Nutty Cauliflower Wings with Buffalo BBQ Sauce
Where were you at 9:54 a.m. today? Did you hear a faint “Whoohoo!” coming from the West coast?
(If you heard “Whoohoo!” at 3:02 p.m., it was Lulu. She found a black bean from her lunch burrito up her sleeve. Jackpot.)
My yelp came when I was driving our crew over to a friend’s house for a visit and heard on the radio the results of a recent study that found that 33 is the happiest age for most people.
I’m 33. For one more month. Apparently it’s all downhill from here.
It makes total sense to me, though.
By 33, you’ve gone through your awkward stage, your I have to do something really spectacular to make mom and dad proud stage, your I’m a complete loser if I don’t have plans for Saturday night stage.
You learn to love the skin your in because you can see it starting to sag.
You learn to love your mom and dad because it takes your breath away to imagine a day when they won’t be here.
You learn to love Saturday nights because you don’t have anywhere you have to be.
You’re done apologizing for who you will never be and you surround yourself with friends who love you for, and sometimes even in spite of, who you really are.
Someone who throws her clothes in the dryer with a damp towel and fabric softener instead of getting out an iron.
Someone who blubbers and texts her mom during American Idol. After. Every. Performance.
Someone whose house always smells like stanky roasted vegetables, but who is always willing to share.
And hopes you won’t mind if I double-dip.
Nutty Cauliflower Wings with Buffalo BBQ Sauce
Serves 2-4
- 1 head of cauliflower, cut into florets
- 2 T. nut or seed butter (i.e. almond, cashew or sunflower seed butter)
- 1 T. soy sauce, tamari or Braggs amino acids
- 1 t. lemon juice
- 3 T. water
- stevia or maple syrup to taste (optional)
- 1 t. minced ginger or 1/2 t. dried ginger
- 1/2 t. minced garlic or 1/4 t. garlic powder
- 2 T. chopped nuts or seeds (i.e. almonds, cashews or sunflower seeds)
- chopped parsley or cilantro for garnish (optional)
Buffalo Barbecue Sauce:
- 1/4 c. organic ketchup
- 2 t. soy sauce, tamari or Braggs amino acids
- 1 t. organic Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 t. liquid smoke
- 1/2 t. Dijon mustard
- stevia or maple syrup to taste
- sriracha to taste
Preheat your broiler.
In a large bowl, combine nut butter, soy sauce, tamari or Braggs, lemon juice, water, sweetener (if using), ginger and garlic.
Add cauliflower florets and toss to coat.
Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray or lightly mist with oil. Spread cauliflower on baking sheet.
Broil for 7 to 10 minutes, turning halfway through.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine ketchup, soy sauce, tamari or Braggs amino acids, Worchestershire, liquid smoke, mustard, sweetener and sriracha.
Top cauliflower with nuts or seeds and chopped basil or cilantro, if using, and serve with buffalo barbecue sauce.
Oh.
My.
Peas.
That’s right I said it. About a vegetable.
I’m not sorry.
Spicy, salty and sweet, these “wings” make no apologies for what they aren’t.
And know and accept exactly what they are.
And what they are is delicious.
Whoohoo!
mama pea! you’ve outdone yourself. i love this recipe and that sauce and this so much.
and i’ll still love you even when you do turn 34
Will you still need me…will you still feed me…when I’m 34?
My mom just turned 64 and she and my dad kept singing this all day!
And now I have the same sense of humor as a 64 year-old.
Okay…. I’m SO putting this at the TOP of my must have on groceries this week!! I have a feeling I’ll be tossing all the cauliflower in the cart that I can get! This ….. looks…. AMAZING!!!
Have I mentioned I can’t wait to get your next cookbook!!!!!
Even Pea Daddy scarfed this and he is NOT a cauliflower fan. I was kinda bummed that I had to share.
Glad you said this because I have plenty of non-cauliflower-lovers in my life and i would love to find a recipe that changes their minds. I hope this does the trick!
Buffalo girl up in here! I love anything bbq/wing flavored LOL! Cauliflower>chicken any day!!!
You’ll want to add lots of hot sauce!
