Bang Bang Cauliflower
What is bang bang cauliflower you say? Well, it is a deliciously crispy deep fried cauliflower bite that is tossed in or served with a spicy yet sweet asian style sauce. It’s vegetarian and delicious. Serve it as a snack, side dish or appetizer. Some people call this cauliflower wings, no matter what you call them, they are delicious and easy to make. The tempura style batter is simple to make with ingredients you likely already have on hand too. Win Win!
We have a vegetarian in the house at the moment, so I try and make things that she will eat AND that everyone else will enjoy too. There’s nothing worse than having to cook separate meals or dished for everyone that has a dietary requirement.
Everyone in my family loves cauliflower so this was a no-brainer and to top it off, super easy to make. There is a bit of a mess, but that comes with anything you deep fry. From fridge to plate these tasty little morsels are ready in less than 40 minutes.
The bang bang sauce is a copycat version of one that I had on some shrimp at a local restaurant. Its super easy to make and very good on shrimp, salmon or any deep fried vegetable! Go Crazy.
The process for making bang bang cauliflower couldn’t be any easier. Just combine the flours, salt, egg and water into a thin batter then dip the cauliflower and deep fry until golden delicious and crisp. Season (optional) with your favorite seasoning or just some salt. Make the dip for some extra special flavor boost, top with toasted sesame seeds or sliced green onions for a fancy presentation.
These bang bang cauliflower bites are perfect for Game Day or a casual dinner party. Everyone loves them, so if you’re feeding a crowd, maybe make a double batch. Keep them warm in a low oven if you want to serve them hot and crispy.
If you wanted to make these as a meal I would serve them over some white basmati rice with extra sauce. YUM!
Bang Bang Cauliflower Bites
Equipment
- 1 Deep fryer or heavy bottomed pot for frying
Ingredients
- 1 Head Cauliflower, washed and broken into bite sized pieces
- ¼ Cup all-purpose flour
- ¾ Cup Cornstarch
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp Salt
- 1 lg egg, slightly beaten
- ½ cup water (or soda water)
- 1 Tbsp Seasoning Salt (such as Lawryes) or regular salt Optional
- ½ cup Mayonnaise
- 3 Tbsp Sriracha or other hot sauce of choice
- 1 Tbsp sweet Thai Chili Sauce
- 1 tsp rice wine vinegar (or other vinegar)
Instructions
- Wash and dry the cauliflower then break into 1" pieces (use a knife if necessary for larger pieces), set aside
- In a bowl, combine the ¼ Cup all-purpose flour,¾ Cup Cornstarch, 1 tsp baking powder, ½ tsp Salt
- Add the water and egg and stir until smooth
- Heat oil to 375℉
- Working in batches, dip the cauliflower pieces into the batter, then shake off any excess batter and drop the pieces into the hot oil slowly.
- Cook until golden brown and crispy (about 3 minutes) then remove to a paper towel lined rack to drain, salt or season immediately. Continue in batches until all of the cauliflower is done.
- While the cauliflower cooks, make the bang bang sauce
- Combine the ½ cup Mayonnaise, 3 Tbsp Sriracha or other hot sauce of choice, 1 Tbsp sweet Thai Chili Sauce, and 1 tsp rice wine vinegar (or other vinegar)