January Recipe: Spicy Cauliflower Wings
This is a favorite recipe of the staff here at Aptos Natural Foods. We love good-tasting gluten-free and vegan food, so we’ve changed it so everyone can enjoy it. You are welcome to use regular flour or use your own ranch, although it is hard to beat homemade ranch with fresh herbs!
Ingredients for batter:
1 head of cauliflower (approx. 4-5 cups of florets)
1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
1/2 cup water
3/4 cup gluten-free, all-purpose flour (Bob’s Red Mill works well)
2 teaspoon garlic powder
2 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon of paprika
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
Ingredients for Wing Sauce:
1 tablespoon Earth Balance buttery spread
1 cup Melinda’s hot sauce
Ingredients for Dipping “Ranch” Sauce:
1 cup vegan mayonnaise (we like Wildwood Zesty Garlic Aioli)
1 tablespoon unsweetened almond milk
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
2 tablespoons dill
1 tablespoon parsley
1 tablespoon chives
Start by making your “ranch” sauce. Whisk or blend mayonnaise, almond milk, apple cider vinegar, onion powder, garlic powder, sea salt, and pepper. Stir the herbs into the blended mixture, then set in the refrigerator.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
Whisk all items together in a bowl to make the batter. The mixture should be thin enough that it doesn’t drip but thick enough that is does not get too stuck to the cauliflower. Feel free to add milk or flour to achieve the right consistency.
Dip each cauliflower piece into the mixture, making sure to get off as much of the batter as possible. Place the pieces far enough apart that they are not touching.
Bake for 10 minutes, then flip the pieces over so that they can brown evenly. Bake for another 10-15 minutes, or until the cauliflower is crispy.
While the cauliflower is in the oven, you can start making your wing sauce. Over low heat, mix the earth balance with the hot sauce. Remove from heat as soon as the mixture is melted, then set aside. After the wings cook through their first bake, toss them in the wing sauce and bake them again for another 20-25 minutes, making sure to flip them halfway through.
