By Rissa Miller, Vegetarian Journal Senior Editor

(Serves 8-10)

Curl up in front of your favorite movie or catch the latest game while you enjoy this spicy, but secretly not-all-junk-food Buffalo Cauliflower Dip. The oven-roasted veggies and beans add nutrition while the buffalo sauce and spices make it taste like your traditional game time favorite. The recipe makes enough to share with the family, or warm it up as leftovers for the entire weekend!

1 head cauliflower, chopped to medium-size pieces

1 cup roughly chopped onion

2-3 cloves garlic, peeled

1 Tablespoon olive oil

Salt and pepper, to taste

One 15-ounce can cannellini beans, drained

3/4 to 1 cup vegan buffalo sauce (to taste)

1/4 cup nutritional yeast

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

1/2 teaspoon ground coriander

1 cup vegan cheddar shreds (optional)

1/4 cup vegan bread crumbs (optional)

1 scallion, green part, chopped (optional)

1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes (optional)

To serve, tortilla or pita chips, carrot and/or celery sticks

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Toss chopped cauliflower, onions, and garlic with olive oil and salt/pepper on a rimmed sheet pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until vegetables are tender and lightly browned.

     While vegetables bake, add beans, buffalo sauce, nutritional yeast, paprika, and coriander to a blender or food processor. Purée until smooth.

     When veggies are baked, add in batches to the blender/processor (unless it all fits at once) and puree until smooth.

     Pour into a casserole pan and if needed, stir batches together. Top as desired with vegan cheddar shreds and/or bread crumbs. Bake at 375 degrees an additional ten minutes. Turn on the oven broiler setting and broil dip to crisp top and melt vegan cheese for 5 minutes.

     Before serving, sprinkle with dried parsley flakes and chopped scallions. Serve warm with tortilla or pita chips and carrot/celery sticks.

Cook’s Notes: Want it hotter? Look for extra spicy buffalo sauce. This recipe was tested with Frank’s and Primal brands. Alternatively, add some red pepper flakes or a little sriracha to amp up the heat. Want it decadent? Serve with a side or drizzle of vegan blue cheese dressing. Daiya and Follow Your Heart both offer bottled blue cheese sauce.