Cauliflower Wings (vg) Recipe
Breaded, fried, and lightly spices cauliflower | Served with Blue Cheese or Vegan Ranch.
Was this page helpful?
Help improve this recipe for others.
Send this recipe to your inbox.
We'll email it straight to you - plus weekly cooking inspiration.
Ingredients
Some product links may be affiliates. If you buy through them, you're supporting the site and Pekin may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Cauliflower Wings
Buffalo-style Sauce (optional)
Dipping Sauces (choose Blue Cheese or Vegan Ranch)
Method
Cauliflower Wings
Prep cauliflower
Trim the cauliflower head and cut into bite- to medium-sized florets (about 1-1.5 inches). Pat dry with paper towels so batter will adhere.
Make batter
In a large bowl whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking powder, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, optional cayenne, salt, and black pepper. Whisk in cold water and the egg or aquafaba until you have a smooth, slightly thick but pourable batter (similar to pancake batter). If too thick, add a tablespoon of water at a time.
Coat florets
Working in batches, dip each cauliflower floret into the batter, allowing excess to drip back into the bowl. Press the wet floret into the panko breadcrumbs so breadcrumbs adhere and form a crust. Place coated florets on a wire rack while you heat the oil.
Heat oil
Pour vegetable oil into a deep skillet or pot to a depth of about 1.5 inches (or use a deep fryer). Heat oil to 350°F (175°C). If you don't have a thermometer, test with a small piece of batter — it should sizzle and rise steadily.
Fry
Fry coated florets in batches, careful not to overcrowd, for 3–4 minutes per batch until golden brown and crisp. Turn as needed for even coloring. Use a slotted spoon to transfer to a paper towel-lined tray to drain.
Finish (optional toss in sauce)
If using buffalo-style sauce, warm the sauce ingredients in a small saucepan over low heat until butter is melted and sauce is combined. Place fried cauliflower in a large bowl, pour sauce over, and gently toss to coat. If you prefer plain breaded wings, skip this step.
Keep warm
Place finished wings on a wire rack in a low oven (200°F / 95°C) while frying remaining batches to keep them crisp.
Buffalo-style Sauce (optional)
Combine hot sauce and butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir until butter is melted and sauce is smooth. Taste and add maple syrup or honey if you want a touch of sweetness. Keep warm until ready to toss with wings.
Dipping Sauces & Serving
Warm blue cheese dressing slightly if desired, or serve chilled. For vegan ranch, shake or whisk to smooth. Arrange cauliflower wings on a platter with dipping sauce and celery sticks. Serve immediately for best texture.