Hot Cauliflower Bites

Need an easy dish for a New Year's get-together? This simple appetizer utilizes cauliflower-- a delicious and dynamic veggie-- for convenient eating, delightful texture, and satisfying pop. Give it a go and have cauliflower bites ready in under an hour.

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 1 medium head of cauliflower chopped into florets

Batter:

  • 1/3 cup (78.67 ml) non dairy milk such as almond or soy milk
  • 1 tsp hot sauce
  • 1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) salt
  • 1/4 cup (31.25 g) flour (all purpose, or use rice flour for gluten-free)
  • 3 tbsp starch (I use cornstarch, arrowroot or potato starch works too)
  • 1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) baking powder
  • 1 tsp oil

Nashville style hot chicken sauce:

  • 1 tbsp oil or melted vegan butter
  • 1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) cayenne , use 1/4 tsp for less heat
  • 1 tsp black pepper , use 1//2 tsp for less heat
  • 1 tsp sugar or maple syrup
  • 1 tsp sweet paprika , use more if omitting cayenne
  • 2 tbsp hot sauce
  • 1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) poultry seasoning ( or use sage + onion powder)
  • 1 tbsp vinegar
  • 1 tbsp water

    Instructions

    • Chop the cauliflower and set aside. Line a baking dish with parchment. Preheat the oven to 425 deg F ( 220 C).
    • Make the batter by whisking all the ingredients under batter. The batter will start to thicken after half a minute, so work quickly.
    • Add cauliflower florets and toss well to coat. It will take a minute for the thick batter to coat the florets well. Some uncoated cauliflower edges are ok. Drop on parchment lined baking dish. Spray oil on top. (You can also sprinkle 2-3 tbsp breadcrumbs on the florets in the dish for extra crispyness).
    • Bake at 425 deg F for 25 mins (35 mins if serving the bites with hot sauce on the side) . In the meantime, make the nashville hot sauce mixture in large bowl. You can double this sauce easily for larger cauliflower. 
    • Remove the dish from the oven and cool for 5 mins. Add the baked cauliflower to the sauce bowl and gently toss to coat.
    • Drop back into the baking dish and bake for 15 mins or longer at 400 deg F.  Serve with cooling dips such as vegan ranch and some pickles.