Description
Crispy air fryer buffalo cauliflower bites bring spicy excitement to classic appetizer favorites. Perfectly seasoned florets offer zesty flavor with minimal effort and maximum crunch for hungry snackers.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 medium head cauliflower, cut into bite-sized florets
- ½ cup (65 g) all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour)
- ½ cup (120 ml) water or plant-based milk
- ½ cup (120 ml) hot sauce (like Franks RedHot)
- 2 tbsps unsalted butter (or vegan butter)
- 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup (optional for a hint of sweetness)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp smoked paprika (optional)
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- Cooking spray (for air fryer)
- Ranch or blue cheese dressing
- Celery sticks
- Carrot sticks
Instructions
- Batter Preparation: Whisk flour, spices, and liquid in a large mixing bowl until achieving a smooth, velvety texture free of lumps.
- Cauliflower Coating: Thoroughly dredge cauliflower florets in the seasoned batter, ensuring complete and even coverage across each piece.
- Air Fryer Arrangement: Meticulously position batter-coated florets in the air fryer basket, maintaining sufficient space between pieces to promote maximum crispiness and prevent steaming.
- Cooking Configuration: Activate air fryer at 400°F, allowing cauliflower to develop a crisp, golden-brown exterior while maintaining a tender internal structure.
- Mid-Cooking Rotation: Pause cooking halfway through, gently shake or flip the basket to ensure uniform browning and consistent crunch across all florets.
- Flavor Enhancement: Immediately after cooking, transfer crispy cauliflower to a serving plate and generously coat with zesty buffalo sauce, letting residual heat intensify the tangy flavor profile.
- Final Presentation: Garnish with finely chopped fresh herbs or green onions, then serve piping hot alongside cool ranch or blue cheese dressing for a complementary dipping experience.
Notes
- Prevent Batter Clumping: Whisk flour mixture thoroughly and sift ingredients to eliminate lumps, ensuring a smooth, even coating on cauliflower florets.
- Maximize Crispiness: Space florets individually in air fryer basket, avoiding overcrowding to allow hot air circulation and achieve maximum crunchiness.
- Control Spice Intensity: Adjust buffalo sauce quantity based on personal heat tolerance, mixing mild and hot sauce for customized flavor profile.
- Dietary Adaptation: Substitute gluten-free flour for traditional flour to make recipe celiac-friendly, or use plant-based milk for vegan version without compromising texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 5 mg