Get all the flavors of your favorite handheld buffalo sauced appetizer in this low-fat, low calorie cauliflower snack.
It’s turn vegetables into delicious tapas dishes and tasty appetizers week at Think Tasty. This recipe has been on my short list for healthy snacks during Sunday football forever. With all the nachos, queso, and whatever else is on the menu, it’s nice to see a vegetable that can stand up to all that flavor.
The original post from October 2013
The other weekend ended with the same feeling for both my husband and me; we were full from a weekend of eating. The odd thing about it was that we hadn’t eaten a lot. There were no extravagant desserts or over-sized meal. We ate a little less healthily over the weekend, but it wasn’t a high calorie weekend by any means. Thus, when Monday morning rolled around both of us had the same thought about our Tapas Monday menu: keep it healthier.
I always love the challenge of creating snacks or desserts that taste sinful but actually are lower in calories and fat. I usually find it is best to start with a theme and begin working from there. So, for last Monday’s tapas menu I decided to go with the theme of bar food. What came to mind were potato skins and buffalo tenders.
I could have made broiled chicken tenders and served them with buffalo sauce, but that didn’t seem creative enough. I have made Buffalo Tofu Bites that were well received, so I decided to try use a vegetable in place of the chicken. Cauliflower seemed like an option, as it stays fairly firm when roasted and has a mild flavor that would pair well with buffalo sauce.
In summation
This appetizer was enjoyed by both of us. However, there is no chance that the cauliflower acts as a replacement for the chicken. It has neither the crunch nor the texture of chicken. What it does have is a great capacity for delivering the flavor of the buffalo sauce. As long as your fellow diners are aware that they are being served cauliflower (the shape should be a giveaway), they should find this to be a delicious snack.
Don’t be afraid to try cauliflower in a whole new way. It’s pretty likely that you’re going to be impressed by this tasty dish.
Buffalo Cauliflower Florets
Ingredients
- 1 head cauliflower
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1-1/2 teaspoons garlic salt
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- buffalo sauce
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 450°F.
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Cut cauliflower into bite-sized florets.
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Combine garlic powder, garlic salt, chili powder, and freshly ground black pepper in a small bowl.
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Place florets on a rimmed baking sheet, and drizzle with olive oil. Toss well.
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Sprinkle seasoning mix over cauliflower, and toss well again.
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Spread florets in a single layer over the baking sheet.
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Bake for 15 minutes.
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Flip, and bake for another 15 minutes.
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Using a spatula, gather cauliflower in a pile on baking sheet. Pour approximately 1/2 cup of buffalo sauce over cauliflower.
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Toss well, then spread florets in a single layer, and return to oven.
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Bake for 5 minutes.
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Serve immediately with blue cheese dressing, if desired.
Notes
