Description
This secretly healthy sticky sesame cauliflower is a delicious plant-based alternative to takeout, featuring crispy baked cauliflower coated in a sweet, tangy sesame sauce.
Ingredients
- 1 small head cauliflower, chopped (6 1/2 cups florets)
- 1/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup, honey, or agave
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1 ½ tsp toasted sesame oil
- ½ tsp powdered ginger
- 1 1/2 tbsp cornstarch or arrowroot
- 1/4 cup water
- Sesame seeds (for garnish)
- Scallions, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 450°F (232°C). Grease a baking pan or line it with parchment paper.
- Cut cauliflower into florets, then slice each floret so one side is flat. Arrange them in a single layer on the prepared pan.
- Bake the cauliflower for 10 minutes on the center rack of the oven.
- While baking, whisk together soy sauce, maple syrup (or honey/agave), rice vinegar, garlic, sesame oil, and powdered ginger in a saucepan. Bring to a boil.
- In a separate bowl, stir together cornstarch (or arrowroot) and water until fully dissolved.
- Once the sauce boils, slowly whisk in the cornstarch mixture. Reduce heat to medium and cook for about 2 minutes, stirring more frequently once it returns to a boil, until the sauce thickens.
- Flip cauliflower florets and bake for an additional 10 minutes.
- Optional: Move the pan to the top rack and broil for 1-2 minutes for extra crispiness.
- Remove cauliflower from the oven, pour the sauce over the florets, and toss gently to coat.
- Garnish with sesame seeds and chopped scallions. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Maple syrup, honey, or agave all work well—choose based on dietary needs.
- The sauce can be made ahead of time and thickens more when refrigerated.
- For extra crispiness, broil the cauliflower briefly after baking.
- Some readers have reported success using an Instant Pot, but this method hasn’t been officially tested.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
