Asian-Inspired Orange Cauliflower:
Ingredients:
- 1/2 head cauliflower, cut into florets
- 1 cup flour (gluten-free or almond for keto)
- Salt
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1/4 cup soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp fresh ginger, minced
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 2 tbsp water
- Olive oil for frying
Instructions:
- Dip cauliflower florets in flour mixed with salt.
- Fry cauliflower until golden and crispy.
- In a saucepan, combine orange juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes. Simmer until thickened.
- Mix cornstarch and water, then add to sauce to thicken further.
- Remove sauce from heat, stir in sesame oil.
- Toss cauliflower in sauce until coated.
- Serve and enjoy your Asian-inspired orange cauliflower!
Asian-Inspired Orange Cauliflower
Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Orange cauliflower is a vegetarian-friendly take on Panda Express’s popular orange chicken recipe. Loaded with a sweet and spicy orange sauce, this lightened-up takeout classic will have your family happily eating their vegetables!
Ingredients:
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup flour (gluten-free or almond flour for a keto version)
- Salt to taste
- Half head of cauliflower, cut into 1 1/2-inch (3 cm) florets
For the Sauce:
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
Garnish:
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
- 1 scallion, thinly sliced, for garnish
Instructions:
- Wash and cut cauliflower into bite-sized pieces.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and water.
- One at a time, dip each cauliflower floret in the batter to coat, letting the excess batter drip off.
- Arrange the battered cauliflower on a prepared baking sheet or in your air fryer, making sure they aren’t touching one another.
- For Air Fryer: Cook at 375°F for 15 minutes. For Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid: Cook at 375°F for 12-15 minutes.
For Baking: Preheat oven to 400°F and bake on the middle rack for 20-25 minutes. - Orange Sauce: Heat olive oil in a medium skillet or pan over medium heat. Add garlic, ginger, and red chili flakes, and stir. Add orange juice, sugar, vinegar, and soy sauce. Cook for 1 minute on high flame and let it come to a boil.
- In a small bowl, whisk cornstarch with water to form a paste. Add it to the orange sauce and whisk together. Continue to cook for 2-3 minutes until the mixture thickens.
- Once the sauce is thickened, add sesame oil and lower the heat. Toss the cooked cauliflower florets in the sauce until well coated.
- Serve the cauliflower over rice and garnish with scallions and sesame seeds.
- Enjoy your delicious Asian-inspired orange cauliflower!