Description
This Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower recipe offers a crispy, flavorful, and healthier alternative to traditional buffalo wings. Coated in a spiced batter, air fried to perfection, and tossed in a tangy buffalo sauce, this dish is perfect as a spicy appetizer or a tasty snack for gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Cauliflower and Batter
- 1 medium head of cauliflower, cut into florets
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour (or chickpea flour for a gluten-free option)
- 1/2 cup water (or almond milk for a dairy-free option)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Buffalo Sauce
- 1/2 cup buffalo sauce (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 tablespoon melted butter (or vegan butter for dairy-free)
Optional Garnishes and Dips
- Fresh parsley, for garnish
- Blue cheese or ranch dressing, for dipping
Instructions
- Prepare the cauliflower: Cut the cauliflower into bite-sized florets, removing the thick stems to ensure even cooking and easy eating.
- Make the batter: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, water, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Adjust the batter consistency so it’s thick enough to coat the cauliflower evenly but not too runny.
- Coat the cauliflower: Dip each cauliflower floret into the prepared batter, fully coating each piece. Shake off excess batter and arrange them in a single layer within the air fryer basket, avoiding overcrowding for optimal crisping.
- Air fry the cauliflower: Preheat the air fryer to 375°F (190°C). Air fry the coated florets for 12-15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through cooking to maintain even crispness. The cauliflower should turn golden brown and crispy on the outside.
- Prepare the buffalo sauce: While the cauliflower cooks, mix the buffalo sauce and melted butter in a small bowl until fully combined for a rich and tangy coating.
- Toss in buffalo sauce: Transfer the crispy cauliflower to a large mixing bowl, pour the buffalo sauce over, and gently toss to coat each floret evenly with sauce.
- Serve: Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley and accompanied by blue cheese or ranch dressing for dipping if desired.
Notes
- For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with chickpea flour.
- To make this dairy-free, use almond milk instead of water in the batter and vegan butter in the buffalo sauce.
- Avoid overcrowding in the air fryer basket to ensure cauliflower crisps properly.
- Shaking the basket halfway through cooking promotes even browning.
- Serve immediately for best texture; leftovers can be reheated in the air fryer for crispiness.