This looks like a really fun recipe – bookmarked! I love your new picture in the sidebar – beautiful girls
Thanks, Stephanie!
Perfect–I was just thinking of what to make with that head of cauliflower in my fridge!
Let me know what you think, Amy!
this recipe looks so good…and i’ve just bought some cauliflower!…hum! think tomorrow i’ll try this!
I hope you love it as much as we do!
These look crazy good! I can’t wait to try making them. I love cauliflower. I’ve roasted it two nights this week. I’m glad to see I’m not the only one who uses soy sauce, tamari and Braggs interchangeably in some recipes.
Cauliflower wings are so much friendlier!!!!!
Vegans/vegetarians live longer, so I am going to subtract twelve years from my age from now on…
I make your Cracklin’ Cauliflower like it’s going out of style. Now I’ll have somethin’ new to do with my caulies! So looking forward to eating a whooole batch of these puppies.
I’ll admit it…I’m turned on. By cauliflower wings.
Dang it. I was trying not to go to the grocery store until Monday, but I need a head of cauliflower now! Going in the morning- this looks way too delicious…and I’ll probably make it during naptime so I don’t have to share
Would it be wrong to drink this sauce straight from the bowl? Because I’m pretty sure that might happen if I make this. Oh.My.Peas is right!
I always lick it out of the bowl when all the cauliflower is gone. Shh…
You are so funny and right about 33 Sarah!
This recipe looks fantastic, and I can’t wait to pick up a head of cauliflower tomorrow and try it! It may just be the first non-pizza dinner I’ve had in a while; )
Mmm…this would be a great side dish alongside pizza
Woohoo for 33!!!
Oh, and the cauli looks pretty good too …
Oh my! I’m eating this tomorrow, FOR SURE! Yummmm
Amazing! That is what you are…..I have been going through your book to see what recipes I could make. I don’t cook but it is my goal this year to learn. And I like that your recipes don’t all need funky ingredients.
Was just talking to Kev tonight about trying to grow cauliflower in our garden this season. Hmmm! Must make this recipe.
I am jealous of your garden. I want one!
This looks amazaballs.
YUM!!!
I’ve been making this for years and NEVER get sick of it! I like when you get it soft inside and crispy on the outside. Or just really coated in sauce and then broiled/microwaved etc. Gorgeous pictures monma pea! I had to “pin” 2 of them because they looked so good. I swear I am serving cauliflower at my wedding! lol. It’s really good with maple syrup, panko, sugar, and cinnamon as well
Sounds delish!
I’ve been making Cauliflower tossed in almond butter a little bit of grapeseed oil and some sea salt roasted as “popcorn” for the past couple of weeks… never thought of adding Bragg’s to it!
Nice!
Glad to know that I’m not the only one that gets excited about finding food from earlier on me somewhere.
It was the highlight of my day, her excitement.
I love cauliflower even if it doesn’t always love me back. Seriously, I can go to TOWN on the stuff. And with some sauce, mmmm, this is perfect! The ketchup + Worcestershire sauce combo is always a winner.
Wowsers! Loving the cauliflower seasonings and the barbecue sauce. Will I ever get to that age where I’m content with my standing in life? I’m already 28 and my future is not set… There’s no stability and everything seems vague. Hope life will be more sure when I turn 33. PS I looked up your restaurant suggestion, blossoming lotus, I am so going there! Thank you!
I never want my future to be set. I always want to explore the possibilities!
Hope you love Blo Lo!
Now this is a party food I can’t wait to make! Brilliant recipe and a great way to get my family to eat more cauliflower.
You’ll want to make a triple batch for a party. And invite me.
I don’t think anything could make cauliflower any tastier than it naturally is, but I am certainly willing to try! Good to know that life will get better in my 30s. I am almost 29 and I thought everything was supposed to go downhill from there.
You’ll love this!
Brilliant, as always, Mama Pea. You forget 34 comes with all the wisdom you’ve learned in the previous years…like roasting cauliflower and dipping it in buffalo bbq sauce.
Oh so true. Or always make sure your underwear isn’t inside out.
Words cannot express how awesome this looks.
This looks amazing!! I don’t know if it can beat your Cracklin’ Cauliflower, though. I’ve practically written sonnets for that recipe.
