If you are a vegan or vegetarian, it can be challenging to find delicious and satisfying food options at restaurants, especially when it comes to classic American pub fare like buffalo wings. However, many restaurants have started offering vegetarian and vegan alternatives to meat-based dishes, including Buffalo Wild Wings (BWW), a popular chain of sports bars. In recent years, BWW has introduced cauliflower wings to its menu as a meat-free alternative to traditional chicken wings. But are BWW’s cauliflower wings vegan? In this article, we will explore the ingredients of BWW’s cauliflower wings and answer this question definitively.
What are cauliflower wings?
Before we delve into the vegan status of BWW’s cauliflower wings, let’s first define what cauliflower wings are. Cauliflower wings are a plant-based alternative to chicken wings, made by coating cauliflower florets in batter and then baking or frying them until crispy. The florets are then tossed in a flavorful sauce, often buffalo or BBQ, to mimic the taste of traditional chicken wings.
Ingredients in BWW’s cauliflower wings
Now that we know what cauliflower wings are, let’s take a closer look at the ingredients of BWW’s cauliflower wings. According to the BWW website, the cauliflower wings are made with “fresh, never frozen cauliflower that is hand-breaded in our own special recipe and then tossed in any of our signature sauces.” However, the website does not provide a complete list of ingredients for the cauliflower wings or their batter.
To get a more detailed answer, we reached out to BWW’s customer service team, who confirmed that the cauliflower wings are not vegan. While the cauliflower itself is vegan, the batter used to coat the cauliflower contains milk and eggs, making it unsuitable for those following a vegan diet.
Vegan options at Buffalo Wild Wings
While BWW’s cauliflower wings may not be vegan, the chain does offer several other vegetarian and vegan options on its menu. These include:
- French fries
- Tater tots
- Chips and salsa
- Veggie boat (a platter of raw veggies with hummus and salsa for dipping)
- Garden salad (without cheese or croutons)
- Black bean burger (without cheese or mayo)
- Veggie sandwich (without cheese or mayo)
Additionally, many of BWW’s sauces are vegan, including mild, medium, hot, wild, and Asian zing.
Can vegetarians eat BWW’s cauliflower wings?
Yes, vegetarians can eat Buffalo Wild Wings’ (BWW) cauliflower wings, as they do not contain meat. However, it’s important to note that the batter used to coat the cauliflower contains milk and eggs, making it unsuitable for vegans.
Vegetarians are individuals who do not consume meat, but may still consume dairy, eggs, and other animal products. Therefore, as long as the batter used in BWW’s cauliflower wings does not contain meat, vegetarians can consume them.
BWW’s cauliflower wings are a popular plant-based alternative to traditional chicken wings, which are typically not suitable for vegetarians. The wings are made by coating cauliflower florets in a batter and then baking or frying them until crispy. The florets are then tossed in a flavorful sauce, often buffalo or BBQ, to mimic the taste of traditional chicken wings.
While the batter used in BWW’s cauliflower wings contains milk and eggs, the chain does offer several other vegetarian options on its menu, such as french fries, tater tots, chips and salsa, veggie boat, garden salad, black bean burger, and veggie sandwich. In addition, many of BWW’s sauces are vegan, including mild, medium, hot, wild, and Asian zing.
Are any of BWW’s sauces vegan?
Yes, many of Buffalo Wild Wings’ sauces are vegan. According to the restaurant’s website, the following sauces are free from animal products:
- Mild Sauce
- Medium Sauce
- Hot Sauce
- Wild Sauce
- Asian Zing Sauce
- Caribbean Jerk Sauce
- Lemon Pepper Sauce
- Salt & Vinegar Sauce
- Teriyaki Sauce
- Thai Curry Sauce
- Nashville Hot Sauce
- Garlic Sauce
It’s worth noting that while these sauces are vegan-friendly, they are often used to coat chicken wings, which are not vegan. As a result, there may be a risk of cross-contamination if the sauces are used to coat vegetarian or vegan dishes.
If you’re dining at Buffalo Wild Wings and are following a vegan diet, it’s always a good idea to communicate your dietary needs to your server to ensure that your food is prepared according to your requirements. You can also ask for the sauces to be served on the side, so you can dip your food into them rather than having them pre-coated.
Additionally, it’s important to note that some of BWW’s sides and toppings may contain animal products, so it’s important to double-check ingredients before ordering. For example, the garden salad contains cheese and croutons by default, so if you’re vegan, you’ll need to ask for it without these ingredients. Similarly, the black bean burger and veggie sandwich both contain mayo and cheese by default, so you’ll need to ask for them to be omitted.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Buffalo Wild Wings’ cauliflower wings are not vegan, as they contain milk and eggs in the batter used to coat the cauliflower. However, BWW does offer several vegetarian and vegan options on its menu, including vegan-friendly sauces. As with any restaurant, it’s always best to check with your server or the restaurant’s customer service team to ensure that your meal meets your dietary needs and restrictions.