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Crispy, chewy, and super delicious, these Vegan Bang Bang Cauliflower Wings are a super easy app, side, or even an entrée when served with rice. The cauliflower can be breaded or plain with the sauce—both ways are delicious and easy—cook in the oven or air fryer!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy to make: Quick preparation and minimal ingredients.
- Crispy & Chewy: The cauliflower is coated in crispy Panko breadcrumbs.
- Customizable: Make it with or without batter, and adjust the spice level.
- Perfect for Any Meal: Serve as an appetizer, side, or main dish.
What You’ll Need
Ingredients for the Cauliflower
- 1 medium head cauliflower (about 4 cups large florets)
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour or gluten-free flour (if desired)
- 1 teaspoon granulated onion
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 - 1 ½ cups unsweetened non-dairy milk (any plant milk, but unsweetened)
- 1 - 2 cups Panko breadcrumbs (gluten-free if necessary)
Ingredients for the Vegan Bang Bang Sauce
- 1 cup Thai Sweet Chili Sauce
- 1 cup vegan mayo, homemade or store-bought
- 1-2 teaspoons sriracha (optional, to taste)
- 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast (optional)
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt (optional)
Garnishes
- Green onions
- Sesame seeds
Directions
1. Preheat Oven & Prepare Cauliflower
Preheat the oven to 425°F (218°C). You can also use an air fryer, but baking may yield better results.
2. Coat the Cauliflower
- If not battering the cauliflower: Mix olive oil, 2 tablespoons of sweet chili sauce, salt, pepper, and optional garlic powder. Pour over cauliflower florets and toss. Lay the florets on a lined baking tray.
- If battering the cauliflower: Mix flour and spices in a bowl, then whisk in non-dairy milk to create a thick batter. Coat each cauliflower floret in the batter, then dip into Panko breadcrumbs.
3. Bake or Air Fry
- Baking: Place cauliflower on a tray and bake for 30-40 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Air Frying: Place cauliflower in a single layer in the air fryer basket and cook at 400°F (205°C) for 15-25 minutes, shaking halfway through.
4. Make the Bang Bang Sauce
Mix vegan mayo, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, nutritional yeast, and sea salt in a bowl. Stir well to combine.
5. Toss Cauliflower in Sauce
Once the cauliflower is crispy and golden, toss it in the prepared Bang Bang sauce until evenly coated.
6. Serve
Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds. Serve with rice or enjoy on its own!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, this recipe can easily be made gluten-free! Simply use gluten-free flour for the batter and gluten-free Panko breadcrumbs to coat the cauliflower. Ensure your vegan mayo and sweet chili sauce are gluten-free as well.
While fresh cauliflower gives the best texture, you can use frozen cauliflower if needed. Just thaw and drain thoroughly to avoid excess moisture, which could affect crispiness.
Yes, you can air fry the cauliflower for a quicker, crispier result. Simply cook at 400°F (205°C) for about 15-25 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through.
To add more heat, increase the amount of sriracha in the Bang Bang Sauce. You can also sprinkle red pepper flakes on the cauliflower before baking or air frying.
Yes! You can prep the cauliflower and the Bang Bang Sauce ahead of time. Store the battered cauliflower in the fridge for up to a day before baking or air frying. The sauce can be stored for up to a week.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. To reheat, place the cauliflower back in the oven or air fryer to crisp it up again.
More Delicious Recipes
Looking for more plant-based goodness? Try these:
- 6 Delicious Recipes for a Romantic Dinner for Two – Perfect for date night!
- Easter Brunch Bites Recipe – A fun and tasty appetizer idea!
Conclusion
These Vegan Bang Bang Cauliflower Wings are the perfect combination of crispy, chewy, and savory goodness. They’re super easy to make, whether you choose to batter them or not. Make these as an appetizer, side, or main dish—whatever you choose, they’ll be a hit!
Print
Vegan Bang Bang Cauliflower Wings
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Crispy, chewy, and super delicious, these Vegan Bang Bang Cauliflower Wings are easy to make and perfect as an appetizer, side, or even a main dish when served with rice.
Ingredients
- 1 medium head cauliflower (about 4 cups large florets)
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour or gluten-free flour
- 1 teaspoon granulated onion
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 - 1 ½ cups unsweetened non-dairy milk
- 1 - 2 cups Panko breadcrumbs
- 1 cup Thai Sweet Chili Sauce
- 1 cup vegan mayo
- 1-2 teaspoons sriracha (optional)
- 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast (optional)
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt (optional)
- Green onions (for garnish)
- Sesame seeds (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F (218°C). If using an air fryer, set to 400°F (205°C).
- If not battering: Mix olive oil, 2 tablespoons of sweet chili sauce, salt, pepper, and optional garlic powder. Toss with cauliflower and spread on a lined baking tray.
- If battering: Mix flour and spices, then whisk in non-dairy milk to form a batter. Coat cauliflower florets, then dip into Panko breadcrumbs.
- Bake for 30-40 minutes, flipping halfway, or air fry for 15-25 minutes, shaking halfway through.
- For the sauce: Mix vegan mayo, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, nutritional yeast, and sea salt in a bowl.
- Toss cooked cauliflower in the sauce until evenly coated.
- Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds, then serve.
Notes
For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free flour and Panko. Adjust spice level by adding more sriracha or red pepper flakes. Store leftovers in an airtight container and reheat in the oven or air fryer for best results.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking or Air Frying
- Cuisine: Vegan
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
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