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This Sticky Sesame Cauliflower is a crowd pleaser! Cauliflower is battered and baked , then coated in sticky spicy sesame sauce and baked again. Serve as is or with rice or in lettuce cups. Vegan Gluten-free Nut-free Refined sugar free RecipeĀ Jump to Recipe
When you need some sticky sweet tangy delicious sauced something, cauliflower fits right in. Cauliflower florets are tossed in a rice flour and starch batter and baked to crisp. The sticky sesame sauce uses sesame oil, garlic, ginger, soy/tamari, vinegar, maple syrup and some sriracha for heat for a addictive flavor profile. Brush this sticky sauce on the baked cauliflower and serve, or bake again for more sticky crispy cauliflower!
Serve it over rice, by itself or in lettuce wraps! I use sesame oil in the batter and the sauce for extra sesame flavor profile. For additional protein, add in some firm tofu, seitan or soycurls with the cauliflower. Lets make this!
Ingredients for Sticky Sesame Cauliflower and substitution options
- The Sticky Sesame Sauce has sesame oil, garlic, ginger, tamari/soy sauce, maple syrup for sweet, rice vinegar, Sriracha, and starch to thicken.
- You can use coconut aminos to make this soy-free
- Maple syrup can be subbed with sugar or other sweetener
- Omit the Sriracha for lower heat.
- The batter for the crispy cauliflower has ā
- rice flour, that makes the batter crisp and non doughy on baking. You can use a mix of half all purpose flour and half starch as a substitute.
- corn or tapioca starch to add lighter and crisp texture
- sesame oil for more sesame profile
- black pepper, salt and garlic for flavor
- garnished of lightly toasted white sesame and black sesame seeds and scallions.
How to make Sticky Sesame Cauliflower
Transfer to the parchment lined baking sheet or dish and bake for 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, assemble the sauce ingredients. Saute the ginger and garlic in sesame oil for a minute, then add the soy sauce, vinegar, sriracha and maple syrup and bring to a boil.
Add cornstarch slurry and cook to thicken.
Brush the sticky thick sauce on the cauliflower florets or add the florets to the sauce and mix gently. Then bake again.
Garnish with sesame seeds and scallions and serve over rice.
Tips to make Crispy Sticky Sesame Cauliflower
- For a nicely crispy result, bake the cauliflower on a baking sheet.
- Bake the sauce coated cauliflower for longer.
- Use smaller size cauliflower florets
If you plan to serve the sauced cauliflower without baking, you can add another tsp starch for extra thick sauce that will glaze the cauliflower.
More Cauliflower Recipes
- Taco Spice roasted Cauliflower
- Spicy Pepper Cauliflower Bites
- Mango Sriracha Cauliflower
- Aloo Gobi ā Baked
- Nashville Cauliflower Bites
- Kung Pao Cauliflower
Sticky Sesame Cauliflower Recipe (Gluten free Vegan)
IngredientsĀ Ā
Sesame Soy Sauce:
- 2Ā tsp. sesame oil
- 2Ā tspĀ fresh grated ginger
- 2Ā cloves of garlic, , minced
- 1/4 cupĀ gluten-free tamari , or soy sauce
- 1/3Ā cupĀ maple syrup
- 1.5 tbspĀ rice vinegar
- 1Ā tspĀ sriracha
- 2 tspĀ cornstarch or 1.5 tsp tapioca starch
- 1/4Ā cupĀ cold water
Cauliflower:
- 1/2 cup rice flour
- 3 tbsp tapioca or corn starch.
- 1/2Ā teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4Ā teaspoonĀ salt
- dash of black pepper and cayenne
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 tsp sesame oil
- 1Ā small head of cauliflower, , chopped into equal size florets
- Garnish: sesame seeds and scallions
InstructionsĀ
- Sticky Sesame Sauce: Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add sesame oil, garlic and ginger. Cook the garlic ginger for a minute. Add the soy sauce, rice vinegar, maple and bring to boil. Mix cornstarch in the water and add this cornstarch slurry and bring to a boil to thicken, Take off heat.
- Cauliflower: Preheat the oven to 425 deg F ( 220 C). Line a baking sheet or dish with parchment. In a large bowl add the dry ingredients for the batter and whisk well. Add the wet ingredients and min until smooth.
- Add the cauliflower and mix to coat. This batter keeps thickening as it sits, so mix and toss quickly.
- Transfer to the the lined baking sheet. and bake for 30 mins. Make the sticky sauce in the meanwhile if you havent yet.
- Once baked, you can do one of the following: 1. Brush the sauce over the cauliflower florets and bake for additional 10 to 15 mins (time depends on how crisp and sticky you want the sauce)2. Wait for a few mins then transfer the florets to the sauce. Mix gently to coat. Serve immediately or transfer to the baking sheet to bake for 10 to 15 mins.
- Sprinkle black and white sesame seeds and chopped scallions and serve as is, or over rice or in lettuce wraps!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This was amazing! I didnāt have fresh cauliflower so I used a bag of frozen that I cooked for 4 minutes in the microwave. Then I drained and followed the rest of the directions. It didnāt brown when I baked it but once that delicious sauce was on it ā who cares! I also made it without oil so that brought the calories down significantly. Thanks for this great recipe!
great!
Absolutely delicious! I added sriracha to the sauce, turned out so divine! Thank you, Richa!
awesome!
Can this be made without oil?
yes, omit it from the sauce and from the batter.
This was very good, but not one of your Knock-it-out-of-the-park recipes, in my opinion. Still tasty, though! If I make it again, I will double the sticky sauce to give it more flavor. We added some roasted cashews on top and that was yummy.
No probs! adjust away to personal preference! My florets might have been smaller, also brands of sauces vary in flavor, so that might affect it too.
Outstanding flavors and ease of prep. Seriously one of the tastiest treats Iāve made in awhile. Very addicting with its sweet, salty, savory stickiness.
Thanks!
Sure itās amazing and really hoping to try this, but can you sub sesame seed oil for another? Sesame seed allergy but Iām OK with other nuts and seeds if that helps.
just omit it, use neutral oil, add more of the other flavors like garlic, soy etc
This is so good! Thank you Richa, I love your recipes.
Thanks!
It says to add corn starch slurry. Whatās corn starch slurry? Was I supposed to mix the corn starch with the water at some point?
Yes mix the cornstarch withthe water to combine and then add that. Updated the instructions.
Delicious! Not too sweet, with a spicy kick!! It was great over rice! I will try the lettuce wraps next time. š
What can I substitute for rice flour? Small-town living limits the items I can buy at the grocery store.
if you are ok with gluten, then use regular all purpose flour
Could wheat flour also work?
It makes the batter too doughy and chewy