Air Fryer Cauliflower Hot Wings with Dairy-Free Ranch

The first few times I used my air fryer I was disappointed. It became obvious that if I wanted to acheive that fried crispy texture I would have to coat whatever I was air frying in oil. Since we try to avoid oil (check out our why no oil post HERE) I thought our air fryer purchase was a waste. Then I experimented with these cauliflower hot wings and game over. These wings alone make our air fryer purchase 100% worth it… they’re that good!

These cauliflower wings are breaded with a whole wheat flour/ground flaxseed breading, which negates the need for coating them with oil. (Unfortunately you do still have to coat the bottom rack with oil so the wings don’t stick to it.) To make the breading you simply combine the flour, ground flax, soy milk, water, and spices and mix everything together. Then dip the florets in the breading, air fry them at 370’F for 13 minutes, and toss to coat in the wing sauce.

 

Air Fried Cauliflower Hot Wings

 

The wing sauce for this recipe is simple: hot sauce, soy milk, and corn starch for thickening. Although there are wing sauces you can buy premade, we don’t recommend it. Wing sauces contain butter, oil, and bulking/thickening agents. Most hot sauces on the other hand are just comprised of hot peppers, vinegar, and spices. Making the wing sauce yourself allows you to forgo those excessively processed ingredients normally found in wing sauce.

 

 

These cauliflower wings are best when enjoyed immediately as they will begin to get soggy after tossing them in the wing sauce. Although if you have leftovers, don’t throw them out! Store them in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to eat them place them on a pan and reheat in the oven on broil for just a few minutes – they will crisp back up perfectly!

Air Fried Cauliflower Hot Wings

Air Fryer Cauliflower Hot Wings with Dairy-Free Ranch

Air fried cauliflower wings coated in a whole wheat flour/flaxseed breading and tossed in a homemade hot wing sauce. Perfect for dipping in our simple dairy-free ranch dip.
5 from 5 votes
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Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Air Fryer, Cauliflower, Hot Wings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 13 minutes
Total Time: 23 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients

Cauliflower

  • 1 head cauliflower cut into bite size florets

Breading

Hot Sauce

  • 1/4 cup Franks red hot sauce
  • 1/4 cup soy milk unflavored
  • 1/2 tsp corn starch

Ranch

  • 1/3 cup raw cashews
  • 1/3 cup soy milk unflavored
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp white vinegar
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 Tbsp parsley dried or fresh

Instructions

  • Place all breading ingredients in a medium bowl and whisk until smooth. After a few minutes the breading will thicken.
  • Immerse cauliflower florets in the breading and then place them on parchment so excess breading drips off. I use a fork or my fingers to do this. 
  • Using a paper towel, rub oil on the air fryer rack to prevent cauliflower from sticking. 
  • Place coated cauliflower florets on the air fryer rack, being careful that they do not touch. Air fry at 370'F for 13 minutes. 
  • Combine all the hot sauce ingredients in a small bowl and whisk until smooth. 
  • Place all ranch ingredients in a food processor and process until smooth, stopping to scrape down sides as needed.
  • Once cooked, removed cauliflower florets from air fryer and place in a medium bowl. Pour hot sauce mixture over florets and toss to evenly coat.
  • Enjoy immediately with ranch dip. 

Notes

Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may have to fry the cauliflower in 2 or 3 batches. 
Did you make this recipe?Tag @whollyplantsblog on Instagram and hashtag it #whollyplants

 

 



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