Spicy Orange Cauliflower Bites - 辣橙花椰菜
If you need a quick and delicious dish, you won't want to miss these spicy Orange Cauliflower Bites. The sauce is sweet and sticky with a slight tang that is really appetizing. It can be made oil-free and gluten-free too.
Prep Time20 minutes mins
Cook Time25 minutes mins
Total Time45 minutes mins
Course: Main Course, Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine: Asian, Chinese
Keyword: cauliflower, comfortfood
Servings: 2
- 1 small head of cauliflower washed and cut into florets
- cilantro stems or chopped green onions for garnish
- oil for cooking
Batter
- ¾ cup [94g] all-purpose flour or gluten-free flour
- ¾ cup [175ml] cup water or plant milk
- ½ teaspoon salt
- a few shakes of white pepper
Sauce
- ¾ cup freshly squeeze orange juice from 2 oranges
- 1½ tablespoons [22ml] soy sauce or tamari
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon red chili flakes or chili of choice
- 1½ tablespoons maple syrup or 1 tablespoon sugar adjust depending on the sweetness of your orange
- cornstarch slurry mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch in 2 tablespoons water
Pat cauliflower florets dry with a paper towel or let them air dry in a colander.
Whisk together batter ingredients in a bowl until well combined. The batter should be thick enough to coat the florets.
Preheat the air fryer to 390°F [220°C]. Dredge cauliflower florets in the batter, shake off excess and place them on the air fryer rack.
Air 'fry' until golden brown, about 8 - 10 minutes with a shake in between, if needed. See notes to bake these in the oven.
In a heated non-stick pan, slowly pour in the orange juice along with the sauce ingredients, except cornstarch slurry.
Bring the mixture to a rolling boil and stir until the sugar has melted, then stir in the cornstarch slurry.
Add in the cauliflower florets, and quickly toss everything together until well-combined.
Serve immediately with a sprinkle of chopped cilantro or scallions and toasted sesame seeds.
To bake the cauliflower bites:
- Preheat oven to 450°F [230°C]. Dredge cauliflower florets in the batter, shake off excess and place them on a lined baking sheet.
- Brush or spray each floret with oil and bake until golden brown for about 20 mins, flipping halfway. (You can also turn the broiler to low & broil for about 3 mins to get the roasted look at the top)