Buffalo Cauliflower Wings and Zesty Blue Cheese Dressing
Think of this as an opportunity to eat more vegetables in a creative and familiar way!
I’m trying something new: plant-based versions of some of my favorite foods. One of my absolute favorite snacky foods is a buffalo chicken wing. I’m rethinking the beloved chicken wing. How does one achieve the flavor and texture of a chicken wing without the chicken? The answer: cauliflower. I mean, it’s clearly not chicken, but it is quite good and deliciously mimics the chicken experience. You’ve got to give this one a try!
Cauliflower has found new popularity in the vegan and plant-based culinary world. From pizza crusts to steaks, cauliflower has become an ideal candidate for experimentation. It’s essentially a blank canvas ready to take on creativity of flavor. I really love roasted cauliflower, seasoned simply with salt, black pepper, and olive oil and roasted until the natural sugars are caramelized and crispy. It’s become one of my favorite veggies! I’ve been inspired by the utilitarian florets of cauliflower as a way to rethink the chicken wing.
I’ve got a spicy seasoning blend mixed into a light beer batter to kick off my buffalo “wings.” The florets are dipped into this pancake-like batter and carefully plunked into hot vegetable oil to fry and crisp until golden. And that’s it! Well, almost, because any good buffalo wing needs a buffalo sauce and a cool, creamy dip to balance the heat.
My goal is to stay true to my plant-based buffalo wings, and that includes the buffalo sauce and the blue cheese dip. I’m using a vegan Worcestershire – traditional Worcestershire uses anchovies to help create that distinctive umami flavor whereas the vegan version relies on soy sauce to achieve a similar flavor profile. As for the blue cheese, there are plant-based versions available at the grocery store so take a look or ask at the cheese counter for help finding one that sticks to the vegan profile. Once the dips and sauces are made and the “wings” are fried to crispy perfection, it’s time to dig in!
I have to say, these plant-based alternatives have been a great way to explore and challenge my tastebuds. If you’re skeptical about plant-based alternatives to your favorite meat-based snacks, just think of this as an opportunity to eat more vegetables but in a creative and familiar way!
Buffalo Cauliflower Wings and Zesty Blue Cheese Dressing are perhaps best enjoyed with a Spring Lentil Salad, Creamy Dill Red Potato Salad, Grilled King Oyster Mushroom Steaks and Peppers, and Cardamom Carrot Cake.
Buffalo Cauliflower Wings & Zesty Blue Cheese Dressing
Ingredients
- 2 heads cauliflower, cut into large florets
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 cup potato starch
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 2 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 bottle light beer
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- Vegetable oil, for frying
For buffalo sauce:
- 1 cup buffalo sauce
- 1/4 cup vegan butter, melted
For blue cheese dressing:
- 2/3 cup veganaise
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 2/3 cup blue cheese (We've used Follow Your Heart brand in this recipe)
- 2 teaspoon vegan Worcestershire
- Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
Preparation
- Mix together the ingredients for the blue cheese dressing, gently smashing the cheese into the veganise using the back of a fork. Season to taste and refrigerate for an hour.
- Prepare a wide pot of vegetable oil filled halfway over high heat, until it reaches a 350°F temperature.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, potato starch, cornstarch, garlic, salt, onion powder, paprika, baking powder, cumin and cayenne pepper.
- Add the beer and lemon juice to the dry mixture until a pancake like batter is formed.
- Dip one floret of cauliflower at a time and place into preheated oil.
- Fry for 2 - 4 minutes until golden brown. Remove to a wire rack lined sheet tray. Continue until all of the florets are fried.
- Combine the buffalo sauce and vegan butter until well combined. Reheat before serving.
- Serve crispy cauliflower with warm buffalo sauce and blue cheese dressing. Enjoy!