Description
Baked Orange Cauliflower “Chicken” is a delightful vegan twist on the classic orange chicken that you crave from takeout. This recipe transforms cauliflower into crispy, flavorful florets coated in a sweet and spicy orange sauce, making it perfect for family dinners, gatherings, or even as a satisfying snack. With its balanced flavors of citrus and garlic, this dish provides a guilt-free indulgence that everyone will enjoy. It’s versatile enough to serve as an appetizer or main course, and it pairs wonderfully with rice, noodles, or a fresh salad.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 head of cauliflower (about 2 lbs), cut into 1-inch florets
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup ketchup
- Juice of 2 oranges (about 1 cup)
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 2 teaspoons salt
- Garlic powder
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In one bowl, mix flour, garlic powder, and salt for coating. In another bowl, whisk together flour, water, oil, salt, and cornstarch for the batter.
- Dredge cauliflower florets in the wet batter then coat with the seasoned flour before placing them on the baking sheet.
- Bake for 20 minutes until golden brown.
- Meanwhile, prepare the orange sauce by mixing orange juice, zest, ketchup, sugar, vinegar, minced garlic, and red pepper flakes in a saucepan over medium heat until thickened.
- Toss baked cauliflower in warm orange sauce and serve immediately.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Vegan
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 4 oz
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 39g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 0mg