Spicy Buffalo Cauliflower Bites (Print Version)
Crispy roasted cauliflower with spicy buffalo sauce and creamy blue cheese dip offered as a tasty vegetarian snack.
# What You Need:
→ Cauliflower Bites
01 - 1 large head cauliflower, cut into bite-sized florets
02 - 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
03 - 1/2 cup water
04 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
05 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
06 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
07 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
08 - 2 tablespoons olive oil (for baking)
→ Buffalo Sauce
09 - 1/3 cup hot sauce (such as Franks RedHot)
10 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
11 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
→ Blue Cheese Dip
12 - 1/2 cup sour cream
13 - 1/4 cup mayonnaise
14 - 1/3 cup crumbled blue cheese
15 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
16 - 1 tablespoon fresh chives, chopped
17 - Salt and pepper, to taste
→ Garnish
18 - Celery sticks
19 - Chopped fresh parsley (optional)
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and brush with olive oil.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together flour, water, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper until smooth.
03 - Add cauliflower florets to the batter and toss to coat evenly. Shake off excess batter and arrange florets in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
04 - Bake for 20 minutes, turning halfway through, until cauliflower is just tender and starting to brown.
05 - Whisk together hot sauce, melted butter, and honey in a small bowl until combined.
06 - Remove cauliflower from the oven and gently toss with the Buffalo sauce. Return to the baking sheet and bake for an additional 10 minutes until crispy and caramelized.
07 - Combine sour cream, mayonnaise, blue cheese, lemon juice, chives, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Stir until well mixed.
08 - Serve cauliflower bites hot with blue cheese dip, celery sticks, and sprinkle with chopped parsley if desired.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- Even people who claim they don't eat vegetables will reach for seconds of these spicy, crispy bites.
- The blue cheese dip cuts through the heat in the most satisfying way, making this genuinely addictive.
- It's ready in under an hour and looks far more impressive than the effort it takes.
02 -
- Don't skip the halfway turn during that first 20 minutes; it's the difference between evenly golden and unevenly cooked.
- The batter will look thin compared to what you might expect, but that's what creates the crispy exterior instead of a thick, doughy crust.
- Toss the cauliflower with the Buffalo sauce gently—rough tossing breaks pieces apart and wastes all that crispy exterior you just worked for.
03 -
- Line your baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup effortless, which matters more than you'd think when you're hosting.
- Room-temperature blue cheese crumbles smoothly and blends better into the dip than cold cheese straight from the fridge.