Spicy Buffalo Cauliflower Pockets
The next recipe for October Is Tailgating Snacks Month is my recipe for Spicy Buffalo Cauliflower Pockets, and it was inspired from a couple different places. I found a Buffalo Chicken Roll recipe from Better Homes and Gardens in their December 2012 issue. (But, I can’t find the recipe listed on their website.)
Of course, I wanted to make the rolls vegetarian, so I decided to use cauliflower, a nod to my bloggy friends, the Full Belly Sisters, and their Cauliflower Bites.
Serve these pockets as a main course, or slice them and serve the slices as an appetizer. Either way, your vegetarian friends will love you for serving a Buffalo-style option that they can nosh on. Serve with blue cheese dressing or ranch for that creaminess that’s pretty traditional with Buffalo Chicken Wings. You can also serve with additional celery stalks for people to nibble on.
Serve them sliced as appetizers
Frank’s Hot Sauce is the pretty traditional hot sauce to use for Buffalo-style snacks. Personally, I prefer Sriracha, so that’s what I use in everything. Tabasco would work, or just use your favorite. You can vary the amount of heat by adding more or less hot sauce as you see fit.
I actually had a little filling leftover after stuffing the pockets. I ate it with a spoon. Yum!
And, as for the pizza dough, I went with a store-bought option on this one for ease and convenience. I’ve seen good quality ones available at the grocery store, Trader Joe’s, Sprouts, pretty much anywhere now. You can even get whole wheat or gluten-free ones.
Recently, I won a great prize package from Recipes For My Boys that included coupons for free frozen Rhodes bread. So, that’s what I used. (I mean, I do LOVE free stuff!) Of course, you can always go with a homemade pizza dough as well.
Spicy Buffalo Cauliflower Pockets
Spicy Buffalo Cauliflower Pockets
Ingredients
- ½ small head cauliflower cut into small florets, about 2 cups
- 1 teaspoon olive oil or light tasting oil of your choice
- 2 medium carrots thinly sliced
- 1 stalk celery thinly sliced
- 2 ounces blue cheese crumbled
- ¼ cup BBQ sauce plus 3 tablespoons for brushing
- 2 teaspoons hot sauce
- 1 1- lb package pizza dough
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a cookie baking sheet with parchment paper or a silpat. Set aside.
- Place cauliflower in a bowl or pyrex measuring cup, add a small amount of water about ¼ cup, and cover bowl with a plate or wax paper. Steam cauliflower in microwave on full power for 1-2 minutes until cauliflower is just tender. Leave covered and set aside.
- Set aside a small amount of carrot and celery slices and a small amount of the blue cheese crumbles for garnishing.
- In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Once oil is hot, add carrots and celery, and cook for 6 minutes until tender-crisp.
- Drain cauliflower, and place in a large bowl, add cooked carrots and celery and stir to combine. Stir in ¼ cup BBQ sauce and hot sauce.
- Using a rolling pin, roll pizza dough out to a 16x6-inch rectangle. Cut rectangle into 4 smaller rectangles 4x6-inches each. Divide cauliflower mixture among each rectangle, leaving a 1-inch space along each side. Sprinkle each with blue cheese. Bring long sides of dough up over filling, stretching dough as needed. Pinch dough to seal seam, and place seam side down on prepared baking sheet.
- Bake, uncovered, 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and brush each rectangle with remaining BBQ sauce. Place back in oven, and bake an additional 5 minutes. To serve, sprinkle with reserved carrots, celery, and blue cheese.
Recipe Notes
Makes 4 large Spicy Buffalo Cauliflower Pockets which can be served as a main dish, or cut into small slices which can be served as appetizers.
Sophia @ NY Foodgasm says
What a great idea to vegify this classic tailgating recipe!! It looks beautiful!
Alice Gerard says
That would be a fun and delicious treat to bring to a potluck dinner, especially where there are lots of vegetarians! Thank you for the recipe. Yum! (why did I look at this right before dinner, lol).
Alana Mautone (@RamblinGarden) says
This would be really nice as an appetizer, I think – and our local supermarket sells fresh whole wheat pizza dough.
Travel Blogger says
Wow that looks great. I can honestly say I’ve never tried a recipe even similar to this.
Linda @ForkandForage says
These look fantastic, Debi and would be great for a potluck. Knocking another out of the park. 🙂
mealplanmaven says
I love all your tailgating snacks, but these really caught my eye as they are just so fun and creative! Great photos as always too!
Rebecca Mugridge says
This looks delicious, I am a vegetarian too so right up my alley X
Jenni @ Jenni's Ferris Wheel of Food says
Brilliant idea using cauliflower! A must for my family!!!
Michelle F. says
That looks really good. What a great idea for the pizza dough.
Heather says
That looks just amazing! I wish I could taste it through the screen! 😉
Holly @ Woman Tribune says
These pockets look so delicious, and it’s really innovative to use cauliflower instead of chicken, which is what I automatically think of when I think buffalo anything. This is such a great way to get more veggies in our diet.
Terri Ingraham says
These look so good! I love that you vegi-fied it! Yum!
Mama to 5 BLessings says
This sounds really good and its a great way to sneak veggies in too for kids.
Kassondra from Motherhood Community says
I’ve never tried homemade pockets before. These look great!
Onica {MommyFactor} says
What a good recipe for making pockets in a different way. Cauliflower can use a bit of spicy flavor.
Erica (@Erica's Recipes) says
I love this recipe! I’m totally loving the entire idea of buffalo cauliflower and then to put it in your own hot pockets – these look delicious!
Alison says
Oh my gosh these look absolutely delicious! And so much healthier than a store bought hot pocket!
Sandra Shaffer says
I love the simple ingredients in these pockets and packed with flavor!! Great recipe!
Travel Blogger says
Wow these look delicious and packed with nutrition too! I would definitely give them a try.
Mistee Dawn says
Those look amazing. I will have to try this recipe. Looks so good.
Stephanie Pass says
That looks gorgeous! My son loves cauliflower and all things spicy. I think he would love this meal.
Kristin says
What a great way to get veggies into a dish! Yum!
Danielle says
What a great idea! I’ll have to try it for my non-meat day! I love spicy!
auntbeesrecipes says
I would not even miss the meat in this one! I LOVE anything buffalo! This is such a great recipe!
katrinagehman says
that looks amazing. definitely going to try this
Healing Tomato says
Your pictures are always enticing and colorful. You make some amazing dishes.
Debi@ The Spring Mount 6 Pack says
What a great sounding twist. I have to give it a try.
Debra says
What gorgeous pictures! It makes me really want to try it!
Christine says
Mmm, I was really happy to see this linked up at #FoodieFridays this week! I never would have thought of doing this and it looks so delicious! I’m a huge fan of anything Buffalo!
Culinary Ginger says
I bet these would be a big hit for any Superbowl party, they look so good.