Meatless Buffalo Cauliflower Wings
Buffalo Cauliflower Wings - Ranch Dip - Carrot and Celery Sticks
In our home there’s lots of football TV watching, betting on players - fantasy football - it’s a real thing, load cheering, munching and drinking (water, and …). Its all part of the experience. So, if you’re like me - having a family that loves football and talks football in the home throughout the football season than you just gotta let go and enjoy the show. I’ve actually enjoyed some games. This past Sunday night was a doozy - Buffalo Bills verses Kansas City Chiefs. It was a big game - how did I know? The intensity to prep for the game, conversations, phone calls and texts were back and forth with other fans. Kind of reminds me of Oscar night texting with my sisters throughout the night discussing the deets. Isn’t it all about the details! Anyway, game went overtime and I was hooked on the screen as to the play on the field - thirteen seconds left on the clock and shockingly a tie. Gosh, I even screamed! And, then the touch down - quarter back Patrick Mahomes led the team home. Wild! I was wired! It was intense. Nothing like a heated game before bed. Thank you melatonin! I needed to chill and wind down.
I’m literally laughing at myself as I’m writing this blog about football. I think I sparked another level in my relationship with my husband. He said it only took 25 years to get me interested in football. Well, it’s all food related as I’m preparing for my Super Bowl Sunday menu - or shall I say feast.
My curiosity about the Buffalo Wings intrigued me. I was wondering why the name?!
Checked out the simple story and yet profound dish. The Bellisimo family owned a small restaurant in Buffalo, NY called Anchor Bar in 1964. Mrs. Bellissimo decided to make something easy and fast for her son and his college friends whe they walked into the restaurant and she had nothing prepared. So, like any mom would do - maybe not all - she deep fried chicken wings. Fried food - who can resist that! Well, she continued with her recipe and meted butter into cayenne pepper sauce and voila! The Buffalo Wing was born. She knew food combining and got creative. I’m a fan! Decades later, here we are making our very own versions of the Buffalo Wing. I, too make chicken wings my way, of course, and there’s no frying involved and no butter in my badder. This recipe I’m going light - vegetarian or vegan if you leave out the butter in the sauce. Honestly, you don’t even need the sauce but I will be serving a dip and some cauliflower florets with and without sauce. Variety is the spice of life! Something for everyone!
Mise En Place - my batter, my homemade breadcrumbs, my sauce, my cauliflower wings = Super Bowl Ready!
Recipe:
1 cauliflower head - if using a giant cauliflower head than double the ingredients
3/4 cup flour - either gluten free or regular
3 tbsp arrowroot - instead of cornstarch
3/4 non-dairy milk - less is more
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 cup panko breadcrumbs or homemade seasoned with salt and pepper
1/4 tsp fine salt
1/4 tsp fresh black pepper
1/2 tsp paprika (optional)
Sauce:
1 tbsp unsalted butter or vegan butter - don’t use oil - it’ll change the taste
1/2 cup hot sauce
1 tsp garlic powder
2 tbsp maple syrup - optional
- preheat oven to 450 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper silicone mat (the mats are pretty cool to use and easy to wash)
- cut cauliflower into florets, the size of wings, wash
- in a bowl whisk the flour, arrowroot, non-dairy milk, salt, black pepper, garlic powder to make a badder. Toss all the florets in the badder
- in a separate bowl place the breadcrumbs and toss the florets, You can toss them all together
- spread the florets out evenly on the baking sheet with space between each floret
- roast for 15 minutes and move them around with a fork or tong than continue roasting for a total of 20-25 minutes in the oven. The florets will be crisp,, browned and tender
- while the ‘wings’ are baking prepare your sauce
- remove from oven and toss wings in the sauce or dip in sauce ever so gently and place back in the oven for 5 more minutes so the wings absorb the sauce. Some like it ‘hot’ - I prefer to go easy on the hot sauce - my guys like it hot! I'‘ll make a few florets on the side with a tad of sauce. Bake or not - you can use the sauce as a dipping sauce instead.
How to make the HOT sauce: Beware!
- In a small pot mix all the ingredients
- bring to a boil for 2-3 minutes - it’ll bring out the flavor
- allow it to cool than add the florets to cover or drizzle onto the florets on the baking sheet
- FYI - I go light on a few florets - this sauce is hot
Genia’s Spoon Me Tips:
Serve these as an appetizer or side dish to your favorite dinner. Super Bowl Sunday - February 13th is when I’m making a few cauliflower heads into Buffalo Wings my style!
Dips: ranch dressing is a great dip for the wings. Serve with crudite: thinly sliced carrots and celery. The colors on the platter will look gorgeous and authentic.
When cutting the cauliflower florets leave some of the stem on so you can hold onto the faux wings and feel the experience as if holding onto an actual chicken wing
You can make the sauce a week in advance and keep in fridge.
You can leave out the sauce part of the recipe and use sauce as a dip - the sauce is way too hot for me but my gang loves the ‘heat’
Wishing you a happy and delicious Super Bowl Sunday,
(reminder: Super Bowl Sunday is February 13th)
Love, Genia