Sometimes it’s hard to be at parties with your non-vegetarian friends.  Most popular American appetizers contain meat, and convincing my friends to make substitutes isn’t always easy.  One thing that I miss is the spicy kick of a good buffalo dish.  I’d only ever seen it smothered over chicken wings, so after becoming a veggie I accepted my buffalo-less future.  Recently, though, I saw a picture of cauliflower florets baked in a spicy orange sauce and it hit me: I can do buffalo (and guilt-free, at that)! Serve with celery sticks or cucumber slices and your favorite condiment for an after-bite cooling agent.

Prep time: 10 minutes for pre-heat

Cook time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 head of cauliflower, cut at florets
  • 1/2 c flour
  • 1/2 c soy milk
  • 1/4 c water
  • 1/2 c sriracha or other hot sauce
  • 2 garlic gloves, crushed or minced
  • a few dashes of lemon juice
  • dash of salt and pepper

Method:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.

Mix flour, soy milk, water, garlic, and hot sauce in a bowl.  You want the batter to be light and smooth so that it will bake crispy.  If it’s too thick, it will bake into a mushy dough-like consistency.  Dip florets into the mix and coat completely.  Place them in a baking dish or tray, and bake for 15 minutes.  Top with salt, pepper, and a few squirts of lemon juice.