Going vegan doesn’t have to mean giving up your guilty pleasures. If you don’t believe us, just wait until you try these buffalo wings with blue cheese sauce! Substitute cauliflower for chicken to make “wings” with all the flavor, and none of the cruelty! Then whip up this simple “blue cheese” dipping sauce — it comes together in less than five minutes, and we bet you have all the ingredients in your kitchen already.
How to Make Crispy, Juicy Vegan Wings
These wings are crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and have just enough kick! Even meat-eaters freely admit these bite-size pieces of cauliflower are addictively delicious and every bit as good as the “real” thing.
To make this recipe, you will need:
- 1 head cauliflower, chopped into bite-size pieces
- 1 cup garbanzo bean flour
- 1 cup water
- 2 tsp. garlic powder
- ½ tsp. of chili flakes (optional)
- 1 tbsp. of your oil or melted vegan margarine of choice
- 1cup hot sauce.
Begin by preheating the oven to 450F. Then, in a medium-sized bowl, combine the garbanzo bean flour, water, garlic powder, and chili flakes (if you’d like a bonus layer of spice!). Whisk the batter until smooth, then toss the cauliflower, making sure to coat all the pieces evenly.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, then place the cauliflower on the sheet. Bake for 15 minutes, flipping the pieces halfway through.
While the cauliflower is baking, stir the oil or vegan margarine and hot sauce together in a large bowl. Once the cauliflower is done, gently toss it in the hot sauce mixture, then place it back on the sheet and bake for an additional 25 minutes or until it becomes golden and crispy.
Allow it to cool on the sheet for 15 minutes before eating. Makes 4 servings.
Try This Indulgent, Vegan Blue Cheese Dip
The cauliflower wings are delicious on their own, but for a truly indulgent treat, pair them with this vegan blue cheese dip. Keep in mind that although vegan mayonnaise is egg- and dairy-free, it still contains a fair amount of fat and calories. Traditional mayonnaise typical contains about 100 calories per tablespoon, while vegan versions tend to be closer to 80 calories per tablespoon.
To make this creamy, rich vegan blue cheese, you will need:
- 1 cup vegan mayonnaise
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 2 tsp. tahini
- 1 tsp. lemon juice
- 1 tsp. apple cider vinegar
- ¼ block of extra firm tofu (for a creamy, rather than chunk, dip, omit the tofu).
Mix together all the ingredients, except for the tofu. Adjust the proportions of the ingredients to taste. Crumble the tofu into the dressing mixture so the texture resembles that of blue cheese dip.
If possible, chill the dressing for at least an hour to allow the flavors to mingle.
An Easy Dish You’ll Want to Make Again and Again
The cauliflower buffalo wings and vegan blue cheese dip require just minutes of active cooking. They make an easy appetizer, side dish, or even a meal! Try them for yourselves, and let us know what you think.
