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Close up of Crispy Baked Cauliflower Bites with Chilli Mayo in a small bowl on the plate with a blue background.
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4.64 from 58 votes

Crispy Baked Buffalo Cauliflower Bites with Chilli Mayo

Think of these as a low-calorie, vegetarian take on chicken nuggets. These crispy baked buffalo cauliflower bites are delicious, easy to make and packed full of nutrients.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Course: Snack
Cuisine: British
Servings: 4
Calories: 420kcal
Cost: £0.83

Ingredients

  • 1 large cauliflower (£0.95)
  • 220 ml unsweetened soy milk (£0.85)
  • 4 tbsp hot sauce of choice (£1.00)
  • 4 tbsp mayonnaise (£2.00/4)=(£0.50)

Cupboard Essentials

  • 150 g flour
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • ½ tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp onion salt
  • 1 tsp garlic granules
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 3 tbsp rapeseed oil onto foil

Instructions

Preheat oven to 180°C FAN/ 200°C

  • Combine the flour, paprika, cayenne pepper, cumin, onion salt, garlic granules and baking powder in a large mixing bowl. Slowly stir the soy milk into the bowl until you achieve a smooth thick batter, like the consistency of american pancake batter.
  • Pour the cauliflower florets into the mixing bowl and use a spatula to ensure all the pieces are evenly coated in the batter. Throw the cauliflower leaves into any left over batter and ensure evenly coated, before placing on a separate greased baking tray.
  • On two foil lined baking sheets, drizzle around half of the rapeseed oil onto the foil (approx 1.5 tbsp on each of the trays). Ensure the oil is spread evenly across the tray and then add the florets onto the tray. Add them one by one so you can evenly distribute them so they aren’t touching each other. Pop them in the oven.
  • After around 12 minutes, the batter should be golden brown but not starting to crisp. Remove the tray from the oven and use a slotted spatula (preferably a bendy plastic one) to rotate the pieces. Drizzle with your favourite hot sauce and honey, moving the pieces around with the spatula to evenly coat.
  • Pop back in the oven for around 5 minutes or until crispy and golden. If your oven is powerful it could be less than this so keep an eye out! Season generously with flakey salt immediately when you remove them from the oven, this will allow the salt to bind better with the c. bites. Serve with your favourite hot sauce combined with mayo to make a chilli mayo.

Notes

  • Choose fresh cauliflower with firm and compact florets, avoiding those with brown spots or wilting.
  • Preheat the oven to a high temperature (around 220°C/425°F) to achieve a crispy exterior and tender interior.
  • Cut the cauliflower into evenly sized florets for even cooking. Dip and coat the florets with batter, removing excess before placing them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Spread them out in a single layer to ensure even browning.

Nutrition

Calories: 420kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 23g