Vegan Buffalo Cauliflower Dip

Healthy Buffalo Cauliflower Dip is creamy, decadent, and amazing for parties! You’d never guess it was dairy free and packed with protein.

I originally published this dip recipe in 2016. Jeff said, “Mmmmm. Good job, boo! Just don’t tell people it’s vegan. Or what’s in it.” No one is dying to know there’s legumes hiding in the shadows, I get it.

Remember my vegan queso? You’ll want to dip chips and celery and carrots and fingers and toes in this too, I promise!

Key Ingredients

• Raw cashews: For that creamy, velvetty richness we all know and love.
• Cauliflower: I steam a bag from frozen, making the prep a breeze. Cauliflower adds a wonderful thick texture here.
• Chickpeas: Another textural sub for chicken in classic buffalo dip, chickpeas also add a hefty punch of fiber and plant protein. White beans would also work.
• Hot sauce: I used Frank’s red hot because is there really any other? Flavor town! Stick with a milk one versus tabasco or anything super strong or the dip will be crazy spicy.
• Lemon juice: another bright acidic kick.
• Nutritional yeast: This adds that quintessential cheezy flavor. You can find nooch at Kroger, Whole Foods, Amazon, etc.
• Spices: garlic and onion for good measure.

How to make healthy buffalo dip

The ingredient list is pretty simple, so let’s talk execution. Three steps and BOOM, we’re dipping.

1. Soak your cashews. Even just 10 minutes in hot water will do in a pinch!
2. Steam the cauliflower. The microwave works great.
3. Blend cashews, cauliflower, hot sauce, water, lemon and spices in the food processor until smooth. Done!

Storage

Since there’s a hefty amount of hot sauce in here, this dip will last up to a week in the fridge. I haven’t tried freezing it!

To reheat, simply nuke a portion in the microwave or warm it in the oven.

How to serve this for a party

You can serve this dip hot from the oven or cold out of the fridge, but I love it most warm. You could also keep it warm in a slow cooker for a gathering! You can easily double the recipe, too.

More party appetizers

• Easy Vegan Queso
• Baked Pumpkin Hummus Dip with Goat Cheese
• Basil Hummus Stuffed Mushrooms
• Sweet Potato Goat Cheese Bites
• Baked Kale and Artichoke Dip

The second people learn something is vegan, they automatically think it’ll taste like socks. Let their innocent tastebuds relish in the sheer cheezy, buffalo-y glory that is this dip without knowing it’s packed with good-for-you ingredients and all the flavor on planet earth.

Laugh your evil laugh in the background as your guests gather around the TV shoveling cauliflower, chickpeas, and cashews down their traps thinking it’s cheez whiz.

Healthy buffalo dip HEAVEN.

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Recipe by Alexis Joseph of Hummusapien™. Photos by Eat Love Eats.