Crispy baked cauliflower pieces smothered in a spicy, creamy bang bang sauce. A delicious vegetarian appetizer, 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!!
I've got lots of other tasty cauliflower recipes later on in this post.
🔪 How to make Baked Bang Bang Caulflower
***Full recipe with detailed steps in the recipe card at the end of this post.***
First the cauliflower is coated - by dipping in 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.
From this:
To this 😋:
I love to sprinkle on some spring onions and freshly sliced chillies before serving.
👩🍳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.
🍽️ 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
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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.
- Start by making the bang bang sauce. Place the 120ml (½ cups) mayonnaise, 2 tbsp sweet chilli sauce, 1 tbsp sriracha and 1 tsp honey in a small bowl and mix together, then put to one side while you make the crispy cauliflower.
- Place the 120ml (½ cup) buttermilk, 1 egg, ¼ tsp garlic salt, ¼ tsp white pepper and ½ tsp salt in a bowl and lightly whisk to combine.
- Place the 150g (3 cups) panko, 1 tsp paprika, remaining ½ tsp of salt, ½ tsp pepper, ½ tsp garlic salt, ½ tsp celery salt, ¼ tsp white pepper and 2 tbsp of olive oil in a second bowl and mix together until the olive oil is combined with the breadcrumbs evenly.
- Dip the cauliflower pieces in the buttermilk mixture to coat, then dredge in the panko mixture.
- 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.
✎ 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
More Super Easy Appetizers
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Nick says
If anyone tries this in an air-fryer please leave a comment.
Chloe Thompson says
This looks great, going to have to try this. Love different ways of cooking cauliflower.
Diana Somerton says
Absolutely delicious. Love cauliflower anyway, the sauce just takes it to another level.
Frank Guthrie says
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.