Teriyaki Cauliflower

At first glance, this dish looks a lot like a dish you’d get from a local Chinese restaurant. Fried and tossed in some sort of sauce and served with a side of rice. But what makes this dish different from a Chinese restaurant staple is it’s vegan. It’s cauliflower fried to a crispy golden brown and tossed in teriyaki sauce. And boy, is it good. There are only a few restaurants that offer vegetarian or vegan versions of Chinese restaurant staples. So, why not make it at home? Being a vegetarian or a vegan doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy certain dishes anymore, but that you get to try new ways of cooking those dishes using different ingredients.

I love experimenting in the kitchen and trying new things. So when I was at the store one week and saw they didn’t have any tofu in stock. My first thought was, ‘how am I going to make teriyaki tofu without it.’ Just as I was about to make changes to my meal plan, I thought of the orange cauliflower I had while I was in Chicago. And I decided it’d be easier to swap out the tofu for cauliflower instead of swapping it out for another dish. And I was happy about the results.

It was extra crispy, delicious, and simple to make. At first, I wasn’t going to double batter the cauliflower. I was afraid there’d be too much breading, but I also didn’t want it to get soggy once I added the teriyaki sauce. So it seemed that double battering it would be the way to go if I didn’t want soggy teriyaki cauliflower. It gave it a crispy coating that didn’t go soggy after adding the teriyaki sauce.

There are no restaurants in my area that offer vegetarian or vegan versions of Chinese restaurant staples. So often times I have to figure out a way to make them at home. And this teriyaki cauliflower is one that I’ll be making whenever I’m in the mood for Chinese take-out. So if you’re ever in the mood for a Chinese restaurant staple, that’s plant-based, then give this teriyaki cauliflower a try.

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Teriyaki Sauce

(You can also use store-bought if you’re feeling lazy.)

Ingredients 

• ½ cup of soy sauce (low sodium)
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• 2 tablespoon of season rice vinegar
• 1 teaspoon of sesame oil
  ½ teaspoon of ground ginger
• 1 clove of minced garlic (optional)
• ¼ cup of cold water
• 1 tablespoon of cornstarch

Instructions 

1. In a small pot on medium heat, add in and mix together all the ingredients except for the water and cornstarch.
2. Then in a separate bowl whisk together the cornstarch and water until the corn starch is dissolved. Next, add it to the sauce in the pan and whisk until the sauce thickens and remove from heat.

Teriyaki Cauliflower

Ingredients 

• 1/2 a head of Cauliflower
• Oil for frying

Batter 

• 1 cup of non-dairy milk
• 1 cup of flour
• 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Breading 

• 1 cup of flour
• 2 tablespoon of cornstarch
• 1/2 cup of panko breading (optional)

Instructions

1. Start off by washing and chopping your cauliflower into bite-sized pieces. Then add your oil to a medium-sized pot or fryer, and heat it to about 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Next, make your batter by combining the milk, flour, and spices to a bowl. After that in a separate bowl, combine flour, cornstarch, and panko breading to make your breading for your cauliflower.
3. Then double batter you’re cauliflower by dredging it in the batter, then the flour, then back in the batter, and in the breading again. Once you’ve double battered it, place it on a plate until your ready to start frying.
4. Once your oil is ready and you have all your cauliflower battered, it’s time to start frying it. Carefully place your cauliflower in the oil and allow it to fry for 4-6 minutes or until it’s a golden brown. Then transfer it to a player lined with paper towels.
5. Lastly, add your fried cauliflower to a bowl and pour your teriyaki sauce over it and mix it until everything is coated and serve.

Notes 

• If using a store-bought teriyaki sauce warm it up before pouring it over your fried cauliflower.
• Garnish with chopped green onion or sesame seeds.
• If you want to use a whole head of cauliflower, then you’ll have to double the recipe.
• Get the printer-friendly version here.

Related post: Spicy Korean Tofu

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