
09 - Garnish with chopped chives or parsley if desired. Serve hot with ranch or blue cheese dressing and vegetable sticks.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • That crispy-crunchy texture makes you completely forget youre eating vegetables
  • The spicy kick and cool ranch combo hits every single craving spot
  • They disappear faster than you can say touchdown, so maybe make a double batch
02 -
  • Don't skip the parchment paper because the caramelized sugar from the sauce will glue itself to your baking sheet
  • Work quickly when tossing with sauce since the cauliflower loses heat fast and needs to go back in hot
  • These are best eaten right away because they lose their legendary crunch as they sit
03 -
  • Air fry these at 400°F for 12-15 minutes if you want them even crispier and faster
  • Add a pinch of cayenne to the batter if you really like to live dangerously
  • Serve with multiple dipping options because half the fun is the condiment variety

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