Orange Cauliflower is the copycat vegetarian or vegan version of the famous Panda Express Orange Chicken recipe. Crispy baked cauliflower florets are tossed in a juicy Orange Sauce.
Orange Cauliflower is the vegan version of the Popular Asian Orange Chicken dish. It has a juicy and citrus blast in every bite. Enjoy with some Fried Rice.
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What is Orange Cauliflower
In Panda express, there is a very famous orange chicken recipe. Orange cauliflower is the vegetarian version of this recipe. Crispy fried cauliflower florets are tossed in an orange sauce garnished with toasted sesame seeds and green onion. It is a kickass vegan appetizer. Goes well with fried rice or noodles. Traditionally it is deep-fried, however tried a baked version. You may also air fry the cauliflower.
Ingredients:
Orange Sauce - we cook the dish in a tangy orange sauce and it has a mix of ingredients. It has Soya sauce, Vinegar,Orange Juice Crushed garlic, ginger, and Chilli Flakes
Crushed ginger, garlic, and Chili Flakes - We can crush the ginger and garlic in a mortar and pestle or blender. Crushed ingredients give more flavor to the dish. Or you can chop them into fine small pieces and use them. Use fresh Chilli flakes.
Soya Sauce - Use dark Soya sauce
Vinegar - Use white vinegar or Red wine Vinegar.
Corn Flour - We add cornflour to thicken the sauce. You can also use rice flour for the same.
Orange Juice - This is the base of the sauce. Use fresh sweet Orange Juice.
Cauliflower - Use a medium sized cauliflower head. Segergrate them into small or medium sized florets. Keep them immersed in boiling water to remove the dirt and worms if any.
Pepper, Rice Flour, Salt - We make a batter out of them by adding little water and then dip and bake the cauliflowers until crisp. You may also deep fry them.
Sesame Seeds - We garnish the dish with White sesame seeds they give a nice crunch and a pleasant look and feel to the dish.
Scallions - Again we garnish some green part of the scallions to the finished dish.
How to Prepare Orange Cauliflower
1. Blanch the cauliflower in Salt and Turmeric water for 5 mins. Drain it and set them aside.
2. In a mixing bowl add in the Rice flour, Salt, and pepper powder. Whisk once and then add in water. This makes the batter.
3. Dip each cauliflower floret one at a time and make sure the batter coats the cauliflower fully.
4. Place the batter coated cauliflower in a baking tray lined with parchment paper.5. Preheat the oven at 200 c for 10 mins. Bake them at 200 Deg C for 20 - 25 mins until they turn crisp. Flip once in between as you bake.
Prepare Orange Sauce
1. Heat Olive oil in a pan. Once the oil is hot add in the sliced garlic and crushed ginger. Sauce for few secs and then add in the Chilli Flakes.
2.Next add in the Orange Juice.
3. Also add in the White Vinegar and Sugar. Combine everything. Let the sugar dissolve.
4. Next add in the Soya sauce.Cook for a min.
5. Mix the Cornflour in ¼ cup of water and let it form a slurry. Add this to the pan and cook in medium flame for 2-3 mins. The Orange will thicken by the time.
6. Add in 1 tsp of Olive oil and mix once and now add in the baked Cauliflower Florets. combine until the sauce is evenly coated on the cauliflower.
7. Switch off the flame. Garnish with chopped Scallions and toasted white sesame seeds as you serve.
Tips & Variations
- you can also use Paneer, Tofu, or Mushrooms in place of garlic.
- This is a vegan and gluten free version of Orange Cauliflower.
- You may also deep fry or air fry the cauliflower.
Serving Suggestions
Goes well as a starter as an accomplishment along with noodles or Fried Rice. You can also check my Lo Mein recipe, Orange cauliflower makes a great accompaniment for the same.
Similar Recipes
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📖 Recipe
Orange Cauliflower
Standard 1 cup measures 240 ml
Ingredients
- 1 Cauliflower Medium Sized head
- ½ cup Rice Flour
- ½ cup Water
- Salt to taste
- ½ tsp Pepper
Orange Jucie
- 2 tbsp Olive Oil
- 4 Garlic
- ½ tsp Crushed Ginger
- ½ tsp Chilli Flakes
- 1 cup Orange Juice
- ¼ cup White vinegar
- ⅓ cup Sugar
- 2 tbsp Soya Sauce
- 2 tbsp Corn Flour
- ¼ cup Water
- 2 tsp White Sesame Seeds toasted
- 1 tbsp Scallions to garnish
Instructions
- Blanch the cauliflower in Salt and Turmeric water for 5 mins. Drain it and set them aside.
- In a mixing bowl add in the Rice flour, Salt, and pepper powder. Whisk once and then add in water. This makes the batter.
- Dip each cauliflower floret one at a time and make sure the batter coats the cauliflower fully.
- Place the batter coated cauliflower in a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
- Preheat the oven at 200 c for 10 mins. Bake them at 200 Deg C for 20 - 25 mins until they turn crisp. Flip once in between as you bake.
Prepare Orange Sauce
- Heat Olive oil in a pan. Once the oil is hot add in the sliced garlic and crushed ginger. Sauce for few secs and then add in the Chilli Flakes.
- Next add in the Orange Juice.
- Also add in the White Vinegar and Sugar. Combine everything. Let the sugar dissolve.
- Next add in the Soya sauce.Cook for a min.
- Mix the Cornflour in ¼ cup of water and let it form a slurry. Add this to the pan and cook in medium flame for 2-3 mins. The Orange will thicken by the time.
- Add in 1 tsp of Olive oil and mix once and now add in the baked Cauliflower Florets. combine until the sauce is evenly coated on the cauliflower.
- Switch off the flame. Garnish with chopped Scallions and toasted white sesame seeds as you serve.
Video
Disclaimer: I am not a nutritionist, the nutrition value provided here is an estimate. It will vary based on the quantity and brands of the products used.
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