Americans really, really love wings. On Super Bowl Sunday in 2022, it was estimated that more than 1.4 billion wings were eaten across the country. But while they may be tasty, wings have a dark side. The chicken farming industry is rife with animal welfare issues, and itâs also harmful to the environment, too. Every year, more than nine billion chickens are raised in the US for the meat industry, most of them on cramped, industrialized factory farms. But there is another way to enjoy wings without any chicken at all.
In the last few years, cauliflower wings have been rising in popularity. Theyâre just as delicious and just as addictive, but they donât require any animals. Hereâs everything you need to know about the crispy veggie snack, plus where you can buy them and how to make them from home.
What are cauliflower wings?
Cauliflower wings are essentially florets of cauliflower covered in a crispy, crunchy batter. Just like chicken wings, they can be covered in barbecue sauce, buffalo sauce, super spicy sauceâ âthe list goes on.
Are cauliflower wings vegan?
While many brands and restaurants offer vegan cauliflower wings, they are not vegan by default. This is because the coating can sometimes contain animal products, like milk or honey, or theyâre deep-fried in animal fat. The cauliflower wings at Buffalo Wild Wings, for example, are meat-free, but theyâre not vegan because theyâre cooked in beef fat. (That said, you could try and order them baked instead of fried!)
Sol Cuisine
Do cauliflower wings taste like chicken wings?
Thanks to its neutral taste, cauliflower will take on the flavor of whatever itâs cooked with. So, if you order barbecue cauliflower wings, you can be assured the overpowering flavor is going to be barbecue, rather than the taste of the cauliflower. In this sense, cauliflower wings are very similar to chicken wings. (After all, by itself, chicken has a very bland flavor.)
But itâs important to note, due to the different textures, cauliflower wings donât taste exactly like meat. But theyâre still a great-tasting snack in their own right. (If youâre after vegan wings that taste exactly like chicken, plenty of plant-based meat brands, like Like Meat and Gardein offer convincing alternatives.)
Where can you buy vegan cauliflower wings?
A few different brands and restaurant chains offer vegan cauliflower wings. Here, weâve put together a handful of examples. But itâs also worth checking the menu of your favorite local vegan or vegetarian restaurant (or veg-friendly restaurant, too), as cauliflower wings are quickly becoming a popular menu addition in many eateries.
Wholly Veggie!
1 Wholly Veggie
All of Wholly Veggieâs products are made with recognizable healthy, vegetable-based ingredients. Unlike many plant-based brands, none of its range is designed to taste exactly like meat. But that doesnât mean itâs not delicious. Its crunchy, gluten-free Buffalo Cauliflower Wings (designed to be baked, not fried) feature a panko breadcrumb crust and come with a side serving of Buffalo Sauce.
Check it out
Sol Cuisine
2 Sol Cuisine
When Sol Cuisineâs founder Dror Balshine wrote a song called âCauli (Youâre My Favourite Flower),â he meant what he was singing. The brandâs breaded cauliflower wings demonstrate just how tasty and versatile this humble vegetable can be. With a kick of buffalo sauce in the mix too, you wonât feel the need to buy chicken wings again.
Check it out
Veggie Grill
3 Veggie Grill
If you happen to live near one of Veggie Grillâs 30 locations, lucky you: you can grab a side of the chainâs Crispy Cauliflower any time you want. The crunchy florets are battered with tempura and come served with either buffalo sauce (as per usual) or orange sauce. If you also enjoy the taste of plant-based meat, you can grab a serving of chicken-style buffalo wings while youâre there, too.
Check it out
Birds Eye
4 Birdâs Eye
Next time youâre in the grocery store, check out the frozen aisle for Birdâs Eyeâs range of cauliflower wings. Itâs worth noting that none are actually marked vegan, but the Barbeque option doesnât include any animal products on its ingredients list. (The Garlic Parmesan version is, of course, not vegan.)
Check it out
No Bones Beach Club
5 No Bones Beach Club
During the pandemic, the popular vegan company No Bones Beach Club pivoted from a restaurant chain to food service. Now, it supplies its range of products, which includes Buffalo Cauliflower Wings with a coconut-based buffalo sauce, to restaurants and stores instead. Right now, you can find its tasty wings in a handful of Seattle eateries, as well as the Alberta Food Co-op in Portland.
Check it out
How to make vegan cauliflower wings
If you canât find vegan cauliflower wings near you, or you simply enjoy getting creative in the kitchen, another way to enjoy this crunchy side is to make it at home. Theyâre pretty easy to throw together, all you need is a cauliflower (of course), your favorite hot sauce (or mild, you do you), and a few pantry staples to make the batter (flour, cornstarch, black pepper, oil, etc).
To help you out, weâve gathered a few of our favorite vegan cauliflower wing recipes below. Happy snacking!
Best vegan cauliflower wings recipes
Dustin Harder
1 Everything Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
If you donât have everything bagel seasoning in your pantry, itâs easy to make from home with a few different seeds, garlic, onions, and salt. Paired together with spicy buffalo sauce, itâs one of the best ways to coat your cauliflower wings.
Get the recipe
Trilogy Sanctuary
2 Spicy Cauliflower Wings With Pesto Dipping Sauce
Not a fan of buffalo? When it comes to cauliflower wings, one type of sauce isnât mandatory. You can experiment until you find the right flavor for you. For example, we recommend serving your wings with this cool, refreshing pesto-cashew dip.
Get the recipe
Ashley Madden
3 Baked Thai Chili Cauliflower Bites
If you like a spicy Thai curry, then team up your favorite flavors with these crunchy cauliflower bites. This recipe is also ideal for those who donât own a fryer because they can simply be baked in the oven. (Itâs healthier, too!)
Get the recipe
Shanika Graham-White
4 Sticky Vegan Coca-Cola Cauliflower Wings
Cooking with Coca-Cola sounds a little weird, but trust us, youâll be glad you gave it a go. These vegan cauliflower wings are just the right amount of crispy, saucy, and sticky. Food always tastes better when itâs a mess to eat, right?
Get the recipe
Danielle Keith
5 Teriyaki Sesame Cauliflower Bites
Again, these cauliflower bites are baked and not fried, so they donât require faffing about with any oil. All you need for the coating is some flour, teriyaki sauce, garlic, ginger, and red chili flakes. Plus, of course, the sesame seeds to top them with. Simple and delicious.
Get the recipe
Source: Vegnews.com