I love it too. I think these are just as good!
These are genius! I don’t mid chicken wings but would rather be able to just eat the whole dang thing…not possible with all the fat an bones. These are something I can totally sink my teeth into!
I hear ya. Here you just pop and go! And go and go (if you’re me…)
These are the best idea I’ve seen yet! I have’t eaten a chicken wing in probably 10 years but cauliflower I can do. So cleaver!
Wow, a brilliant idea! Can’t wait to make these.
Ok, I’m only 23 and I secretly LOVE Saturday nights when I don’t have anywhere I have to be… wow, what am I going to be like at 33?!?!
I was a little unsure when I read the title of this post, but looking at the recipe, these sound fantastic! Oh and finally, maybe I’m not the most observant person but I just noticed your new sidebar pic and I LOVE it!!
Thanks, Angela!
awwww, I can so relate, my daughter and I text each other back and forth while watching American Idol too! and, i can’t wait to try the cauliflower, sounds delish!
My cable was out last night so I have no idea who went home!
Uh oh…it got an “Oh. My. Peas.” so that must mean it will make me swoon. Like the Tempeh Tamale Pie I finally got around to trying last night. Hubby and I were both saying “oh my peas….”
And aging….it just gets better and better. Except for the sagging part….
Glad you like the pie and sorry about the sags. I feel you.
Ooooh got to try these. I recently found a recipe that’s dunked in a batter and cooked, basted, cooked but needs to be served right away or it’ll get soggy. This one looks like I wouldn’t have to worry about that.
From the perspective of staring 50 in the eye I can tell ya, 33 is just the beginning. If a person chooses to work through their stuff, and chooses to never stop learning and growing, I’m pretty sure it just gets better and better, one day at a time.
I love that, Kelly. I totally agree. I am always trying to learn and grow!
do you think tahini would work? (it’s all I have in the house)…
Yes, it’d be delish!
I’m also 33 for one more month! Yay for 1978 babies. When’s your birthday? Mine is 4/21.
May 2! You are a little over a week older than me!
I adore your cracklin’ cauliflower recipe and now I have another cauliflower recipea to try
You just made my Friday!
Yay for 33- six more months for me to enjoy it!
I will try that cauliflower. The family hates the smell, but this looks delish!
Wow, Mama Pea. I really dislike cauliflower but you are slowly converting me, starting with the cauliflower rice paella. I will give this a try, too, and maybe DH will be satisfied and not have to eat nasty chicken wings.
And, life only gets better after 35. You get through all of the stuff you mentioned in your 30s, then by 40, you no longer care what other people think of you and can finally be yourself. Being comfortable in your own skin is quite liberating. I never went to any of my high school reunions until last year, because I figured now that we were all 40+ all of the h.s. junk would be long gone. I was right.
Nice! Well, then I am excited for 34.
I think you will LOVE this cauliflower!
Ohhh lordy. Gimmeeeee!
Long-time lurker here, but I had to leave my first comment after this post – I’m 28 but this post just spoke to me! Couldn’t have put it better myself – beautifully said!
PS. I hate cauliflower, but I’ll eat anything that involves nut butter + bbq sauce
Thanks for saying hi, Molly!
ah I love this post andI love even more how good you’ve made me believe they’re going to be. And how good my 30s are going to be. WOOHOO
You know that Worcestershire Sauce isn’t vegetarian, right?
Thanks for your concern, but most organic brands are…you just have to check the labels. That being said, I’m not one to freak out about it.
I’m not the biggest fan of cauliflower…but I think this could do the trick in getting me to happily eat it!
Cauliflower wings. You need to stop with your bad self! Can I at least make the sourdough loaf first??
and thanks for the no iron ironing tip, too. ha!
Are you saying to slow down on the recipes? Because I’m in no rush over here.
nooooo! LOL Keep ‘em coming! You know my son can’t get enough of your creations. But seriously, you have earned your rest. Do what you need to do. We want you at your mental and spiritual best!
yum! i’m always surprised at how you can use cauliflower as a “meat” substitute. i did it with “steaks” recently:
http://theactorsdiet.wordpress.com/2012/01/30/raising-the-steaks/
your recipe looks amazing!
