Buffalo Cauliflower Bites

# What You Need:

→ Cauliflower

01 - 1 large head cauliflower, cut into bite-sized florets

→ Breading

02 - 1 cup all-purpose flour

03 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder

04 - 1 teaspoon paprika

05 - ½ teaspoon salt

06 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper

07 - 1 cup milk (dairy or unsweetened plant-based)

→ Buffalo Sauce

08 - ½ cup buffalo hot sauce

09 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

10 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup (optional)

→ For Serving

11 - Celery sticks

12 - Carrot sticks

13 - Ranch or blue cheese dressing (optional)

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C).

02 - In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Add milk and whisk until a smooth batter forms.

03 - Dip each cauliflower floret into the batter, ensuring an even coating. Shake off excess batter.

04 - Arrange battered florets in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Air fry for 15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until golden and crisp.

05 - While cauliflower cooks, combine buffalo hot sauce, melted butter, and honey or maple syrup in a large bowl.

06 - Transfer cooked cauliflower immediately to the sauce bowl. Toss until evenly coated.

07 - Serve hot with celery sticks, carrot sticks, and ranch or blue cheese dressing as desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -

You get that sticky finger, lip tingling experience without the meat or the grease
The air fryer does almost all the work, and cleanup is genuinely minimal
These reheat surprisingly well for lunch the next day, if they last that long

02 -

Overcrowding the air fryer basket makes them soggy, so work in batches if necessary
The sauce needs to go on immediately after cooking while the cauliflower is still hot enough to melt the butter

03 -

Adding a pinch of cayenne to the batter gives a subtle heat that builds as you eat
The cauliflower cuts into florets most easily when the head is cold, so prep it right from the fridge