Vegan Nashville Hot Cauliflower Wings
This recipe transforms cauliflower florets into vegan Nashville hot wings with a spicy batter and a bold hot chicken-style sauce. The florets are coated in a seasoned batter containing non-dairy milk, spices, and flour, then baked until crisp. After an initial bake, the cauliflower is tossed in a vibrant sauce featuring cayenne, paprika, black pepper, hot sauce, and vinegar, then baked again to absorb the flavors. The result is a spicy, crispy plant-based snack or appetizer that mimics the flavor profile and texture of traditional hot wings.
Ingredients
- 1 cauliflower chopped into florets, medium head
Batter:
- 1/3 cup non-dairy milk such as almond or soy milk
- 1 tsp hot sauce
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup flour (all purpose, or use rice flour for gluten-free)
- 3 tbsp starch (I use cornstarch, arrowroot or potato starch works too)
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp neutral cooking oil generic cooking oil
Nashville style hot chicken sauce:
- 1 tbsp oil or melted vegan butter
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper use 1/4 tsp for less heat
- 1 tsp black pepper , use 1//2 tsp for less heat
- 1 tsp sugar or maple syrup
- 1 tsp paprika use more if omitting cayenne, sweet
- 2 tbsp hot sauce
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp poultry seasoning ( or use sage + onion powder)
- 1 tbsp vinegar
- 1 tbsp water
Instructions
- Chop the cauliflower and set aside. Line a baking dish with parchment. Preheat the oven to 425 deg F ( 220 C).
- Make the batter by whisking all the ingredients under batter. The batter will start to thicken after half a minute, so work quickly.
- Add cauliflower florets and toss well to coat. It will take a minute for the thick batter to coat the florets well. Some uncoated cauliflower edges are ok. Drop on parchment lined baking dish. Spray oil on top. (You can also sprinkle 2-3 tbsp breadcrumbs on the florets in the dish for extra crispyness).
- Bake at 425 deg F for 25 mins (35 mins if serving the bites with hot sauce on the side) . In the meantime, make the nashville hot sauce mixture in large bowl. You can double this sauce easily for larger cauliflower.
- Remove the dish from the oven and cool for 5 mins. Add the baked cauliflower to the sauce bowl and gently toss to coat.
- Drop back into the baking dish and bake for 15 mins or longer at 400 deg F. Serve with cooling dips such as vegan ranch and some pickles.
Notes
- To reduce heat, lower the cayenne, black pepper, and hot sauce; increase sweet paprika or vinegar for balanced flavor.
- Omit oil in the batter and sauce by using aquafaba and a light oil spray to maintain crispiness.
- Nutrition information is based on four servings excluding dips.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4 Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 144
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 144kcal | 7% |
| Carbohydrates | 21g | 7% |
| Protein | 5g | 10% |
| Fat | 5g | 8% |
| Sodium | 544mg | 23% |
| Potassium | 513mg | 11% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 4g | 8% |
| Vitamin A | 340IU | 7% |
| Vitamin C | 75mg | 83% |
| Calcium | 84mg | 8% |
| Iron | 1.2mg | 7% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.