Facebook had this video being shared virally of Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese and it looked AMAZING! However, when you are on a diet and typically trying to watch your weight you know that this is something you really can’t have or can you? I started to think why can’t I make a lighter version without all of those calories? I came up with Buffalo Cauliflower Mac & Cheese. Let me show you how I make it.
Here’s what you will need:
1 Small Head of Cauliflower (Chopped into small florets)
1/4 Cup of Mixed Italian Cheeses (Low Moisture 2% Milk)
1/2 Cup of Oats
1/4 Cup of Fat Free Cheddar Cheese
1/2 Cup of Chicken Broth (Unsalted)
1/4 Cup of Frank’s Hot Sauce
1/2 Cup of 2% Milk
3 Tbsp of Parsley
2 Minced Garlic
1 Tbsp of Minced Onion
1 Chicken Breast Cubed
2 Pieces of Applegate Turkey Bacon
2/4 Tsp of Salt
2/4 Tsp of Pepper
1/4 Tsp of Ground Mustard
1 Tbsp of Corn Starch
Sauce:
1/4 Cup of Frank’s Red Hot Sauce
1 Tbsp of Avocado Oil
Instructions:
Pre-Heat Oven 425F
On a cutting board, cut the cauliflower in half and remove the fibrous steams. Then in a medium size bowl chop the cauliflower into small florets. Take the bowl and steam in the microwave for three minutes. Sit aside.
Bake two pieces of Turkey bacon until crispy and brown. Chop and sit aside.
Take the oats and place in a blender. Blitz the oats into a fine powder. Take half of the oat flour and place it into a zip lock bag. Add 1/4 tsp of Salt and 1/4 tsp of pepper into the oat flour. Mix to incorporate. Then sit aside. Take the chopped cube chicken breast and place into the seasoned flour. Shake until evenly coated.
Spray a wire baking sheet with a light coating of oil and then place chicken evenly spaced onto it. Place the chicken into the oven for 15 minutes or until an internal temp of 165F.
In a medium size bowl add chicken broth, milk, and hot sauce. Mix to combine. In a large skillet add 2 Tbsp of Avocado Oil and 2 Tbsp of Oat flour. Whisk them together until frothy. Once frothy, add the chicken broth mixture slowly while constantly whisking. This mixture will become creamy and thicken. Once thicken, add the cheese with the heat off. Whisk until the cheese has smoothed within the white sauce.
After the cheese has been added, season with the remaining salt, pepper, ground mustard, minced garlic, minced onion, and chopped parley. Continue to mix well until incorporated. Add half the chopped bacon and stir. Sit aside.
Remove the cauliflower from the bowl and make sure it is dry with a kitchen towel or paper towel. Then place back into a dry bowl and add the corn starch. Mix until the florets are coated evenly. Then add the florets to the cheese sauce and mix well.
Add the mixture to heat proof bowls and top with fat-free cheese/remainder of turkey bacon. Place in the oven until warmed through and bubbly.
While the cauliflower is baking, in a small bowl combine hot sauce and avocado oil. Mix well and sit aside. Take the cooked chicken breast and place in a medium bowl. Pour over the hot sauce mixture and toss until evenly coated.
Remove the cauliflower from the oven and place a few pieces of buffalo chicken breast on top of both heat proof dishes. Then top with a fresh garnish of parsley.
Enjoy this meal with this meal with the people you ♥
xoxo
J. Delawcious