Yum! It’s always so hard to think of savoury, vegetarian ‘bar snacks’ – everyone just goes for the wings and the usual temptations which I obviously don’t eat!
Oh my peas indeed. This has my name written all over it…with a side of almond Hershey Kisses for dessert!
So, a damp towel + fabric softener sheet, huh? Must try that!
This trick will get you through your twins’ first year. Trust me.
Even the meat loving man I live with loves (LOVES!) cauliflower. I can’t even waaait.
Oh this looks good, I am a huge cauliflower fan. And thank you for this feet-free presentation!
Just for you, Shelley. Just for you.
i first read the title as “naughty cauliflower wings” and was sorely disappointed.
I am sorry to be such a let down.
Oh I’m a sucker for roasted cauliflower, but never thought of adding nuts to the sauce.
Have I ever told you how much I love you and your blog? 
Oh, and no one needs a dryer if you have Downy Wrinkle Release. 
He he. I’m 35. I feel OLD. have a good weekend friend!
Adding Downy Wrinkle Release to my grocery list. I feel like I owe you an email. Hopefully I can get to it this weekend. Hope you have a great one too, my young and beautiful friend!
You just knew that cauliflower is on my grocery list for tomorrow, right?
Oh, and by the way – I just can’t get over Lulu’s hair. It’s sooo stinkin’ long and gorgeous. Where did she get those golden locks from?
Thanks! I have no idea. It must be the mailman.
I just turned 34 a couple of weeks ago. I have been feeling really old in those two weeks. Let the slide begin!
Who needs the dryer? I “iron” my clothes with the steam from my shower!
Just roasted a boat load of cauliflower earlier in the week. I’m trying your version! Adding nuts sounds fabulous!
Late happy birthday, Angela! You are fabulous.
I LOVE the new profile photo of you, Lu, and Gigi! (The photo to the right of the blog.) You look incredibly gorgeous as usual and wonderfully happy which are two strongly correlated things to me. =)
Thank you so much. I love my girls
I can just tell these are going to be ridiculously addictive! I’m gonna have another Mmmm sauce debacle on my hands aren’t I!
And this is from someone who has only just recently tried cauliflower (in the form of poppers) after years of avid avoidance! Now I’m reading this post and downright craving cauliflower ‘wings’! Nice work Mama Pea! 
Thanks! Give in to that craving…
This looks so yummy! p.s. I made your spagetti squash casserole and if you need someone to write a testimonial about it, pick me! Best meal I’ve had in a while? most definitely.
Duly noted. Thanks, Caroline!
yes!! sounds so good.
cauliflower=one of the best veggies EVER
+ BBQ sauce
…
OMG
I made this yesterday and it was AWESOME! I already have plans to make it again for dinner this week. I wouldn’t have thought to roast the cauliflower in a nut butter sauce, what a great idea. The BBQ sauce is so delicious, too! It is definitely going to be my go-to barbeque sauce- it is so simple and tastes great. Thank you for the great recipe!
I’m so excited you loved it as much as I did! I make that BBQ sauce constantly. It whips up in a cinch and is awesome on a salad, a sweet potato, just about anything!
I did this using Coke Zero that was leftover from a party last night in lieu of water + stevia. Tasted kind of … SUPER AMAZING.
Thank you so much for the recipe !
Way to be ingenious! You are quite welcome.
Just made these this evening and they are amazing. I love cauliflower, but even a hater would probably like these–they really don’t have a strong cauliflower taste at all. I didn’t make the barbecue sauce, but I dipped them in some fancy black pepper ketchup I had in the fridge that had basically the same ingredients. I think they’d be really good with peanut sauce, too.
Mmm…black pepper ketchup? Yum! I’m glad you liked the “wings,” Gina!
Really late commenting here, so I don’t know if you willsee this: But these were SO AMAZING. My husband and I devoured these. I will definitely serve these as an appaetizer at Easter this year. But I might jsut have to ‘test’ them one more time before that. Way more than yum!
I might change the name since I was never a fan of Buffalo wings and these are so much better that they shouldn’t stand in the shadow of their namesake!!!!
Thanks, Ellani! I thought about serving them at Easter too, but I don’t want to have to share with that many people.
