Crispy baked cauliflower pieces smothered in a spicy, creamy bang bang sauce. A delicious vegetarian appetiser, lunch or party food!
I’ll show you how to make it in the oven, but I’ve also included instructions on how to fry it if you prefer.
The final part to my bang bang phase – after making Bang Bang sauce, Bang Bang Chicken and of course the copycat of the Bonefish Grill’s – Bang Bang Shrimp! We finally have a vegetarian version in the form of Bang Bang Cauliflower.
Cauliflower has come a long way these last few years – from boring, grey (and rather smelly) boiled cauliflower, to beautiful cauliflower ‘wings’ or even cauliflower steaks!!
Table of Contents
📋 Ingredients
📺 Watch how to make it
***Full recipe with detailed steps in the recipe card at the end of this post***
- First, the cauliflower is coated by dipping in a seasoned buttermilk mixture and then dredging in a seasoned panko mixture.
- Then it’s baked in the oven until crisp. Because the cauliflower is being baked in the oven, I also like to add a couple of tablespoons of oil to the panko mixture, This means you don’t have to drizzle, brush or spray on oil before it goes in the oven.
- Once the cauliflower is nice and tender in the middle and golden brown on the outside, it comes out of the oven and is drizzled with a really simple Bang Bang sauce – made of a mixture of mayonnaise, sweet chilli sauce, Sriracha and honey.
Pro Tip
If you prefer to fry the cauliflower, simply leave the olive oil out of the panko coating. Coat the cauliflower as per the rest of the recipe, and shallow fry in about 1cm of oil in a large frying pan, until the cauliflower is tender.
I love to sprinkle on some spring onions and freshly sliced chillies before serving.
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Pin It🍽️ What to serve it with
- With a lovely Pasta Salad for a full meal.
- With some homemade Crispy Chips or Carrot Fries.
- Wrapped in some flatbreads or tortillas to make Bang Bang Cauliflower Tacos.
- With lots of our other Appetizers to fill that party table!
Have you ever seen a better-looking piece of cauliflower?
🍲 More fantastic cauliflower recipes
? Frequently Asked Questions
The bang bang sauce can be made ahead, covered and refrigerated for up to a week.
The crispy cauliflower tastes best when cooked and eaten right away. However you can make and cook the cauliflower ahead and reheat later if you prefer.
Cook the cauliflower as per the recipe, then quickly cool, cover and refrigerate for up to a day.
Reheat in the oven at 200c/400f on a baking tray, uncovered for 10-12 minutes, until piping hot throughout.
Coat the cauliflower in the same way EXCEPT you can leave the olive oil out of the panko coating.
Then shallow fry the cauliflower pieces (you’ll probably need to do this in two or three batches) in a large frying pan in about 1cm of hot oil, over a medium-to-high heat.
Turn a couple of times during cooking, and cook until golden . This should take about 5-6 minutes.
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Bang Bang Cauliflower
Ingredients
Crispy Cauliflower
- 1 medium cauliflower approx. 600g (1.3lbs) once the leaves are cut off
- 120 ml (½ cup) buttermilk
- 1 egg
- ¾ tsp garlic salt
- ¼ tsp white pepper
- 1 tsp salt
- 150 g (3 cups) panko breadcrumbs
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp celery salt
- ¼ tsp white pepper
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Bang Bang Sauce:
- 120 ml (½ cup) mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp sweet chilli sauce
- 1 tbsp sriracha chilli sauce
- 1 tsp honey
To Serve
- 4 spring onions scallions, sliced
- 1 red chilli thinly slices
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200C/400F (fan).
- Start by making the bang bang sauce. Place the mayonnaise, sweet chilli sauce, sriracha, and honey in a small bowl and mix together, then put to one side while you make the crispy cauliflower.120 ml (½ cup) mayonnaise, 2 tbsp sweet chilli sauce, 1 tbsp sriracha chilli sauce, 1 tsp honey
- Place the 120ml (1/2 cup) buttermilk, 1 egg, 1/4 tsp garlic salt, 1/4 tsp white pepper and 1/2 tsp salt in a bowl and lightly whisk to combine.120 ml (½ cup) buttermilk, 1 egg, 3/4 tsp garlic salt, 1/4 tsp white pepper, 1 tsp salt
- Place the panko, paprika, remaining 1/2 tsp of salt, pepper, garlic salt, celery salt, white pepper, and olive oil in a second bowl and mix together until the olive oil is combined with the breadcrumbs evenly.150 g (3 cups) panko breadcrumbs, 1 tsp paprika, ½ tsp black pepper, ½ tsp celery salt, ¼ tsp white pepper, 2 tbsp olive oil
- Dip the cauliflower pieces in the buttermilk mixture to coat, then dredge in the panko mixture.1 medium cauliflower
- Place the coated cauliflower on a baking tray.
- Place the baking tray in the oven and cook for 20-25 minutes, until the cauliflower is tender and the coating is golden.
- Transfer the cooked crispy cauliflower to a serving bowl and drizzle over half the sauce.
- Sprinkle over the spring onions and sliced chilli, then serve with the remaining bang bang sauce for dipping.4 spring onions, 1 red chilli
Notes
Turn a couple of times during cooking, and cook until golden . This should take about 5-6 minutes. Nutritional information is approximate, per serving (serves 4). This includes using all of the sauce.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links – which means if you buy the product I get a small commission (at no extra cost to you). If you do buy, then thank you! That’s what helps us to keep Kitchen Sanctuary running. The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors. For more information please see our Terms & Conditions.
This post was first published in July 2021. Updated in May 2025 for housekeeping.
So good it doesn’t even taste like cauliflower !! A great way to use up a cauli that is a little past it so we were really pleased. Thank you Nicky and I am trying a lot more of your recipes in the future.
Cheers
If anyone tries this in an air-fryer please leave a comment.
I made this in the airfryer yesterday. 360° for 15 to 16 minutes. At the halfway point, I sprayed the florets with a little oil. It turned out perfectly. The cauliflower was “just right” in terms of tenderness.
Lots of compliments from my “testers”.
Loved the bang-bang sauce too. Just the right amount of
heat.
This looks great, going to have to try this. Love different ways of cooking cauliflower.
Absolutely delicious. Love cauliflower anyway, the sauce just takes it to another level.
I just made this but substituted the cauli with chicken served on top of seasonal salad. It is delicious. The sauce really compliments both the salad and panko mix. Thanks.