Tiffany Haney
Cauliflower wings are a delicious, healthy snack and a great vegetarian alternative to chicken wings. They're easy to make in an air fryer, which is essentially a small, powerful convection oven that cooks food by circulating hot air around it. This method crisps up the outside of the cauliflower without drying out the inside, resulting in a tasty, healthy treat.
How to cook cauliflower wings in an air fryer
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of cauliflower | Fresh, uncooked cauliflower |
| Cut | Medium/small florets |
| Batter | Thickened egg-like mixture of dairy-free milk and cornstarch, flour, milk, garlic, salt, smoked paprika, cumin, garlic granules, buttermilk, and a good pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper |
| Breadcrumbs | Panko breadcrumbs |
| Sauce | Buffalo sauce, honey, olive oil, maple syrup, sriracha honey, mango habanero BBQ sauce, butter, sesame sauce, or BBQ sauce |
| Cooking time | 7-8 minutes, 18-20 minutes, or 10 minutes |
| Cooking temperature | 200C |
| Additional tips | Preheat the air fryer, cook in batches, flip halfway through, and coat with sauce at the end |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing the right cauliflower
First and foremost, opt for fresh cauliflower instead of frozen. Frozen cauliflower tends to release more moisture, leading to sogginess and affecting the crispness of the wings. If you must use frozen cauliflower, ensure it is thoroughly thawed and drained before cooking, and increase the cooking time to achieve a crispier texture.
When selecting a fresh cauliflower head, look for one that is firm, compact, and free of any brown spots or blemishes. The florets should be tightly packed and creamy white in colour. Avoid cauliflowers with loose or separated florets, as they may not hold up well during cooking.
Size is also an important consideration. Choose a cauliflower head that is medium to large in size, with evenly sized florets. This will make it easier to cut uniform pieces, ensuring even cooking. Look for florets that are not too small, as you want them to be a good size for dredging and eating in one bite.
Before cutting the cauliflower, inspect the green leaves. Choose a head with vibrant, fresh-looking leaves, as this is a sign of freshness. Remove the leaves and trim the green stems back before cutting the cauliflower into florets.
Lastly, consider the flavour and aroma of the cauliflower. Choose a head that has a fresh, mild fragrance and avoid any with a strong or pungent smell, as this may indicate spoilage.
By following these tips, you'll be well on your way to choosing the right cauliflower for making mouth-watering air-fried cauliflower wings.
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Preparing the batter
- Cut the cauliflower into bite-sized florets. It's important to ensure they are roughly the same size so they cook evenly. Remove the green stems and cut or break the head into florets of about 1-inch in size.
- Create a thick batter by combining dry ingredients in a large bowl. The specific ingredients may vary based on the recipe you choose, but typically, you'll need flour, spices, and a liquid to create the batter. For example, you can use a combination of paprika, cumin, garlic granules, flour, buttermilk, salt, and pepper. Alternatively, you can use a mixture of flour, milk, garlic, and salt for a simpler batter.
- Add a liquid to the dry ingredients to create a smooth batter. This can be dairy-free milk, buttermilk, or even water. Adjust the consistency as needed; if the batter is too thick, add a little more liquid.
- Whisk the batter until it is smooth and free of lumps. You can also use a fork to mix the ingredients, but whisking ensures a smoother batter.
- Prepare a dredging station by placing the batter and the cauliflower florets next to each other. You'll want to work with one floret at a time to ensure even coating.
- Dip each floret into the batter, making sure to coat all sides. Use a spoon or your fingers to drizzle the batter over any uncovered spots. The florets should be completely coated in batter.
- After coating the florets in batter, you can choose to add an extra layer of crispiness. For example, you can toss them in panko breadcrumbs, as suggested by some home cooks, or use a flour and cornstarch mixture. This step is optional but can enhance the texture of your cauliflower wings.
- Once the florets are battered, shake off any excess batter. This step ensures that the batter doesn't drip into the air fryer and creates a cleaner cooking process.
Remember, the key to successful cauliflower wings is ensuring that the batter is evenly distributed and that the florets are not overcrowded in the air fryer. Now that your florets are battered, you can proceed to cook them in your air fryer!
