Another fantastic recipe made with crunchy cauliflower wings, this time coated in the most delicious sauce: Bang Bang Sauce. This simple vegan appetizer is somehow addictive. The combination of crispy cauliflower bites and a sweet and spicy sauce is simply too good to not enjoy every single piece of cauliflower!
What is Bang Bang Cauliflower?
Bang Bang Cauliflower is an appetizer or snack meal that combines breaded cauliflower wings with creamy and spicy bang bang sauce, which is a combination of mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, and sriracha sauce.
This vegan version of the classic bang bang shrimp or bang bang chicken is perfect for parties, game day, appetizers, or a satisfying snack that will please everyone!
You can find many variations of this popular dish. This recipe is a vegan alternative using vegan mayo and plant-based breading for the cauliflower. Our Bang Bang Cauliflower is made in the air fryer but you can follow our recipe and cook the cauliflower in the oven or deep-fried.
Our Bang Bang Cauliflower recipe is:
- Vegan
- Mildly spicy
- Air-fried
- Extra crunchy
- Umami-rich
- Easy to cook
- An appetizer or snack
How to make Bang Bang Cauliflower
Crunchy Cauliflower
To make this part, we use the same recipe as the one to make Orange Cauliflower or the Katsu Curry served with Cauliflower florets.
INGREDIENTS
Cauliflower. For this recipe, we use half of a cauliflower head cut into florets. We prefer to break the cauliflower into florets using our hands as it makes nicer bites. To make Bang Bang Cauliflower, you will need bite-sized florets. If the florets are too small, they will cook too fast and will soak up too much batter.
Flour. You can use all-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour, or gluten-free flour such as rice flour, almond flour, or chickpea flour for a gluten-free version of the dish.
Spices. To give some extra flavor to our coating, we use cumin, coriander, salt, and pepper. This will make the batter tastier and give your cauliflower florets a deeper flavor. You can add other spices such as garlic powder, onion powder, or five-spice powder.
Plant-based milk. To prepare the batter, we use plant-based milk with no added sugars. Our favorite is unsweetened soy milk as it doesn't overpower the taste of the batter.
Breadcrumbs. You can use homemade or bought breadcrumbs. We use a local brand but if you can easily find panko breadcrumbs, they are perfect to bread your cauliflower wings as well. Other options are coconut flakes or gluten-free breadcrumbs.
METHOD
- Add the flour, spices, and plant-based milk to a large bowl. Combine well until you have a perfectly smooth batter with no lumps.
- Break the cauliflower into florets, add to the batter, mix well, and ensure they are all completely coated.
- Add the bread crumbs to a bowl and using your hands, bread each battered cauliflower piece by dipping it into the breadcrumbs and place on a baking tray.
- To cook the cauliflower bites perfectly so they come out crunchy outside but still moist inside, you can oven-bake or air-fry the florets. If you are using an air fryer, you may need to make two or three batches so you don't overcrowd the basket. With a brush, add some oil to the florets, set the air-fryer to 180C (350F), add the breaded florets into the air fryer basket, and air-fry for 16 minutes. We use the Ninja Air Fryer and we truly love it.
* If you are using the oven, use parchment paper or a baking sheet and leave some space between each floret to ensure they all get extra crispy. Preheat the oven to 200C (400F) and bake for about 30 minutes.
Bang Bang Sauce
While you are cooking the cauliflower wings, you can prepare the creamy spicy sauce, Bang Bang sauce.
Ingredients
Vegan Mayonnaise. Hellmann's is the brand we normally use for vegan mayo.
Sweet Chilli Sauce. You can find sweet chili sauce in big supermarkets or Asian grocery stores. Our favorite brand for this product is Thai Kitchen Sweet Chili Sauce.
Sriracha. We use the classic Sriracha sauce for this recipe. Alternatively, you can use another type of hot sauce or paste such as Sambal Oelek.
Lime juice. To add a little acidity to the sauce, we use lime juice. You can use lemon juice instead or white vinegar.
Method
- When you have all the ingredients for the bang bang sauce, all you need to do is combine them in a medium-sized bowl.
