Description
These air-fried buffalo cauliflower steaks are crispy, spicy, and full of flavor—no deep fryer needed. Perfect for stacking on a bun or serving as a hearty main dish. Whether you’re a buffalo sauce fan or just love a good crunch, this recipe delivers!
Ingredients
for the cauliflower
- one large head of cauliflower
- salt and pepper
for the dry ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 2 teaspoons cayenne (optional)
for the wet ingredients
- 1 cup soymilk, whisked with 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup JUST Egg
- 2 tablespoon bourbon
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce
for frying and coating
- spray oil
- at least one cup of prepared buffalo sauce. (You can also make your own by mixing a 1:1 ratio of melted vegan butter with a vinegar-based hot sauce)
to serve
- toasted hamburger buns
- cabbage or lettuce
- pickles
- red onion
- tomato and/or avocado
- vegan bleu cheese dressing
- extra buffalo sauce
- celery
Instructions
to prep the cauliflower
- To cut your cauliflower steaks, place a head of cauliflower stem side down on a cutting board. Using a large knife, slice it down the very middle. Then cut down again on each half to create 3 or 4, 1-inch thick slabs. Chop up the leftover portion of the cauliflower into little, bite-sized florets.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Place the cauliflower into the pot, let the boil return, wait about a minute, then transfer the florets to a cookie sheet with a wire rack to cool.
- Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Leave out for 30 minutes, or throw into your refrigerator to cool.
to make the breading
- Combine the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, garlic and onion powders, salt, paprika, and cayenne in a medium-sized bowl.
- Whisk the soymilk with the apple cider vinegar, JUST Egg, bourbon, and hot sauce in a separate medium-sized bowl.
- Working one piece at a time, coat the steaks and florets evenly in the dry mixture, tapping off any extra and placing it back onto the wire rack.
- Pour 3 tablespoons of the wet mixture into the dry mixture and combine with a rubber spatula.
- Working one piece at a time, dunk the steaks and florets into the wet mixture, then pack the moistened flour mixture firmly around it.
- Return the battered cauliflower back onto the wire rack and place into the refrigerator to chill for at least 30 minutes.
to air fry the cauliflower
- Spray the cauliflower steaks evenly with cooking spray.
- Place into the air fryer at 400 degrees and cook for 10 minutes, flipping the slabs over halfway through the cooking time. Apply a little more spray over any areas that look dry and cook for an additional minute or two if needed to achieve a deeply golden color all over.
- Place the buffalo sauce into a bowl, then carefully turn the steaks around in the bowl to coat.
- Place back into the air fryer and fry on each side for 3-4 minutes, or until the edges look crispy.
- Repeat the process with the florets. Air fry time will take less with the florets since they are smaller. Just give them a shake halfway through the cooking time, and spray any areas with cooking spray that look dry.
- Serve immediately on toasted hamburger buns or with celery and vegan bleu cheese dressing.
Notes
- Storage: Store any leftover cauliflower steaks in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Let them cool completely before storing to maintain their texture.
- Reheating: To re-crisp, pop the steaks back into the air fryer at 400°F for 5-7 minutes per side, and 6-8 minutes for florets. Give them a shake halfway through to ensure even cooking and crisping.
- Make Ahead: You can prepare the cauliflower steaks up to the chilling step, then cover and refrigerate them overnight. This makes it easy to air fry them fresh the next day.
- Cooling Tip: After air frying, let the cauliflower steaks rest on a wire rack for a few minutes before serving. This allows any excess steam to escape, keeping the coating crispy.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Chill Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Battered, Air-Fried
- Cuisine: American