Description
Crispy Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower delivers spicy, tangy excitement for snack enthusiasts craving zesty plant-based bites. Perfectly seasoned florets provide irresistible crunch that connects game day nostalgia with healthier eating choices you’ll devour.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 head cauliflower (about 1.5 pounds or 680 grams)
- 3 tablespoons Frank’s RedHot Sauce
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
Coating and Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 0.5 teaspoons kosher salt
- 0.25 teaspoons garlic powder
Blue Cheese Dressing Ingredients:
- 0.25 cups (2 ounces or 56 grams) crumbled blue cheese
- 0.25 cups sour cream
- 3 tablespoons buttermilk
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Carefully separate the whole cauliflower into uniform, bite-sized florets ensuring each piece is roughly similar in size for consistent cooking.
- In a spacious mixing bowl, whisk together Frank’s hot sauce, unsalted melted butter, kosher salt, and granulated garlic powder until thoroughly combined.
- Gently roll each cauliflower floret in the spicy sauce mixture, ensuring complete coverage, then dust with cornstarch by tossing in a separate bowl until each piece is evenly and lightly coated with a powdery layer.
- Preheat the air fryer to 350°F (175°C) for optimal temperature, allowing 2-3 minutes for complete heating.
- Strategically place cauliflower florets in a single layer within the air fryer basket, avoiding overcrowding to promote crispy edges and even cooking.
- Cook the coated florets for approximately 12-15 minutes, pausing midway to carefully shake the basket, promoting uniform browning and crispiness.
- While cauliflower cooks, prepare the creamy dipping sauce by blending crumbled blue cheese, full-fat sour cream, buttermilk, and mayonnaise in a small bowl.
- Season the sauce with a pinch of kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, adjusting to taste.
- Transfer the golden, crispy buffalo cauliflower to a serving plate and accompany with the prepared blue cheese dressing for dipping.
Notes
- Spice things up by using gluten-free cornstarch for a celiac-friendly twist.
- Swap traditional hot sauce with sriracha or homemade pepper sauce for a unique flavor profile.
- Crumbled blue cheese can replace dressing for a more intense tangy experience.
- Store leftover cauliflower in an airtight container to maintain crispiness for quick reheating.
- Experiment with different seasoning blends like Cajun or ranch powder for varied taste adventures.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 300 kcal
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 30mg