Cauliflower florets are tossed in a spicy, gingery sauce then baked until crispy in the oven. Perfect for enjoying as a snack or side or serving with grains and veggies for a flavorful meal. Just 10 ingredients required and naturally vegan and gluten-free. Let us show you how it’s done!
Origins of General Tso’s Cauliflower
General Tso’s cauliflower is a plant-based adaptation of General Tso’s chicken, which is believed to have been created around the 1950s by a chef named Peng Chang-kuei. He was born in the Hunan province of China and later moved to Taiwan and cooked there. Chef Pang claims the dish was inspired by flavors of Hunanese cuisine and named after a Hunanese general. Later, when he moved to New York and opened his first restaurant, he adapted it to cater to his new audience, and the dish quickly spread in popularity.
How to Make General Tso’s Cauliflower
This recipe starts with tossing chopped cauliflower with avocado oil and cornstarch for a crispy coating (the same method we like using for crispy tofu). A generous amount of salt adds flavor and helps draw out some of the moisture for crispy, caramelized edges. Next, we whisk up the ultra flavorful, gingery, spicy, 6-ingredient sauce. Tamari (or coconut aminos) creates the savory base, chili garlic sauce and optional red pepper flakes provide heat, maple syrup balances and adds sweetness, and garlic and ginger add additional spiciness and zing. Then we toss the roasted cauliflower in the sauce to coat it with all the goodness. You just may turn cauliflower haters into willing cauliflower eaters with this one! Then it goes back into the oven to allow the sauce to soak into and become one with the cauliflower. If you couldn’t see it, you might not even know it was cauliflower at this point. We hope you LOVE this General Tso’s cauliflower! It’s:FlavorfulGingeryLightly crispySpicy& Satisfying! It’s perfect for enjoying as a snack or side or as a meal served with grains and veggies (steamed broccoli, carrots, and snap peas would be especially delicious). It would also pair well with our Fresh Tofu Salad Rolls with Cashew Dipping Sauce, Quick Pickled Carrots, or Almond Butter Tofu Stir-Fry.
More Cauliflower Recipes
Green Cauliflower Rice (20 minutes!) Cauliflower Banh Mi Cashew-Crusted Cauliflower “Steak” Spicy Pickled Cauliflower (Escabeche)
If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo #minimalistbaker on Instagram. Cheers, friends!
