Vegan Sesame Chicken (Sticky Sesame Cauliflower)

This vegan sesame chicken recipe is healthy, baked and also so easy to make! In addition, this sticky sesame cauliflower is gluten free, and perfect as a main dish or side dish!

Sesame cauliflower is a perfect alternative to sesame chicken for vegans. They are baked and then coated with homemade sticky sauce to give so much flavor.

I absolutely love cauliflower because it is so versatile. I use it in many dishes like orange cauliflower, teriyaki cauliflower, vegan bbq 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 white or brown 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.

How to Make Vegan Sesame Chicken with 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 all purpose 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 or water

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

Arrowroot (sub for corn starch)

We will be using arrowroot for the batter and for the sauce but you can sub for corn starch. It helps thicken the sauce so it sticks a lot better.

Maple syrup & Sriracha

Maple syrup gives sweetness to the sauce while Sriracha gives a little spicy taste. You can use less hot sauce if you prefer, you can also add more if you like it spicier.

Ketchup

To give the sticky sauce a little sweetness and also depth, we will use some ketchup. It also adds great deep color to the sauce which is a bonus!

Tamari (sub for low sodium 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, Garlic Powder & Fresh Ginger

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

Toasted Sesame Oil

Toasted sesame oil gives so much flavor to this dish. You can use regular sesame oil but I think toasted one has so much more flavor.

How to Make Sticky Sesame Cauliflower step by step

• First, preheat the oven to 425 F and then 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, arrowroot and garlic powder in a large bowl.

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• 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 30 minutes flipping halfway through.

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• In the meantime, you can add the arrowroot and water for the sauce in a medium bowl and then mix it until combined.

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• Now, add the rest of the sticky sauce ingredients into the bowl with the arrowroot and water mixture and mix well.

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• About 10 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 sauce and mix well. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds.

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Tips

• If the batter is too thick, you can add a little bit more milk or water 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.
• If you are subbing for soy sauce, make sure to use low sodium or it will be too salty!

How to store and reheat Vegan Sesame Chicken

This vegan sesame chicken 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.

How to Serve Vegan Sesame Chicken

• Serve this baked sticky sesame 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 vegan sesame chicken 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

• PAD THAI (EASY & HEALTHY)
• EASY FALAFEL BOWL (GLUTEN-FREE)
• THAI PEANUT NOODLES
• PASTA SALAD (EASY & QUICK)
• LENTIL BOLOGNESE
• BLACK BEAN QUINOA BURGER

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

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