Sriracha-Buffalo Cauliflower Bites

Active Time:

10 mins

Additional Time:

20 mins

Total Time:

25 mins

Servings:

6

Yield:

6 servings

Nutrition Profile:

Low-Carb Nut-Free Soy-Free High-Fiber Vegetarian Egg-Free Gluten-Free Low-Calorie

Jump to Nutrition Facts

If you want buffalo wings, but don't want all the fuss that comes with making them, these Sriracha-Buffalo Cauliflower Bites are it! Cauliflower becomes fork-tender in the oven and then gets a coating of rich, spicy buffalo sauce. Blue cheese and ranch dressings are the perfect accompaniments to these bites to help quell some of the fire. Keep reading for expert tips, including how to keep your bites from becoming soggy.

Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen

These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you, too!

When shopping for cauliflower, look for a clean, compact head free of brown spots. The buds should be closed and in clusters, and the leaves should be green.
After cutting off the cauliflower florets, repurpose the leaves and the core (shave off the tough skin first). All parts of cauliflower are edible and can be used in many ways, including grating it for salads, using it in stir-fries, roasting it with other sheet pan veggies and adding it to soups and stews.
You don't have to refrigerate a bottle of Sriracha sauce, but storing it in the refrigerator will help it keep its red color longer and taste better.
One of the easiest ways to melt butter is in the microwave. This recipe calls for only 1 tablespoon of melted butter. It will melt fast, so keep an eye on it. If you ever need to melt a stick of butter, cut it into pieces first.

Nutrition Notes

As a cruciferous veggie, cauliflower provides filling fiber that also acts as prebiotic food for your beneficial gut bacteria. This helps them thrive and improves gut health. The plant compounds in cauliflower help reduce inflammation and disease, including heart disease and cancer. Cauliflower also provides immune-boosting vitamin C, as well as vitamin K, which is necessary for healthy bones. The choline in cauliflower supports nerve health. You even get some plant protein with cauliflower.
Buffalo sauce is typically made with hot sauce and butter. Eating spicy food has some pretty amazing health benefits, including reduced blood pressure and a healthy heart. Spicy food can also be more satisfying, which means it may not take as much to satisfy your hunger.

Olive oil getting poured over cauliflower florets in a white bowl — Diana Chistruga

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Ingredients

8 cups 1 1/2-inch cauliflower florets
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
2 tablespoons hot sauce, such as Frank's RedHot
1-2 tablespoons Sriracha
1 tablespoon butter, melted
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Directions

Ingredients for the sriracha-buffalo cauliflower bites recipe. separated in small bowls — Diana Chistruga

Preheat oven to 450°F. Coat a large rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray.
Toss cauliflower, oil and salt in a large bowl. Spread on the prepared baking sheet; reserve the bowl. Roast the cauliflower until it's starting to soften and brown on the bottom, about 15 minutes.

Diana Chistruga
Meanwhile, combine hot sauce, Sriracha to taste, butter and lemon juice in the large bowl. Add the roasted cauliflower and toss to coat. Return the cauliflower to the baking sheet and continue roasting until hot, about 5 minutes more.

Diana Chistruga

Equipment

Large rimmed baking sheet

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my cauliflower bites soggy?

This vegetable contains a lot of moisture, so after you wash it, make sure it's fully dry before cutting it. Try not to cut the cauliflower too small. If you have a larger surface area, there will be more crisping. Make sure your straight-from-the-oven cauliflower bites are immediately sauced and pick up one cauliflower at a time and let the excess sauce drip back into the bowl.
What should I serve with cauliflower bites?

To complement the fiery heat of these bites, consider adding crisp carrot sticks and refreshing celery, as well as crunchy cucumber slices or thinly sliced bell peppers for an added burst of freshness. Enhance the experience with a selection of dipping sauces beyond the classic ranch or blue cheese dressing. Experiment with tangy barbecue sauce, creamy garlic aioli or even a zesty cilantro-lime yogurt dip.
Can I make cauliflower bites in an air fryer?

Although we developed this recipe for the oven, we do have a recipe for Air-Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower that cooks in about half the time.

Originally appeared: EatingWell.com, January 2016

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

99	Calories
7g	Fat
8g	Carbs
3g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 6
Serving Size 3/4 cup
Calories 99
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 8g	3%
Dietary Fiber 3g	11%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 3g	6%
Total Fat 7g	9%
Saturated Fat 2g	10%
Cholesterol 5mg	2%
Vitamin A 169IU	3%
Vitamin C 70mg	78%
Sodium 288mg	13%
Calcium 33mg	3%
Iron 1mg	3%
Potassium 439mg	9%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

Additional reporting by

Carrie Myers, M.S.,