Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Wings – Crispy Vegetarian Recipe
A crispy vegetarian recipe for Buffalo cauliflower wings cooked in an air fryer, perfect as an appetizer or snack.
Steps
- 1
Preheat the air fryer to 175°C (350°F).
- 2
Cut the cauliflower into bite-sized florets, about 1 inch (2.5 cm). Place them in a large bowl.
- 3
Add olive oil, garlic powder, cumin, paprika, salt, pepper, and 1/2 cup of hot sauce. Mix well to coat evenly.
- 4
Arrange the florets in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
- 5
Cook at 175°C for 35–40 minutes, shaking the basket once or twice during cooking for even browning.
- 6
Remove the cauliflower from the air fryer and return it to the bowl. Pour the remaining 1/2 cup of hot sauce over it and toss gently to coat.
- 7
Serve warm, with blue cheese dressing and celery sticks if desired.
Shopping list
8 cups cauliflower florets (1 medium head), 2 tbsp olive oil, 1.5 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp cumin, 1 tsp sweet paprika, 1/4 tsp salt, a pinch pepper, 1 cup (240ml) hot sauce (e.g., Frank's RedHot), blue cheese dressing (for serving), celery sticks (for serving)
Recipe story
Buffalo cauliflower wings are a vegetarian twist on the classic American Buffalo wings, which originated in Buffalo, New York. Invented in the 1960s at the Anchor Bar, Buffalo chicken wings became an iconic American dish. This cauliflower version has gained popularity in recent years, offering a crispy and healthier alternative, perfect for the air fryer.
Ingredient Secrets
Black pepper
Known as 'black gold' in antiquity, pepper was so valuable that it served as currency and tribute. In the Middle Ages, Venetian merchants controlled the pepper trade, and individual peppercorns were often counted. Legend has it that when Alaric, king of the Visigoths, demanded tribute from Rome, he included 3,000 pounds of pepper.
Sea salt
Sea salt, extracted from ocean waters by evaporation, was one of the most precious goods of antiquity, used both as food and as currency. In ancient Rome, soldiers were paid with salt, which is the origin of the word 'salary'. Salt roads connected entire civilizations, and in the Middle Ages, salt was so valuable it was called 'white gold'.
Cumin
Cumin, known since antiquity, was used by Egyptians for embalming and by Romans as a digestive. In the Middle Ages, it was believed to ward off evil spirits, and merchants transported it along the Silk Road from the East to Europe.
Paprika
Paprika, a emblematic spice brought to Europe by Christopher Columbus from the New World. Although associated with Hungarian cuisine, its origins are in Central America, where it was used by the Aztecs.
Garlic
Native to Central Asia, garlic was already known in ancient Egypt, where it was given to slaves to boost their strength. In ancient Greece, athletes consumed it before competitions, and in Rome, legionaries considered it essential for courage. During the Middle Ages, it was used to ward off vampires and the plague.
Olive oil
Originating in the Mediterranean basin, olive oil was already produced in ancient Crete 5,000 years ago. In ancient Greece, it was considered a gift from Athena and used in lamps, cosmetics, and religious ceremonies. The Romans spread it throughout the empire, and in the Middle Ages, monasteries preserved the tradition of its production.
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