Description
Enjoy a vegetarian twist on a Chinese takeout favorite with this General Tso Cauliflower recipe. Crispy baked or fried cauliflower florets are coated in a sticky, tangy, and sweet General Tso glaze. It’s a delicious and satisfying meatless meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 head of cauliflower, cut into florets
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (for baking)
- For the Sauce:
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Sesame seeds and chopped scallions for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- Gradually add the water, whisking until a smooth batter forms.
- Add the cauliflower florets to the batter and toss to coat evenly.
- Spread the coated cauliflower in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
- Sprinkle the panko breadcrumbs over the cauliflower.
- Drizzle with vegetable oil.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the cauliflower is tender and golden brown.
- While the cauliflower bakes, prepare the sauce. In a small saucepan, whisk together soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, ketchup, hoisin sauce, cornstarch, ginger, garlic, and red pepper flakes (if using).
- Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens.
- Once the cauliflower is baked, add it to the saucepan with the sauce. Toss gently to coat all the florets.
- Serve immediately, garnished with sesame seeds and chopped scallions.
Notes
- For a crispier cauliflower, you can air fry or deep fry the battered florets instead of baking.
- Adjust the level of spice by adding more or less red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- This recipe can also be made gluten-free by using a gluten-free flour blend and tamari instead of soy sauce.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Chinese-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: Approx. 350-400 calories (will vary based on exact ingredients and portion size)
- Sugar: Approx. 25-30g
- Sodium: Approx. 1000-1500mg (will vary based on soy sauce and hoisin sauce)
- Fat: Approx. 10-15g
- Saturated Fat: Approx. 1-2g
- Unsaturated Fat: Approx. 8-12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: Approx. 50-60g
- Fiber: Approx. 5-7g
- Protein: Approx. 5-7g
- Cholesterol: 0mg