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Buffalo marinated cauliflower with blue cheese crumbles and dressing.
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4.80 from 5 votes

Smoked Cauliflower

This Smoked Cauliflower is something I bet you haven't had before! The entire head of cauliflower is marinated in either a zesty buffalo sauce or a savory soy sauce blend. The choice is yours! For those who like it hot, the buffalo marinade is sure to satisfy your taste buds. If you prefer a more subtle flavor, the soy sauce marinade is the way to go.
The cauliflower is smoked for a couple of hours until perfectly tender. Serve it up with some BBQ sauce or some blue cheese dressing and crumbles. This recipe is a true crowd-pleaser and is sure to impress your guests.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time2 hours
2 hours
Total Time4 hours 5 minutes
Course: Grilling
Cuisine: American
Keyword: bbq cauliflower, buffalo cauliflower, smoked cauliflower, Traeger cauliflower
Servings: 6 servings
Author: Joshua Boquist

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 head cauliflower leaves trimmed

For the Buffalo Version

  • 2 cups Frank's RedHot
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 1 tbsp garlic powder
  • 1 tbsp onion powder
  • ½ tbsp black pepper
  • ¼ tbsp salt

For the BBQ Version

  • 1 cup soy sauce
  • 1 cup apple cider vinegar
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 1 tbsp garlic powder
  • 1 tbsp onion powder
  • 1 tbsp smoked paprika
  • ½ tbsp black pepper
  • ¼ tbsp salt

Instructions

  • Remove the leaves from the head of the cauliflower but leave the head of the cauliflower intact.
  • Optional: steam the cauliflower. Place the head of cauliflower in a microwave bowl with 2-3 tablespoons of water. Cover the bowl with a plate and microwave for 5-8 minutes. Be sure not to steam it too long. It should be fork tender but not falling apart. If you are using a large head of cauliflower, this step may be necessary, and you may need to steam it in the microwave for up to 8 minutes.
  • Place the cauliflower in a sealable bag. Add the ingredients for the marinade, either the buffalo or the BBQ version. Shake to mix the ingredients and let it marinate for 24 hours or at least 2 hours. The longer, the better.
  • Preheat the Traeger or grill to 225°F using your favorite wood pellets.
  • Place the cauliflower directly on the grill grates. Smoke at 225°F for 2-3 hours or until the cauliflower is tender.
  • Remove the cauliflower from the Traeger and slice it into steaks. Serve with blue cheese dressing or BBQ sauce.

Notes

  • If you like tender and soft cauliflower, you will need to steam it in the microwave. You can also pre-cook it in a double boiler . 5-8 minutes should be enough. You don't want to cook it too long to the point that the cauliflower is falling apart before you can get it on the grill.
  • Frank's RedHot is quite spicy. If you prefer a more mild sauce, replace half of the Frank's with apple cider vinegar.
  • You should marinate the cauliflower for 24 hours, but if you are short on time, 2 hours should be the minimum.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 237kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Sodium: 5229mg | Potassium: 493mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 580IU | Vitamin C: 47mg | Calcium: 50mg | Iron: 2mg