Description
This Sweet and Spicy Baked Cauliflower recipe offers a flavorful twist to a healthy vegetable dish. Cauliflower florets are baked to a tender crisp and coated in a delicious glaze made from honey, soy sauce, sriracha, and hoisin sauce. Garnished with green onions and sesame seeds, this dish makes a perfect appetizer or side that balances sweetness with a kick of heat.
Ingredients
Scale
Cauliflower and Seasoning
- 1 large head of cauliflower, cut into bite-sized florets
- Cooking oil spray
- 1 tsp garlic salt
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Sauce and Garnish
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce or coconut aminos
- 1 tbsp sriracha
- 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
- 1 tsp gluten-free flour or cornstarch (for thickening)
- 1 tbsp green onions, sliced (for garnish)
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 425°F (220°C) to prepare for baking the cauliflower to a crispy texture.
- Prepare the cauliflower: Wash and cut the cauliflower into bite-sized florets. Place on a lined baking sheet and spray lightly with cooking oil. Season with garlic salt, salt, and pepper. Toss to coat evenly.
- Bake the cauliflower: Place the cauliflower in the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes until the edges turn golden and tender, turning halfway through for even cooking.
- Make the sauce: While cauliflower bakes, combine honey, minced garlic, soy sauce (or coconut aminos), sriracha, and hoisin sauce in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the gluten-free flour or cornstarch to thicken the sauce. Simmer for 3-5 minutes until it thickens to a glaze-like consistency.
- Coat cauliflower with sauce: Remove the baked cauliflower from the oven and transfer to a mixing bowl. Pour the sweet and spicy sauce over the cauliflower and toss gently to coat all pieces evenly.
- Final baking (optional): Return the coated cauliflower to the baking sheet and bake an additional 5 minutes to set the glaze, allowing it to caramelize slightly.
- Garnish and serve: Remove from oven and transfer to a serving dish. Sprinkle with sliced green onions and sesame seeds before serving for added flavor and texture.
Notes
- You can substitute honey with maple syrup for a vegan option.
- Adjust sriracha quantity based on your preferred spice level.
- Use coconut aminos for a soy-free alternative to soy sauce.
- For extra crispiness, broil the cauliflower for 1-2 minutes at the end, watching closely to avoid burning.
