Oil-Free, Vegan Cauliflower Wings (Baked)
Cauliflower wings are a tasty and delicious vegan snack or meal. In recent years, they have become quite popular due to their crispy and crunchy texture, not to mention the wealth of flavor options that can be incorporated into the batter.
The challenge is how to make them oil-free, as cauliflower wings are often fried. Luckily, with the recipe and tips below, you can make the perfect oil-free, vegan battered, breaded, and baked cauliflower wings!
ingredients
- 1 large head of cauliflower chopped into bite-sized pieces
- 1/2 cup of all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup of unsweetened almond milk or any plant-based milk
- 1 cup of breadcrumbs gluten-free if necessary
- 1/2 cup of your favorite vegan hot sauce
instructions
- Start by preheating the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit and lining a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
- Add the almond milk to the mixture and whisk until you have a smooth, lump-free batter.
- Put the cauliflower into the batter and coat until each piece is fully coated.
- In another bowl, mix the breadcrumbs with 1/2 cup of hot sauce, and stir until the breadcrumbs have absorbed most of the sauce. Add more breadcrumbs or hot sauce as necessary.
- Place each cauliflower piece into the breadcrumb mixture, and coat thoroughly.
- Arrange the cauliflower evenly on the baking sheet and place in the oven.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until crispy and golden brown.
notes
Other types of flour such as chickpea flour, or a gluten-free flour blend can be used in this recipe. Just remember that the taste and texture may differ slightly depending on the flour used.
You can also use other types of plant-based milk such as soy milk, oat milk, or cashew milk. Just make sure that unsweetened and unflavored milk is used. We've even used aquafaba (the liquid from a can of chickpeas) with great success!
Get creative with any vegan hot sauce (or barbecue sauce) you like, as well. Feel free to experiment with different flavors and spice levels until you find your perfect match.