I loved developing this recipe for vegan bang bang cauliflower. It’s easy to make and delicious! After chopping a head of cauliflower into florets, these are coated in panko then baked, not fried. These cauliflower florets are super crispy and served with a rich and tangy bang bang sauce. The crunch of the breading and the texture of the cauliflower is amazing, creating a perfect little vegan appetizer.
How To Make This Bang Bang Cauliflower Recipe
The magic happens right after these florets emerge crispy from the oven and are drizzled with the bang bang sauce. The first drizzle kind of oozes onto the crispiest parts of the cauliflower. It creates a slightly chewy texture. The sauce ingredients work so well with the succulent cauliflower inside.
The second drizzle floats over the top, giving each bite a creamy and spicy quality. The sliced green onions give it another crisp textural element and the cilantro adds a super clean note. I ate at least eight cups of this stuff in the past couple of days while testing it out! I guess I am kind of a bang bang cauliflower aficionado now. 😀
Using A Vegan Egg Replacement In This Batter
You may be wondering if you can use Aquafaba in place of Ener-G here, and I did. It did not work as well (it wasn’t quite sticky enough), but worth a try if that’s what you’ve got. There’s even more egg replacer ideas here. You can easily make this crispy, creamy, slightly spicy and succulent one-bite dish to eat by itself. Toss it over some rice or tuck it into a taco.
How To Make The Bang Bang Sauce
You can also make your own Sweet Chili sauce with just a few ingredients for an even better, spicier kick. Grab some Follow Your Heart, Just Mayo or Fabanaise brand vegan mayos. They add a super creamy element that is perfect blended with sweet chili sauce.
This vegan bang bang sauce is also great on my vegan shrimp recipe!
For More Cauliflower Ideas, Check out These Recipes!
Cauliflower and Mushroom Curry
The Best Buffalo Cauliflower Wings
Crispy Buffalo Cauliflower Salad
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Bang Bang Cauliflower
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This recipe for bang bang cauliflower is delicious and so easy to make. Cauliflower florets are breaded and baked to crispy perfection and served with a rich, creamy and tangy sauce. This vegan appetizer is great for parties and get-togethers!
Ingredients
for the cauliflower
- 4 cups bite-sized cauliflower florets, rinsed
- 1/2 cup white rice flour
- 2 TB Ener-G, whisked with 3/4 cup water
- 2 cups panko
- salt and pepper
- spray oil
for the bang bang sauce
- 1/2 cup vegan mayo (I used Follow Your Heart brand)
- 1/4 cup sweet chili sauce
- 1 TB sriracha
- juice from half a lime
to serve
- 2 scallions, thinly sliced
- handful of cilantro, finely minced
Instructions
to prep the cauliflower
- Preheat oven to 400. Line a baking sheet with a silpat or parchment paper.
- Set up a station with three large bowls. In the first bowl, place the rice flour. In the second, place the Ener-G+water. In the third place the panko mixture.
- Working in batches, place some of the rinsed-and-still-wet cauliflower florets into the first bowl with the rice flour, and use your hands to toss to coat.
- Pick up the cauliflower, shaking off any excess flour and place into the bowl with the vegan egg mixture, and toss to coat. Then place the coated cauliflower into the bowl with the panko and toss well to combine. (The pieces don’t need to be completely covered in panko, but If you find you are having some trouble with getting it to stick, moisten with a little of the vegan egg mixture and press the panko onto the florets with your fingers.)
- Place the cauliflower onto the lined baked sheet in a single layer. Repeat with the rest of the cauliflower pieces, then spray the tops of each with a little oil, then season with salt and pepper.
- Place into the oven for 15 minutes, or until the tops are slightly golden.
- Remove, flip the florets and respray the other side with a little more spray oil. Bake for 10 minutes more, or until golden all over. Do keep an eye on them towards the end of the bake time to prevent burning! (The bake time will vary based on the size of your florets.)
to prep the bang bang sauce
- While your cauliflower is baking, combine all of the bang bang sauce ingredients together in a small bowl.
to serve
- Allow the cauliflower to slightly cool, then drizzle with the sauce as desired. Sprinkle with the chopped scallions and cilantro and serve immediately.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snack
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Chinese, American
Keywords: bang bang sauce recipe, vegan bang bang cauliflower, bang bang cauliflower recipe,
Lynne says
I made this for a Super Bowl gathering, and everyone was simply blown away by this dish. The cauliflower itself was crispy and delicious with the panko coating. It had the luxurious mouthfeel of deep-fried cauliflower but no greasiness. And it stayed crispy. I don’t know how LONG it could stay crispy, because it disappeared fast. I made the Thai chili sauce – bang bang sauce also, and that is also a keeper. I’m excited to try the cauliflower again in tacos. Thank you for this fantastic recipe, Erin.
