Bang Bang Cauliflower
Delicious and fiery appetizer of crispy cauliflower with bang bang dipping sauce.
Equipment
- 2 shallow bowls for the batter and breadcrumbs
- 1 Small bowl for bang bang sauce
Ingredients
- 1 head cauliflower medium, cut into florets
Vegan Buttermilk Batter
- 1 cup non-dairy milk unsweetened
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar or lemon juice
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
Breading
- 1 cup panko
- 1 tsp nutritional yeast optional
Bang Bang Sauce
- ½ cup Chosen Foods Avocado Oil Mayo
- 3 tbsp sweet chili sauce
- 2 tbsp sriracha adjust to taste
- 1 tsp maple syrup or agave
- ½ tsp garlic powder
Garnish
- green onions or scallions chopped
- sesame seeds
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Cut the cauliflower into bite-sized florets.
- In a large bowl, mix the plant-based milk and apple cider vinegar or lemon juice. Let sit for 2 minutes to create a vegan "buttermilk." Add the flour, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper to the bowl. Mix until smooth.
- Place the breadcrumbs in a separate bowl. Dip each cauliflower floret into the batter, letting any excess drip off. Then coat the floret in breadcrumbs, pressing gently to adhere.
- Place the breaded cauliflower onto the prepared baking sheet in a single layer, ensuring they aren’t touching. Bake for 25-30 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden brown and crispy.
- While the cauliflower bakes, mix the sauce ingredients until combined.
- Once the cauliflower is crispy, remove it from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes. Serve immediately tossed in sauce with green onion or scallions over top. You can also sprinkle sesame seeds.
Notes
- Use gluten-free flour mix and gluten-free breadcrumbs if you have an allergy to wheat or gluten.
- Any plant-based milk alternative works. Personally, I recommend soy as it curdles best and becomes vegan "buttermilk".
- The nutritional yeast is optional, giving the breadcrumb coating a hint of cheese flavor. Feel free to skip it.
- Adjust the amount of sriracha depending on your heat tolerance. If you like it really spicy (compared to the rest of your family) you can always whip up a separate batch!
- No cauliflower? Make bang bang broccoli instead!
Nutrition
Calories: 457.4kcal | Carbohydrates: 55.3g | Protein: 10.4g | Fat: 20.9g | Saturated Fat: 2.5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Sodium: 934.7mg | Potassium: 635mg | Fiber: 5.3g | Sugar: 12.6g | Vitamin A: 490IU | Vitamin C: 78.5mg | Calcium: 154.3mg | Iron: 3.4mg