orange cauliflower in 2 plates with rice

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This vegan orange cauliflower recipe is healthy, baked and also so easy to make! In addition, it’s gluten-free, satisfying, crowd-pleaser, and perfect as a main dish or side dish!

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This baked gluten-free orange cauliflower is a perfect alternative to orange chicken for vegans. They are baked and then coated with homemade orange sauce to give so much flavor.

I absolutely love cauliflower because it is so versatile. I use it in many dishes like vegan sesame chicken, sweet and sour cauliflower, buffalo cauliflower wings or vegan tikka masala.

The best part is that you only need a few ingredients to make this sweet and spicy dish. Serve it with some rice and you got yourself a great dinner and it’s also better than take out!

But, before we jump into the recipe, let’s talk about how you can customize it and learn some tips.

orange cauliflower with rice and chop sticks on the side

How to Make Vegan Orange Cauliflower

Ingredients

Cauliflower

If you don’t want to end up with little pieces, you should use your hands to break the cauliflower into bite-size pieces instead of cutting it with a knife. It might take some work to get it going but once the first piece is pulled apart, it gets easier.

Flour

To keep these gluten-free, I used gluten-free flour but you can use regular flour. Coating them in a flour-based batter will make it a little crispy and also help with the sauce sticking.

Unsweetened Plant-based Milk

You can use almond milk, cashew milk, soy milk, or oat milk so the choice is yours. You will need to make sure that the milk is unsweetened and is not flavored since that would affect the taste.

Corn Starch

We will be using corn starch for the batter and also for the sauce. It helps thicken the sauce so it sticks a lot better.

Orange Juice & zest

Freshly squeezed orange juice really makes this dish so I don’t recommend using store-bought orange juice. We will use the zest as well because it gives so much flavor.

Coconut Sugar

Since this sauce is sweet, we will be using coconut sugar. But you can sub for brown sugar if you prefer.

Tamari (sub for Soy sauce) and Rice Vinegar

To keep it gluten-free, we will be using tamari but you can use soy sauce if you like. Rice vinegar gives a little tangy flavor so we will use a little bit in the sauce.

Garlic Powder & Fresh Ginger

Adding some flavor to the sauce is important so we will be using garlic powder. We will also add some fresh ginger and it works great in the sauce.

Red Chili Flakes & salt

Red chili peppers give the sauce a little spicy taste but you can omit it if you like. You can also add more if you like it spicier.

How to Make Baked Orange Cauliflower step by step

First, break the cauliflower with your hands into bite-size florets. (You can cut it with a knife if needed but you might end up with smaller pieces). And then make the batter by combining flour, milk, corn starch and salt in a large bowl.

Now, you can add the cauliflower florets into the bowl with the batter and then mix really well until all pieces are coated. You can also use a ziplock bag and shake the batter and the florets or dip them one at a time into the batter.

You can transfer the florets onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet but let any excess batter drip off before placing on the baking sheet. Also, make sure they have space between them so they crisp up instead of steaming. Bake them at 425 F for about 25 to 35 minutes flipping halfway through.

In the meantime, you can add the orange sauce ingredients in a small bowl and then mix it until combined.

About 5 minutes before the cauliflower is baked, start cooking the sauce in a large saucepan until it gets thick. And then add the baked cauliflower into the sticky orange sauce and mix well. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds.

Tips

If the batter is too thick, you can add a little bit more milk to thin it out but remember, it shouldn’t be dripping out and watery.
If the batter is too watery, add more flour to make it thicker so it can stick to the florets.
Don’t overcrowd the pan because they will not get crispy.
While the cauliflower is baking, check frequently to make sure they are not burning.

How to store and reheat Vegan Orange Cauliflower

This vegan orange cauliflower is best when eaten fresh out of the oven because if they wait, they will get soggy. If you end up with leftovers tough (we never do!), you can reheat them on the stovetop a few minutes.

holding orange cauliflower in chop sticks

How to Serve them

Serve this baked orange cauliflower with a side of white or brown rice.
Garnish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions.
You can also serve it as a side to noodle dishes like garlic sesame noodles or Lo mein.

This baked orange cauliflower recipe is very easy and satisfying. It is also:

Gluten free
Healthy & Filling
Better than take out
Crowd pleaser
Also so delicious!

More healthy plant-based recipes to try

So, did you make this? I’d love for you to leave a comment and rate the recipe. You can also share your photo of the recipe on Pinterest and tag me on Instagram using @avocadocentric or #avocadocentric! xo, Selin

Orange Cauliflower (Vegan & Baked)

Author: avocadocentric
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Yield: 4 servings 1x
Category: Main Dish
Method: Bake
Cuisine: Chinese, American
Diet: Vegan

Description

This vegan orange cauliflower recipe is healthy, baked and so easy to make! It’s gluten-free, satisfying, crowd-pleaser, and perfect as a main dish or side dish!

Scale