You’re right! Sharing will be really hard (that or buy a whole field full of cauliflower!)
This looks so awesome!
I would say that 33 was my favorite age but mostly because I like the number. Now that I’m months away from 37 I’m a little freaked out just because I’m that much closer to 40 and I still feel like a kid sometimes.
I loved these!!!!!
OMG these were indescribably delish. The meat-eaters in the house usually humor me by talking a little bite and mumbling something noncommittal (after exchanging a knowing wink) but last night this was a complete sellout. A definite keeper, thanks.
Yes! The true measure of success! Thanks for the feedback.
Made these last night and they were amazing! I have been passing the link on to everyone with instructions to make immediately. My husband was practically drinking the dipping sauce
I always lick the bowl. Glad they were a hit!
OK, I made them tonight. I am slowly converting to like cauliflower. As I was fixing it, my husband said, “We’re having cauliflower? You hate cauliflower!” I learned that it’s not so bad smothered in nutty goodness and spicy buffalo barbecue sauce!
And that’s one of the reasons why I nominated you as Most Likeable Food Blogger!
Thanks, Beth! I’m really glad you guys liked these babies.
Made this last night. It was wonderful. Fun way to jazz up cauliflower. My sauce was a bit chunky because the natural peanut butter had a difficult time getting smooth. But who cares, we loved it! My 22 month old kept using the cauliflower as a spoon and licking the sauce off of it.
Vegetable spoons…you may be onto something! Thanks for the great feedback, Sheryl.
haha! Did you ever get my email about what age to start giving tempeh? I buy it direct from a local shop and it is super “moldy”, very purple/black. Can I safely give this to a toddler under 2? What did you do with your girls?
Oh, I’m sorry, I’ve been swamped! Yes, tempeh should be fine to give toddlers (run it by your pediatrician if it makes you feel better), but if it’s that purple/black, good luck getting them to eat it! (Gigi will eat it fine, but Lulu, not so much.)
Just wanted to let you know that I LOVED this recipe so much. As soon as I saw it I had to make it. The flavors just popped and satisfied every possible craving. And to think it was just a lowly cauliflower! (well ok – cauliflower with an incredible mix of flavors added…)
Hey, watch what you say about cauliflower!
I made this for my community group (it’s like a neighborhood bible-study + dinner, sort-of) last night, which is a group of about 20 and it was an enormous success!! Some of my favorite comments included: “Other than meat with BBQ sauce, this is definitely the best thing I’ve had with BBQ sauce.” and “This was hands down the best cauliflower I’ve ever had.”
Thanks so much for sharing, we were really blessed!
Made these last night, and they were amaaaaaazing! I didn’t get far claiming they were a substitute for buffalo wings (husband still has a wing eating championship claim to fame he’s hanging on to from his glory days in college) – but calling them bbq cauliflower dips did wonders… he literally ate almost an entire head of cauliflower in one sitting…. leading me to wonder whether the side effects from this musical vegetable may call for a new song to rival your asparagus pee ditty?
Thanks so much for sharing another winner – happy Easter to you and yours!
Kudos to you! My husband HATES cauliflower. I made this and told him to close his eyes and stuck a piece in his mouth. He ate a good 2/3 head of cauliflower and asked me to make it again sometime. Thanks!
You are so welcome! I am so glad we changed his mind about cauliflower.
Wow! I love the sound of this!
I made this tonight. It served 1.
You rock; thank you for inspiring increased college-aged vegetable consumption (or gorging)
Nice work, sister!
Had these for dinner tonight, and they. are. awesome. My carnivorous boyfriend kept coming over and stealing some, saying “Oh my god, these are really FREAKING GOOD!”
He’s right! I’m glad you guys liked ‘em.
I was crazy about this recipe! Was fantastic and I repinned…several others have repinned now. This was probably my favorite recipe of yours yet and is definitely a keeper. I have never had a chicken wing but the sauce always looked great on buffalo wings. I’ve never been a fan of eating anything on a bone OR chicken for that matter. Was really fantastic and my whole family loved it.
Excellent! It’s one of my favorites too. So happy you enjoyed it.
This was delicious! Thank you for the recipe!