Growing up in Cleveland, a lot of my time during the summer was spent at the pool soaking up the lazy summer days without a care in the world. And the best part about pool days? The pool snack bar…lots of chicken nuggets, french fries, and ice cream bars. Anyone else? What’s your favorite pool bar snack? To be very honest, I don’t remember ordering from the pool snack bar all that much. Mostly because we never “belonged” to the pool and were always someone’s guest. That said, I do have memories of eating chicken nuggets by the pool with my cousins. And even though the memory is a little vague, it’s fun to think back to those times.
(above: oven baked nuggets) As I’ve been mentioning all week, I have all things summertime on my mind. Yes, this means plenty of sweet fruit recipes and plates of pasta filled with zucchini and tomatoes will all be coming your way soon. But for me personally, it’s a time to enjoy some of our favorite kid foods as well. Of course, with an adult-like twist! Enter these BBQ beer battered cauliflower nuggets. They’re kind of like the chicken nuggets we all loved as kids…just made the vegetarian way. And most importantly, they’re so delicious. Think extra saucy, tangy, sweet, and spicy. And served with a creamy honey mustard that’s flavored with BBQ seasonings…SO GOOD.
(above: fried nuggets)
Let’s all make some cauliflower nuggets…
I thought long about whether I wanted to deep fry these nuggets or oven bake them. And in the end? I couldn’t make up my mind, so I’m sharing BOTH fried and oven baked variations. Both the fried and oven-fried variations are delicious, though the fried is just a bit crispier, as you’d probably imagine. Regardless, this recipe is about the sauces and seasonings, so either way you end up cooking these nuggets, they’re going to be GOOD. Start with the beer batter. It is very simple. Gather my favorite blend of seasonings…smoky paprika and spicy cayenne, plus flour, and a little bit of beer. The beer creates a light and airy batter that I’ve found to fry/bake up better in the oven. It’s perfect. And easy. For Baking: you’ll want to bake the nuggets on a sheet pan until just tender. It’s important not to overcook the cauliflower. If you over bake them, they will end up on the soggy side, so twenty minutes, flipping the nuggets halfway through cooking, is really all you need. For Frying: frying is actually easier than you’d think, and for this recipe, I prefer this method of cooking. It yields a nugget with an extra crispy exterior, and perfectly cooked pieces of cauliflower in the center. To fry, you simply heat a couple inches of oil in a deep skillet. Then fry for a few minutes until crispy, and drain on a wire rack. Surprisingly, this very little time.
While the nuggets cook, make some sauce.
I love to make my own BBQ sauce. It looks like a long ingredients list, but in reality, it comes together in five minutes and with zero cooking involved. I promise it’s EASY. I’m sharing the recipe just below the cauliflower nugget recipe. If you have the time, I highly recommend making this, it’s my favorite BBQ sauce. A little tangy, a little sweet, and perfectly spicy. Very similar to Sweet Baby Ray’s, but much healthier. In addition to BBQ sauce, I also like to make a quick honey mustard. Yes, double sauces here. It’s just how I like to do it. This sauce is hands down a favorite. For one, it’s EASY. Just mix, stir, and done. It’s made using creamy yogurt, honey, mustard, more BBQ seasoning, and just a touch of lemon. It’s extra creamy, a touch sweet, and a touch spicy. So perfect as a side with this cauliflower. The creaminess in the sauce makes everything heartier, but the sweetness balances out the spice.
Finish it up…
When the cauliflower nuggets are done baking, simply serve them up either drizzled or dipped in BBQ sauce. Then add the creamy honey mustard on the side for an additional dip. I love serving these alongside homemade french fries, but the nuggets would be delicious with a side of rice too. Important Note: I don’t recommend covering the nuggets in BBQ sauce as the sauce can make the nuggets soggy over time. I find it best to just drizzle or dip the nuggets in the BBQ sauce (either homemade or store-bought – though I prefer homemade). And for a vegetable, I ‘d do a big salad for a refreshing, crunchy bite. Perfect lite summertime dinner or fun appetizer to make any day of the week.
Looking for other cauliflower recipe ideas? Some favorites… Lebanese Chicken with Charred Lemon Cauliflower Roasted Cauliflower Salad with Creamy Honey Mustard Vinaigrette Indian Coconut Butter Cauliflower. Lastly, if you make these Crispy BBQ Beer Battered Cauliflower Nuggets, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
