Bang Bang Baked Cauliflower Bites

Bang Bang Baked Cauliflower Bites with Peanut Butter Dipping Sauce is spicy and full of flavor. It’s an almost fat-free version of the popular restaurant appetizer made healthier! Just three ingredients make up my bang bang sauce so it’s easy to recreate at home.

Sun, sea, a breeze, a good book and country music, that’s how our summer break began. We hit up Destin, FL for a week after the boys got out of school and had a blast!

The beaches are fluffy white sand with clear water. It’s truly beautiful. Additionally, the town is great with a lot of restaurant options, tons of activities for children and adults, as well as a fun night life. Not that we have a night life with kids in tow!

On the beach Destin, Florida

Destin, Florida harbor

Coincidentally, thinking of being on the beach made me cook healthier in the couple of weeks prior. I’ve been a little cauliflower crazy, I shared Baked Breaded Cauliflower Bites previously. Then, I made these Bang Bang Baked Cauliflower Bites with Sriracha sauce and no breading. I love the spicy flavor of these, especially when dipped in the Peanut Butter sauce. Creamy and smooth, the Peanut Butter Sauce works nicely with the Sriracha to cool them down. Less Bang Bang!

Bang Bang Baked Cauliflower Bites

• Cut your cauliflower in uniform sizes so that they cook at the same time
• Pat the cauliflower dry after washing or allow enough time to air dry. The sauce will adhere much better to dry cauliflower
• I dipped each cauliflower using the stem as a ‘handle’. Afterward, I realized I should have just tossed the cauliflower bites in the sauce and tossed to coat them. Whatever method you choose, the point is to just get the cauliflower covered in the bang bang sauce.
• I highly recommend covering your sheet tray with foil or parchment paper for easier clean up. I hate scrubbing pans!
• Pierce with a fork to test for doneness. If they pierce easily, the cauliflower is cooked, if not allow to cook another 5 mintues.

How to choose a good head of cauliflower

1. Cauliflower should be firm and tightly closed
2. White cauliflower should be pale with no soft or mushy parts and no dark spots
3. A head of cauliflower will feel heavy for it’s size
4. Ideally, the cauliflower heads will have a few green leaves attached
5. Overall, the cauliflower head should look fresh and vibrant

Print

Bang Bang Baked Cauliflower Bites

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

35 mins

Total Time

45 mins

 

Bang Bang Baked Cauliflower Bites is spicy and full of flavor without extra calories.

Servings: 6

Author: Paula Jones

Ingredients

• 1 head cauliflower cut into florets
• 1/2 cup Sriracha sauce
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 2 tablespoon agave
• PEANUT BUTTER SAUCE
• 1/4 cup hot water
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
• 2 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 1 teaspoon minced ginger
• 1 teaspoon agave

Instructions

1. Prepare cauliflower. Wash, dry and cut into florets.
2. Line a sheet tray with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Spray with non-stick spray if using foil.
3. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
4. Mix together Sriracha, ketchup and agave.
5. Holding the cauliflower by the stem, dip head into sauce and place on prepared sheet tray. Repeat with all florets.
6. Bake 30 minutes. Test with a fork for doneness. If it's not fork tender, cook another 5 minutes and test again. Cook time will vary depending on the size of your florets.
7. While the cauliflower is baking, mix together ingredients for Peanut Sauce.
8. Heat water and mix with all ingredients until smooth.

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