Perfect for parties and gatherings (or even just a solo dinner) wings are loved by people of all ages and all backgrounds. But they don’t have to be made from chicken. Vegan buffalo cauliflower wings are just as satisfying and tasty, and they’re cruelty-free too.
Why Skip ‘Real’ Chicken Wings?
In the U.S., 99 percent of all animal products come from a factory farm, which means it is likely wings sold in restaurants and supermarkets have come from a chicken living in poor, cramped conditions. Birds often live confined in warehouse-like buildings, which can house up to 20,000 chickens.
According to American animal protection organization Farm Sanctuary, chickens bred for their meat must grow to their “market weight” at an abnormally quick pace, which can lead to serious health problems. They struggle to walk, can suffer from deformities, and can suffer acute heart failure due to their size.
“Chickens who survive their time in production typically reach ‘market weight’ at just 6-7 weeks of age,” says Farm Sanctuary on its website. “[They] are sent to slaughter still peeping like baby chicks, even though their bodies have ballooned to the size of giant adult chickens.”
Research has also suggested that white meat could be bad for your health. A study conducted last year at the Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute showed that consuming both white meat and red meat can result in high cholesterol.
“When we planned this study, we expected red meat to have a more adverse effect on blood cholesterol levels than white meat, but we were surprised that this was not the case,” said Ronal Krauss, MD, the study’s senior author, in a statement. He added, “their effects on cholesterol are identical when saturated fat levels are equivalent.”
Benefits of Cauliflower
Cauliflower, however, can help to lower cholesterol levels, thanks to its naturally high fiber content. It also packed with important vitamins.
Per Medical News Today, according to the United States Department of Agriculture, one cup of raw cauliflower provides 77 percent of daily vitamin C, 20 percent of daily vitamin K, and 10 percent or more of daily vitamin B6 and folate. It also contains calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, and cancer-fighting antioxidants.
Do Cauliflower Wings Taste Like Chicken?
Obviously, the texture of cauliflower and the texture of chicken meat are different, so you can’t bite into a cauliflower wing hoping for the same texture as its chicken counterpart. For one thing, the former doesn’t have a bone. However, the flavor and texture of the outer crispy coating—arguably the reason most people love chicken wings—can taste the same on a cauliflower wing, and they’re just as moreish as their meaty counterpart.
If you love buffalo chicken wings, you can get that same taste from a cauliflower wing, it’s all down to the batter and the spices used. Here are 7 recipes for vegan buffalo cauliflower wings that are so tasty you won’t need chicken.
7 Vegan Buffalo Cauliflower Recipes for Your Super Bowl Feast
1. Crispy Baked Buffalo Cauliflower Wings
Batter your cauliflower florets with this tasty rice flour-based, dairy-free, gluten-free recipe by Eat With Clarity. For the spicy hot sauce, you’ll need vegetable broth, dairy-free butter, dairy-free ranch, and buffalo sauce.
Get the recipe here.
2. Gluten-Free Breaded Buffalo Cauliflower Wings
These vegan gluten-free cauliflower wings are “spicy, delicious, and loaded with flavor.” Unlike usual buffalo wings, these are breaded for a little extra crunch. “Your friends will ooh, ahh, and look on jealously as you devour these,” says Jessica in the Kitchen. “The smell of the sauce is intoxicating. Share with them, it’s the right thing to do.”
Get the recipe here.
3. Oven-Roasted Buffalo Cauliflower Wings
The Spruce Eats recommends oven-roasting your buffalo cauliflower wings. Simply coat them in a soy milk-based mixture and then bake in the oven for 18 minutes. Serve with a cool vegan ranch dressing for dipping.
Get the recipe here.
4. Easy Buffalo Cauliflower Wings With Lime
This easy recipe takes under an hour to make. Bake until crisp, cover with spicy cayenne sauce, and add a little lime juice for a zesty flavor. If you like a little sweetness, you could even drizzle over some agave syrup.
Get the recipe here.
