Crispy Baked Orange Cauliflower Recipe Is Sweet & Savory (30 Minutes) by Donna John

When you bite into this crispy cauliflower dripping with a sweet and tangy sauce, you won't care where the chicken is. This baked cauliflower recipe rivals your favorite orange chicken but will let you invite your vegetarian friends over for dinner ... finally.

Cauliflower is a popular gluten-free vegetable that needs a home on your dinner rotation every once in a while. Not only is cauliflower delicious, but you get the health benefits of cauliflower and cauliflower is one of the best foods to eat during menopause. To make this easy baked Asian-inspired cauliflower recipe you will need a head of fresh cauliflower, panko breadcrumbs, eggs, orange juice, water, granulated sugar, vinegar, low-sodium soy sauce, fresh garlic, fresh ginger, sriracha sauce, ketchup and cornstarch. This recipe is ready in about 30 minutes.

Photo credit: under license from Bigstock

Gluten-free Diets: For a gluten-free recipe, use tamari instead of soy sauce and gluten-free panko breadcrumbs.

Serve this crispy, sweet, orangey cauliflower as a vegetarian lunch or dinner, as a side dish with your favorite protein or as a fun snack or appetizer. 

Cuisine: Asian / American
Prep Time: 8 minutes
Cook Time: 22 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 small head cauliflower, cut into bite-sized florets
• 2 cups panko
• 2 eggs

Sauce

• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons orange juice
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 tablespoons vinegar
• 1/8 cup low-sodium soy sauce
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
• 1 teaspoon sriracha
• 1 teaspoon ketchup

Slurry

• 2 tablespoons water
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch

Here's how to make it: 

1. Whisk the eggs in a bowl. Put the panko into a plastic zipper bag. A little at a time, dip the cauliflower into the egg then shake in the breadcrumbs. Put coated cauliflower onto a baking sheet in a single layer. Bake in a preheated 400-degree F oven for about 20 minutes or until golden and crunchy. (Try this recipe with broccoli!)
   
2. While the cauliflower bakes, combine all the sauce ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Combine the slurry ingredients until smooth and pour it into the sauce. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes.
   
3. Pour the sauce over the cauliflower.
   
4. Gently toss to coat. Garnish with chopped green onions and sesame seeds, if desired.
   
5. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.
   

Photo credit: Donna John

Recipe cooking times, nutritional information and servings are approximate and provided for your convenience. However, 30Seconds is not responsible for the outcome of any recipe, nor may you have the same results because of variations in ingredients, temperatures, altitude, errors, omissions or cooking/baking abilities. Any nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and it is up to the individual to ascertain accuracy. To ensure image quality, we may occasionally use stock photography.

Take 30 seconds and join the 30Seconds community, and follow us on Facebook to get recipes in your newsfeed daily. Food, fun, health, happiness.