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
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1 medium head of cauliflower chopped into florets
Batter:
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1/3 cup (78.67 ml) non dairy milk such as almond or soy milk
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1 tsp hot sauce
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1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) garlic powder
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1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) onion powder
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1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) salt
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1/4 cup (31.25 g) flour (all purpose, or use rice flour for gluten-free)
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3 tbsp starch (I use cornstarch, arrowroot or potato starch works too)
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1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) baking powder
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1 tsp oil
Nashville style hot chicken sauce:
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1 tbsp oil or melted vegan butter
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1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) cayenne , use 1/4 tsp for less heat
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1 tsp black pepper , use 1//2 tsp for less heat
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1 tsp sugar or maple syrup
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1 tsp sweet paprika , use more if omitting cayenne
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2 tbsp hot sauce
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1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) garlic powder
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1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) poultry seasoning ( or use sage + onion powder)
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1 tbsp vinegar
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1 tbsp water
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Chop the cauliflower and set aside. Line a baking dish with parchment. Preheat the oven to 425 deg F ( 220 C).
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Make the batter by whisking all the ingredients under batter. The batter will start to thicken after half a minute, so work quickly.
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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).
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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.
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Remove the dish from the oven and cool for 5 mins. Add the baked cauliflower to the sauce bowl and gently toss to coat.
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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.