Baked General Tso's Cauliflower

General Tso's cauliflower on a plate with rice and green onions

Baked General Tso's Cauliflower

I'm not exaggerating when I say that this Baked General Tso's Cauliflower tastes exactly like the Chinese takeout we all know and love (but without the frying or meat!)

Course Appetizers, Main Dishes, Side Dishes

Cuisine Chinese

Keyword general tso cauliflower, general tso's cauliflower

Diet Dairy-Free, Vegetarian

Occasion Game Day

Time 30 minutes or less, 45 minutes or less

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Servings servings

Calories 420kcal

Author Sarah Bond

Ingredients

Cauliflower

½ head cauliflower
½ cup flour 60g
2 large eggs whisked
1 cup panko breadcrumbs 50 g
¼ tsp each salt and pepper

General Tso's Sauce

1 Tbsp sesame oil 15 mL
2 cloves garlic minced
1 Tbsp fresh grated ginger
½ cup vegetable broth 120 mL
¼ cup soy sauce 60 mL
¼ cup rice vinegar 60 mL
¼ cup brown sugar 50 g
2 Tbsp tomato paste 30 g
2 Tbsp cornstarch dissolved in 2 Tbsp (30 mL) cold water 15 g

Instructions

Prep: Preheat oven to 400°F (204°C)*. Arrange workspace, placing flour, egg, and panko in separate bowls. Mix salt and pepper into panko. Cut cauliflower into bite-sized florets.
Dredge: Working in batches, coat the florets in flour, then egg, then breadcrumbs. Set on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until crispy.
Sauce: Set a small saucepan over medium heat and add the sesame oil, garlic, and ginger. Cook for 2 minutes, until fragrant, then add remaining sauce ingredients except the cornstarch mixture. Whisk to combine and bring to a simmer. While whisking, slowly pour in the cornstarch mixture. It should thicken quite quickly; if not, continue simmering until thick.
Assemble: Drizzle sauce over the baked cauliflower and gently toss to evenly coat. Serve cauliflower over warm rice or quinoa.

Notes

*To cook this recipe in your air fryer, add florets to your air fryer basket in a single layer and cook at 375°F (190°C) for 10 to 12 minutes, or until crispy.

Nutrition