These Vegan Cauliflower Wings are crispy, delicious and easy to make in the oven or air fryer. Made with cauliflower florets and coated in a sticky Asian-inspired sauce, this is the perfect healthy low carb side, snack or appetizer for game day or any weekend picnic or barbecue! Gluten-free, keto, low carb, grain-free, vegan, paleo and Whole30 compliant.
PIN HERE for later and follow my boards for more recipe ideas
Crispy Vegan Cauliflower Wings Recipe
Looking for a fun and healthy appetizer? These Vegan Cauliflower Wings are made with crispy cauliflower florets coated in a savory Asian-inspired sauce. They are super simple to make either in the oven or air fryer and perfect for game day or any weekend! Serve them with along with some fresh veggie sticks, guacamole and simple cheese board for your guests.
Do veggie cauliflower wings taste good?
Crispy Baked Cauliflower Wings are not only the best way to enjoy cauliflower, but they are a delicious vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan, paleo and low carb snack or appetizer.
Plus, they so quick and easy to make to make with pantry friendly ingredients and you can easily customize them with any ingredients you like or have on hand!
Ingredients you need
Classic Wings are made with chicken wings, all purpose flour and bread crumbs or panko crumbs. To make our healthy vegan cauliflower wings, you will need:
- Cauliflower: 1 medium head, chopped into florets.
- Almond meal: to make the cauliflower extra crispy. You can sub with finely crushed grain-free crackers to make them extra crispy or gluten-free breadcrumbs work as well.
- Salt: You can use fine sea salt or kosher salt. Season generously to taste.
- Garlic Powder: for depth of flavor.
- Avocado oil: or olive oil.
For the sticky sauce
- Coconut aminos: The base of the savory sauce. You can also use gluten-free tamari or sub with low-sodium soy sauce if not gluten-free.
- Maple syrup: For some natural sweetness. Omit for Whole30 or use Lakanto Sugar-Free maple syrup or preferred sticky liquid sweetener for a low carb or keto option.
- Hot sauce: You can use your favorite compliant hot sauce or Sriracha for some heat.
- Toasted Sesame Oil: Adds a delicious nutty flavor.
- Ginger: Freshly grated.
- Garlic: Finely minced.
For garnish
- Fresh chopped green onions
- Toasted sesame seeds
How to make Vegan Cauliflower Wings
Want to learn how to roast cauliflower? Be sure to follow the step-by-step instructions:
- Cut the cauliflower into pieces: To make your baked cauliflower wings in the oven, remove most of stem and chop the cauliflower into bite-sized pieces. If you’re wondering how to cut cauliflower, here is a great tutorial. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and line a baking pan with parchment paper. Drizzle the cauliflower with oil.
- Make the batter: In a large bowl, combine almond flour, garlic, ginger, chilli salt and pepper in a bowl. Place the cauliflower into the bowl and mix well. Or alternatively add all the ingredients to a large resealable bag and shake well until all the cauliflower is evenly coated.
- Arrange on baking pan: Place florets in a single layer on baking sheet.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown, flipping halfway through.
- Make the Sauce: Meanwhile, mix the sauce ingredients together. Take the cauliflower out of the oven and dip each wing into the sauce, or coat with a pastry brush.Place the pan back into the oven for 5 minutes then serve and sprinkle with sesame seeds, chopped scallions with a small bowl of tamari. Pour the sauce evenly over the cauliflower & toss to coat.
- Bake again: Place the pan back into the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes or until crispy and just starting to brown.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle with sesame seeds, chopped scallions and serve with a small bowl of coconut aminos or desired dipping sauce.
Air Fryer Method:
- Place florets in a single layer in air fryer basket, you will have to work in batches.
-
- Cook: Air Fry at 375 for 12-14 minutes until golden brown, shaking halfway through.
- Coat with Sauce: Brush the sauce over the cauliflower & toss to coat.
- Cook again: Air Fry for an additional 2-3 minutes or until crispy and just starting to brown.
Tips for Success
Cooking cauliflower couldn’t be easier! Here are some tricks so they come out perfectly every time!
- Cut the florets into even sizes: Cut the cauliflower into even sized pieces, otherwise, they won’t cook evenly.
- Don’t Crowd the Pan: Make sure you’re not putting too many cauliflower wings on the baking sheet or air fryer at once. It’s better to work in batches. If your cauliflower are too crowded, they won’t get as crispy.