- When the cauliflower is ready, place the cauliflower in a large mixing bowl or plate and add the Bang Bang Sauce. Mix well until all the cauliflower bites are evenly coated with sauce.
Sprinkle some sesame seeds and add some finely chopped green onions to finish the dish.
Serving Suggestions
Store and Reheat
We recommend serving your vegan Bang Bang Cauliflower wings right after cooking them but if you have leftovers or want to serve this dish later, you can store the Bang Bang Cauliflower in the fridge, in an airtight container for 2-3 days.
To reheat, the best way if you have an air-fryer is to set the machine to the "reheat method" for about 12 minutes. This will reheat your cauliflower without making it soggy.
Another option is to use the oven or the microwave. This last option may make your cauliflower soggy.
FAQ and Tips
Can I make this cauliflower without the breading?
Yes. If you want to make this bang bang cauliflower recipe gluten-free, batter-free, or healthier, you can skip the breading. Simply toss the cauliflower with the spices and olive oil and air-fry or bake the cauliflower florets. Coat with the sauce or serve the sauce in a separate pinch bowl as a dip!
How can I make this dish mild?
You can substitute the sriracha sauce for ketchup or tomato sauce if you want to make this cauliflower dish unspicy.
Can I make this dish ahead?
Prepare the cauliflower wings and leave the sauce in a different container or bowl. Coat the cauliflower with the bang bang sauce right before serving the dish.
Can I make this recipe without an air fryer?
Absolutely! You can bake or deep-fry the cauliflower wings. For baking, preheat the oven to 200 C (400F) and bake for about 15 minutes. Then flip the florets and bake for another 12-15 minutes or until golden brown.
For deep-frying the cauliflower, add enough oil to a saucepan or fryer and heat the oil to medium-high heat Add the cauliflower and cook for 5-6 minutes, flip and cook on the other side for another 5-6 minutes so it cooks evenly on both sides. Cook until golden brown.
Bang Bang Cauliflower
Ingredients
Crunchy Cauliflower Wings
- ½ cauliflower head around 500 g
- 1 cup flour whole-wheat or regular
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- Pinch of salt
- 1 teaspoon coriander powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin powder
- ¾ cup plant-based milk unsweetened
- 2 cups fine bread crumbs
Bang Bang Sauce
- 4 tablespoon vegan mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoon sweet chili sauce
- 1 tablespoon sriracha
- Juice ½ lime
Instructions
Crunchy Cauliflower
- Add the flour, spices, and plant-based milk to a big bowl. Combine well until you have a perfectly smooth batter with no lumps.
- Break the cauliflower into florets, add to the batter, mix well, and ensure they are all completely coated.
- Add the bread crumbs to a bowl and using your hands, bread each floret by dipping it into the breadcrumbs and place on a baking tray or air-fryer basket.
- To cook the cauliflower bites perfectly you can oven-bake or air-fry the florets. If you are using an air-fryer, you may need to make two or three batches so you don't overcrowd the basket. With a brush, add some oil to the florets, set the air-fryer to 180C (350F), and air-fry for 16 minutes. If you are using the oven, leave some space between each floret to ensure they all get extra crispy. Preheat the oven to 200C (400F) and bake for about 30 minutes.
Bang Bang Sauce
- Combine the vegan mayo, sweet chili sauce, sriracha sauce, and lime juice in a medium-sized bowl.
- When the cauliflower is ready, place the cauliflower in a large mixing bowl or plate and add the Bang Bang Sauce. Mix well until all the cauliflower bites are evenly coated with sauce.
- Sprinkle some sesame seeds and serve.
Notes
- If you want to make this recipe ahead, prepare the cauliflower wings and leave the sauce in a different container or bowl. Coat the cauliflower with the bang bang sauce right before serving the dish to avoid the cauliflower florets from getting soggy.
- For baking, preheat the oven to 200 C (400F) and bake for about 15 minutes. Then flip the florets and bake for another 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.
- For deep-frying, add enough oil to a saucepan or fryer and heat the oil to medium-high heat Add the cauliflower and cook for 5-6 minutes, flip and cook on the other side for another 5-6 minutes so it cooks evenly on both sides. Cook until golden brown.
Nutrition
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