The recipe for Buffalo Cauliflower with Cilantro Jalapeno Ranch Dipping Sauce is one of my all-time favorite and most popular recipes on my blog! Vegetarians and Carnivores agree: these cauliflower “wings” are tough to beat. Serve with a spicy jalapeno and cilantro spiked ranch dipping sauce. This appetizer is a crowd pleaser!
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Buffalo Cauliflower
Who has a weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, annual, or some kind of routine get-together with friends? I would venture to guess that all of us are raising a hand, am I right? Whether it’s for happy hour, a run, a poker night, the big game, or a Game of Thrones marathon – we all have our thing.
Me and my gal pals? THE BACHELOR.
While times have changed (and by “changed” I mean 2 becoming mothers, one traveling the world, one moving to New York, and the other going off to Grad school) , we once had an amazing tradition. Every week for the Bachelor/Bachelorette, we would rotate who hosted. The host’s responsibility for that given week would be to send out a list of questions for that week’s episode. “Who will cry first? Get kicked off? Be the best/worst dressed?” As attendees, we would need to fill out our votes (a.k.a the draft) and send back to the host. Our gatherings would always include plenty of banter, but even more delicious snacks. This Buffalo Cauliflower was always on our lineup!
Lightly battered cauliflower is tossed with spicy buffalo sauce and roasted to tender perfection. It’s served with a jalapeno and cilantro ranch dipping sauce, which is tangy, salty, and cooling.
Read on to learn how to make this fan-favorite appetizer!
How To Make Buffalo Cauliflower
This Buffalo Cauliflower is so simple to make! The batter ingredients include just flour, water, and just a splash of Buffalo sauce! The raw cauliflower is tossed in the batter and baked.
Here’s what you need to do!
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with tin-foil, and spray with olive oil.
- Cut the cauliflower in to bite sized pieces. Place cut pieces in a large bowl.
- In a medium bowl, add one cup flour and 1 1/2 cups water. Whisk to combine. You’ll want this mixture to be thick, but somewhat soupy. You want it to thoroughly coat each piece of cauliflower. Add water if mixture if too thick. Add 1 tablespoon of buffalo sauce.
- Pour flour and water mixture over cauliflower. Toss to thoroughly coat each piece.
- Spread cauliflower on to cookie sheet, being sure to separate each piece. Bake for 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, add remaining cup of buffalo sauce and 2 tablespoons of oil to a large bowl. Whisk to combine.
- Remove cauliflower from oven, allow to slightly cool. Toss in buffalo sauce, and return to oven to broil for 5 minutes or less (watch to be sure it doesn’t burn!).
What To Serve With Buffalo Cauliflower
My favorite way to serve this Buffalo Cauliflower is with a homemade spicy jalapeno and cilantro ranch dipping sauce! Making homemade ranch is so simple to make. The ingredients include:
- Greek yogurt
- Cilantro
- Jalapeno
- Dried parsley
- Dried chives
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Dried dill
- Salt and pepper
How To Make Cilantro Jalapeno Ranch
- To a small bowl, add the dried parsley, dried chives, onion powder, garlic powder, dill, salt, and pepper. Mix to combine.
- Add cilantro and jalapeno to food processor. Pulse until jalapeno is fully chopped.
- Add yogurt and spice mixture to food processor. Pulse until combined, and sauce turns light green (pretty!).
- Serve buffalo cauliflower hot with cilantro jalapeno ranch dipping sauce and celery. Enjoy!
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Buffalo Cauliflower with Cilantro Jalapeno Ranch Dipping Sauce
Ingredients
For the buffalo cauliflower
- 1 head Cauliflower
- 1 cup flour (gluten free or all purpose)
- 1 1/2 - 2 cups water
- 1 cup + 1 Tbsp Buffalo hot sauce
- 2 Tsbp vegetable or canola oil
For the cilantro jalapeno ranch:
- 2 cups Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup cilantro
- 1 small jalapeno (seeds and ribs removed, if desired)
- 2 Tbsp dried parsley
- 1 Tbsp dried chives
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 2 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1 tsp dried dill
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
Instructions
For the buffalo cauliflower:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with tin-foil, and spray with olive oil.
- Cut the cauliflower in to bite sized pieces. Place cut pieces in a large bowl.
- In a medium bowl, add one cup flour and 1 1/2 cups water. Whisk to combine. You'll want this mixture to be thick, but somewhat soupy. You want it to thoroughly coat each piece of cauliflower. Add water if mixture if too thick. Add 1 tablespoon of buffalo sauce.
- Pour flour and water mixture over cauliflower. Toss to thoroughly coat each piece.
- Spread cauliflower on to cookie sheet, being sure to separate each piece. Bake for 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, add remaining cup of buffalo sauce and 2 tablespoons of oil to a large bowl. Whisk to combine.
- Remove cauliflower from oven, allow to slightly cool. Toss in buffalo sauce, and return to oven to broil for 5 minutes or less (watch to be sure it doesn't burn!).
For the cilantro jalapeno ranch:
- To a small bowl, add the dried parsley, dried chives, onion powder, garlic powder, dill, salt, and pepper. Mix to combine.
- Add cilantro and jalapeno to food processor. Pulse until jalapeno is fully chopped.
- Add yogurt and spice mixture to food processor. Pulse until combined, and sauce turns light green (pretty!).
- Serve buffalo cauliflower hot with cilantro jalapeno ranch dipping sauce and celery. Enjoy!