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Seasoning and flavour options
There are many ways to season and flavour cauliflower wings. The most popular option is to make buffalo wings by tossing the florets in buffalo sauce. You can make your own sauce by combining hot sauce, olive oil, and honey or maple syrup. For a lighter option, you can also just toss the florets in olive oil and air fry them.
For a vegan option, you can use dairy-free milk and coat the florets in a mixture of flour, cornstarch, and spices. You can also add some panko and parmesan crumbs for extra crispiness. If you want to add more flavour, season the mixture with smoked paprika or mixed herbs.
For a different flavour profile, you can coat the wings in BBQ sauce, mango habanero BBQ sauce, or sesame sauce. For a lighter option, you can forgo the breading and coat the wings in just the sauce. You can also use broccoli instead of cauliflower, but you will need to reduce the air frying time by about 3 minutes.
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Air fryer settings and timings
Preheat your air fryer to 390°F (200°C). This will take around 5 minutes, depending on your model. While it's preheating, prepare your batter and coating. Cut the cauliflower into bite-sized florets, and make sure they're dry by patting them with a paper towel. This will help the batter stick better.
Once the air fryer is preheated, place the cauliflower florets in the basket, making sure they're in a single layer and not overcrowded. You may need to cook them in batches, depending on the size of your air fryer. Set the timer for 10 minutes to start. After 5 minutes, open the air fryer and flip the florets. This ensures even cooking and a crispy texture. Close the air fryer and let them cook for the remaining 5 minutes.
For extra crispiness, you can increase the temperature to 400°F (205°C) for the last 2-3 minutes of cooking. Keep a close eye on them during this step to avoid burning. When the timer goes off, your cauliflower wings should be golden brown and crispy. If they need more time, put them in for an additional 2 minutes.
Air fryer models and temperatures can vary, so you may need to experiment with the settings and timings slightly to find your perfect cook. It's always a good idea to check on your food regularly while it's cooking, especially if you're new to using an air fryer.
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Dipping sauces
While your cauliflower wings are cooking in the air fryer, you can prepare some dipping sauces to go with them. Here are some ideas:
Blue Cheese Dip
Blue cheese dip is a classic pairing with buffalo wings. This dip will add a tangy and savoury note to your crispy cauliflower wings.
Ranch Dressing
Ranch dressing is another popular choice for buffalo wings. You can make a vegan version by using dairy-free milk.
Honey Mustard
A honey mustard dipping sauce is easy to make and pairs well with the buffalo cauliflower wings. Simply whisk together honey and mustard, and heat the mixture in a saucepan until it reaches your desired consistency.
Barbecue Sauce
You can also thin out some barbecue sauce with water to create a dipping sauce. Adjust the amount of water added to reach your preferred consistency.
Buffalo Sauce
If you want to double down on the buffalo flavour, you can also use the buffalo sauce as a dipping sauce.
Remember to serve your cauliflower wings immediately after cooking, as they will lose their crispness over time. Enjoy experimenting with different sauces and flavours!
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Frequently asked questions
Cut a fresh cauliflower into medium/small florets. Make a batter by whisking together flour, milk, garlic, and salt. You can also add spices like smoked paprika or mixed herbs for extra flavour. Toss the cauliflower in the batter until it is fully coated. Place the battered cauliflower in the air fryer basket in a single layer and cook at 200C for 18-20 minutes, turning halfway through. Once cooked, toss the wings in your choice of sauce and return to the air fryer for another 4-9 minutes. Serve immediately.
To get crispy cauliflower wings, make sure your cauliflower is thoroughly coated in batter and that your air fryer basket is not overcrowded. If your wings are soggy, return them to the air fryer to crisp up. You can also toss the wings in panko or parmesan crumbs before frying for extra crispness.
You can use any sauce of your choice. Popular options include buffalo sauce, BBQ sauce, honey, sesame sauce, and sriracha.
It is not recommended to prep cauliflower wings too far in advance as they lose their crispness and become soggy. You can, however, prep the cauliflower and make the sauce in advance, and then cook the wings just before serving.