★★★★★
erinwyso says
Thanks for your very kind feedback, Lynne! I’m so happy that you and your guests enjoyed the recipe, and hope you enjoy them in tacos as well!
Kristen says
This was soooooo freaking good! We put the cauliflower in tortillas with cabbage (as suggested in the beer batter bang bang recipe) and they made RV e best tacos ever. I can’t believe the cauliflower stayed so crispy without the use of any oil. Thanks for sharing this recipe!
erinwyso says
Kristen, so happy you enjoyed!
Brendan says
This was incredible!
Day two, I warmed up the leftovers in an air fryer at 400 for 6 minutes. Perfectly crisp and as delicious as day one!
Thanks for the recipe!
★★★★★
erinwyso says
So happy you enjoyed, Brendan!
Claudia says
Made this over the weekend for a get together dinner with family. We all loved it and said it needs to be a frequent ‘make’ dish!!
★★★★★
erinwyso says
Claudia, that’s so great to hear … so happy it was enjoyed! 🙂
Christine says
Made this as part of Chinese Banquet dinner – it was outstandingly delicious and everyone raved about it. Was never a cauliflower fan until I became vegan and discovered all the wondrous things one can do with it. Could have eaten it all by myself. Love that it crisps so beautifully in the oven – I try to keep away for deep frying / frying – finger licking delicious.
★★★★★
erinwyso says
Christine, I love this so much!
Piotr says
Perfect! Cool.
I did not bake in the oven but in oil, about half a minute. Instead of coriander, which I do not like, I added chives.
Overall perfect.
★★★★★
Sharon says
Could you substitute avocado for vegan mayo? I live in a small farm town and don’t have access to a lot of specialty foods?
erinwyso says
You can always give it a try! You can also make your own vegan mayo with the brine from a can of chickpeas. I have a version here, but a quick google search will show a lot of variations/methods: https://olivesfordinner.com/2017/12/aquafaba-mayo.html … good luck!
Sara says
This was literally one of the best dishes I’ve ever made! Guests were raving. Will absolutely make again.
erinwyso says
Sara, thanks for your very kind feedback and so happy that it was a hit!
Courtney says
My husband and I can’t get enough of these. Tonight when he asked me what I was making for dinner, I said the Bang Bang Cauliflower, and he did “victory” arms with a huge smile. 🙂
★★★★★
erinwyso says
Courtney,
Ha! I love that. Thanks for your feedback, and so happy you like the recipe!! <3
Diane Balcer says
Will be making these lovely bites tonight! Can’t wait and thanks for the recipe?
michelle correia says
made these yesterday and were delish!! Even my omni family enjoyed. must say your website is in my top 3.
★★★★★
Kayleigh says
I’ve just made this and scoffed the lot, it’s delicious! Will definitely be making this when friends come over at the weekend 😀
★★★★★
erinwyso says
So happy you enjoyed, Kayleigh … thanks too for sharing it with friends! 🙂
Jekka Roder says
This was delicious! EVERYONE in my household – including two toddlers – loved this.
erinwyso says
Jekka, thanks for your kind feedback! I am so happy that both the adults and the little ones liked it! 🙂
Bri says
Made this last night, SOOO delicious! Only problem is, I tried to bring it for lunch today, and it’s definitely not a day 2 item – be prepared to eat all this cauliflower in one sitting! Yum!!
★★★★★
erinwyso says
Bri, thanks for your feedback, so happy you liked! Yeah, bummer about the reheat, but a good excuse to eat it all in one sitting! 😉
Elaine says
You can always add leftovers cauliflower to mashed potatoes. I think the sauce might make yummy potatoes!
Gayle says
Can you elaborate on what EnRG is? I’m dying to try this and the Brocollie Tots. I found your feed in Instagram and really enjoy your recipes. Thanks @foodieatinbetween
erinwyso says
Gayle, Ener-G is an egg replacer made from mainly from potato starch and tapioca flour.
https://www.ener-g.com/products/egg-replacer
If you can’t find it or want to try other options, just google “vegan egg replacer” … there are lots to experiment with, good luck!
Charlotte says
Addicted to it. Just absolutely love it.
Erin says
Love love love this recipe. I am hard core drooling over it! I would devour this cauliflower in a second! Pinned! I am defiantly going to try this out! <3
Mihl says
Wow, Erin! This looks so good. Now you just have to come over and cook for me 😀
erinwyso says
Thanks Mihl! A trip over to Germany sounds fun! 🙂