Description
Ultimate Sticky and Crispy Sesame Cauliflower Bites
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 head of cauliflower, about 1 ½ pounds
- 1 cup cassava flour
- 1 ½ cups water, plus extra
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- ½ cup low sodium soy sauce
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons chili paste/hot sauce (such as Gochujang), or to taste
- 3 cloves garlic, peeled and finely minced
- 3-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and finely minced
- 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Cut the cauliflower into uniform 1-inch florets, discarding the thick stem and leaves.
- Mix together the cassava flour, water, garlic powder, and 1 tablespoon sesame seeds in a large bowl until smooth. The batter should coat the back of a spoon—add extra water if it seems too thick.
- Dip the cauliflower florets into the batter, stirring gently until each piece is completely coated. Let any excess batter drip off before transferring to the prepared baking sheet in a single layer.
- Bake for 18-22 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the cauliflower is golden brown and crispy on the outside. Check at 18 minutes—the coating should sound hollow when tapped.
- Combine all sauce ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium heat while the cauliflower bakes. Whisk constantly and bring to a gentle simmer.
- Cook the sauce for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently, until it thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon. The sauce will continue thickening as it cools, so don’t worry if it seems slightly thin at first.
- Drizzle the warm sticky sesame sauce over the crispy cauliflower bites immediately after removing from the oven. Garnish with the remaining 2 tablespoons sesame seeds and serve right away for maximum crispiness.
Notes
- Adjust the spice level by adding more or less chili paste/hot sauce.
- For extra flavor, marinate the cauliflower in soy sauce for 30 minutes before battering.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container, but expect some loss of crispiness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 22 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 5 grams
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 10 grams
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 grams
- Unsaturated Fat: 8.5 grams
- Trans Fat: 0 grams
- Carbohydrates: 30 grams
- Fiber: 3 grams
- Protein: 5 grams
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: Sticky Crispy Sesame Cauliflower