I don’t know about you but when it’s cold outside I want to eat spicy food; something with a bit of zing and kick.
This recipe has been on the back burner until now purely because I hadn’t received a cauliflower in my weekly organic veg box delivery but as soon as I saw the creamy coloured beauty nestled amongst the carrots, potatoes and kalettes I instantly knew that it was a sign. Plus the weather this week has turned pretty darn chilly and my spice cravings have hit the roof. So much so in fact that I have made a massive pot of warming and satisfying lentil Dahl and a mushroom and chickpea curry over successive days.
Obviously with a weekly veg box delivery you are totally dependent on seasonal produce but luckily for me, it’s cauli season and I could create something completely new for me.
Cauliflowers over the last couple of years have had a resurgence after being out of favour with some for a long time. For me, I have always loved a melting and oozy cauliflower cheese with a Sunday roast but not all that often at other times. I may have dabbled with making cauliflower rice and couscous a while back but would rather just have rice or couscous! Many think cauliflower as a bland vegetable and I guess I may tend to agree with that, but to give this old school vegetable it’s dues it’s a fabulous flavour carrier.
That’s why this recipe for Buffalo Cauliflower Bites is well worth trying. The garlic and paprika batter gets into all the nooks and crannies of the nubbly cauliflower and creates a wonderful crispy coating that gets the tastebuds fired up. Also, texturally the cauliflower inside the batter has softened so you get that crisp outer to the smooth inner. It’s very good! The hot sauce coating in the second stage of cooking adds a hot, sweet and sticky glaze on top of the crisp batter too. It’s actually rather marvellous even if I do say so myself.
Next time you find a cauliflower in your veg box delivery give this recipe a try. It’s the perfect game night/movie night snack or buffet addition and would work well as a side dish for meat or fish.
Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
Ingredients
- 1 head of cauliflower green leaves removed
- 3/4 cup plain flour
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- Good pinch sea salt
- Black pepper to taste about 8-10 grinds
- 3/4 cup milk or milk alternative
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 tbsp runny honey
- 1/4 cup hot sauce
- Chopped red chili to garnish optional
- Chopped coriander or parsley to garnish optional
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 230C/450F snd line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl combine all of the dry ingredients. Pour in the milk and mix well to create a batter.
- Cut or break the cauliflower head into florets about 1.5 inches wide. Tip the florets into the batter and coat each piece evenly. Arrange the coated cauliflower florets on your lined baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes, turning halfway through.
- Meanwhile, combine the oil, honey snd hot sauce in a small bowl. Brush each cauliflower floret with the hot sauce mixture and bake for a further 20 minutes until sticky and browned.
- Serve sprinkled with chopped coriander or parsley and sliced red chili.
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