- Rotate halfway: Be sure to rotate the baking sheet or stir the cauliflower halfway through the cooking process. This ensures crispiness all around!
Variations:
Want to spice things up? Coat your cauliflower or serve with some delicious dips:
- Buffalo sauce
- BBQ Sauce
- Sticky Sesame
- Chipotle Lime
- Sriracha and Maple
Make ahead and Storage
How to make ahead
The great thing about making these low carb cauliflower bites is that you can make them ahead. Simply chop up the cauliflower, make the sauce and prepare the breading the day before and store them in separate containers in the fridge.
Then when you’re ready to serve, all you need to do is toss the cauliflower with the batter and follow the cooking directions.
How to store leftover cauliflower bites
We think these are best enjoyed fresh but you can store your vega cauliflower bites in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Can you freeze cauliflower wings?
We don’t recommend freezing air fryer cauliflower bites as we think they are best enjoyed fresh, but if you’d like to reheat any leftovers you can heat them in an oven at 400 degrees or in the air fryer at 375F for a few minutes until warm and crispy.
I also don’t recommend reheating Buffalo Cauliflower Wings in a microwave since it will make them really soft and soggy.
What to serve with Asian cauliflower wings
These Cauliflower Bites are delicious alone or you can serve them with the same food you would serve regular buffalo wings with.
Some crunchy vegetables like celery, cucumber spears or carrot sticks along with vegan ranch dressing or blue cheese dip.
More cauliflower recipes to try
Crispy Cauliflower Wings
Easy Air Fryer Cauliflower Wings
Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Wings
These Asian Cauliflower Wings are crispy, delicious and easy to make in the oven or air fryer. Made with cauliflower florets and coated in a sticky Asian-inspired sauce, this is the perfect healthy low carb side, snack or appetizer for game day or any weekend picnic or barbecue! Gluten-free, keto, low carb, grain-free, vegan, paleo and Whole30 compliant.
- 4 cups cauliflower florets , about 1 medium cauliflower
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil or olive oil
- 1/2 cup almond meal or fine blanched almond flour
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp ginger powder
- 1/8 tsp red chili powder
- 1/2 tsp fine sea salt or to taste
- 1/4 tsp freshly cracked black pepper or to taste
- 3 tbsp coconut aminos , can also sub with gluten-free tamari or low sodium soy sauce if not gluten-free
- 2 tbsp maple syrup or preferred sticky liquid sweetener. Lakanto SF maple syrup or liquid monk fruit for low sugar / low carb option. Omit for Whole30 option.
- 1 tbsp Whole30 compliant hot sauce or Sriracha
- 1/2 tsp toasted sesame oil
- 1 inch fresh ginger , finely grated
- 1 clove garlic clove , finely minced
- 3 green onions , thinly sliced
- 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds
CUT THE CAULIFLOWER INTO PIECES:
Remove most of stem and chop the cauliflower into bite-sized pieces.
Drizzle the cauliflower with oil.
MAKE THE BATTER: In a large bowl, combine almond flour, garlic, ginger, chilli salt and pepper in a bowl.
Place the cauliflower into the bowl and mix well. Or alternatively add all the ingredients to a large resealable bag and shake well until all the cauliflower is evenly coated.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and line a baking pan with parchment paper.
Place florets in a single layer on baking sheet.
BAKE for 20-25 minutes until golden brown, flipping halfway through.
Meanwhile, mix the sauce ingredients together.
Take the cauliflower out of the oven and dip each wing into the sauce, or coat with a pastry brush.
Place the pan back into the oven for 5 minutes then serve and sprinkle with sesame seeds, chopped scallions with a small bowl of tamari.
Pour the sauce evenly over the cauliflower & toss to coat.
Place the pan back into the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes or until crispy and just starting to brown.
Serve and sprinkle with sesame seeds, chopped scallions with a small bowl of coconut aminos or desired dipping sauce.
Place florets in a single layer in air fryer basket, you will have to work in batches.
Air Fry at 375 for 12-14 minutes until golden brown, shaking halfway through.
Meanwhile, mix the sauce ingredients together.
Brush the sauce evenly over the cauliflower & toss to coat. Air Fry for an additional 2-3 minutes or until crispy and just starting to brown.
Serve and sprinkle with sesame seeds, chopped scallions with a small bowl of coconut aminos or desired dipping sauce.
Leave a Comment