Spicy Honey Cauliflower Sliders
You can make sliders out of cauliflower?
Why yes. Yes, you can.
Even if you’re not vegetarian, you’ll probably love these.
No, really. Serve these at a party and watch your guests’ reactions.
These little sandwiches are bursting with flavor because of:
- The cauliflower-based sliders, which are brushed with spicy honey
- The pickled red onions
- The tangy-creamy cilantro-lime mayonnaise
- The sweet-buttery toasted brioche bun
Recipe Tips: Cauliflower Sliders
To ensure that the sliders don’t fall apart while frying, it’s important to ensure that they’re sticky enough.
Because heads of cauliflower vary in size, the amount of cauliflower you’ll end up with will also vary.
The fix? The touch test.
The cauliflower slider “dough” should hold together and not fall apart. It should be roughly the consistency of play dough.
Time-Saving Tips
Full disclosure: These are a bit time-consuming to make. To save time, you can do the following ahead of time:
- Rice the cauliflower
- Use frozen riced cauliflower instead of fresh
- Make spicy honey sauce
- Make cilantro-lime mayonnaise
- Make pickled red onions
More Vegetarian Sandwiches
You won’t miss the meat on these sandwiches – I promise!
Spicy Honey Cauliflower Sliders
Ingredients
- 1 medium head of cauliflower
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup finely minced onion
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 8 toasted brioche buns, for serving
For spicy honey
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup sriracha sauce
For cilantro-lime mayonnaise
- 1 big handful of cilantro leaves
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- Juice from 1 lime
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
For pickled red onions
- 1 medium red onion
- 1/2 cup white or white wine vinegar
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- Pinch of salt
- 2 teaspoons pickling spice (optional)
Instructions
- Rice cauliflower: Rinse cauliflower and remove leaves. Cut into large florets, and place in a food processor. Depending on the size of your food processor, you may need to do this in two batches. Pulse until the cauliflower is riced, and no large pieces remain.
- Transfer cauliflower to a microwave-safe bowl. Heat on high for 7 minutes. Place cauliflower on a large baking sheet lined with a thin dishtowel (or cheesecloth). When safe to touch, wring out as much water as possible from the cauliflower (there will be a lot).
- Place cauliflower in a large mixing bowl. Mix in cream cheese, egg, onion, and spices. The cauliflower mixture should be the consistency of play dough. If it is any runnier than that. add a tablespoon of almond flour (or regular flour) to the mixture. Continue, one tablespoon at a time, until the consistency is tacky like play dough.
- Take 1/2 cup of the cauliflower mixture and form into individual patties. Repeat with remaining cauliflower.
- Heat 2 or 3 tablespoons of cooking oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Cook patties for about 2 1/2 minutes per side, until browned. Set aside.
- Make spicy honey: Mix sriracha sauce and honey together in a small mixing bowl. Brush each cauliflower patty with the mixture.
- Make cilantro-lime mayonnaise: Place all sauce ingredients in a food processor. Pulse until cilantro is broken down into small flecks, and sauce is smooth.
- Make pickled red onions: Removed ends from onion. Cut in half and place cut sides down on a cutting board. Slice onions into thin half moons. Place in a glass jar and add pickling spices, if using.
- Place vinegar, sugar, and salt in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Pour hot vinegar over the red onions. Allow to sit for at least 30 minutes before eating.
- Assemble sandwiches: Place one cauliflower slider on a toasted brioche bun. Place a few slices of pickled red onion on top, and drizzle with cilantro-lime mayonnaise.