Description
Bang Bang Cauliflower is a crispy, spicy, and creamy dish with cauliflower florets coated in a crunchy batter and drizzled with a delicious bang bang sauce made from mayonnaise, sweet chili, and sriracha. It’s a perfect appetizer or side dish.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1 pound cauliflower florets
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 3/4 cup cornstarch, *see notes for substitutions
- avocado oil for pan-frying
- Bang Bang Sauce:
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
- 2 tablespoons sriracha sauce
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, beaten egg, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Add the cauliflower florets to the bowl and toss to coat in the mixture.
- In a separate shallow dish, place the cornstarch. Dredge each cauliflower floret in the cornstarch, ensuring it’s fully coated.
- Heat a generous amount of avocado oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Once hot, fry the cauliflower florets in batches, cooking for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown and crispy. Remove and place on a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
- In a small bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, and sriracha sauce to make the bang bang sauce.
- Drizzle the bang bang sauce over the crispy cauliflower or toss the florets in the sauce to coat.
- Serve immediately with extra sauce on the side for dipping.
Notes
- If you don’t have cornstarch, you can use potato starch or rice flour as a substitute.
- Adjust the amount of sriracha in the bang bang sauce to your preferred level of spiciness.
- This recipe can also be baked for a healthier version—just coat the cauliflower and bake at 400°F (200°C) for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 recipe
- Calories: 230
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 40mg