Baked General Tso’s Cauliflower
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Baked General Tso’s Cauliflower is coated in panko breadcrumbs and baked until tender and crispy. It’s then coated in a spicy and sweet sauce. It’s a hearty and delicious meat-free version of your favorite Chinese takeout!
I can verify first-hand that this recipe is hearty and satisfying. When something fills up a teenage boy, you know it’s a keeper!
Baked General Tso’s Cauliflower
Baked cauliflower is a healthy snack, appetizer, or meal. It’s easy to make, but it’s a bit time-consuming to coat each cauliflower floret in flour, egg, and panko. You could probably dump several in at a time instead of one at a time. However, I like to make sure each piece gets coated completely.
You can totally use the cauliflower with different sauces and easily change.
You can change the cauliflower out and use broccoli. So yummy!
Furthermore, you can use chicken breasts. Cut chicken breasts into cubes, coat in olive oil, and bake with the cauliflower. Stir the chicken and cauliflower to the sauce and stir.
Typically, I eat this as a meal without a side dish. However, you can traditionally have it with a side of fried rice, steamed rice, or quinoa, or noodles.
If you want to go low-carb, forgo the Panko. Also, spoon it over fried cabbage or lettuce.
As well, this is an easy recipe to double or triple.
How to Make General Tso’s Cauliflower
- The first and most important step is to wash and allow the cauliflower to dry. If it’s not dry the flour won’t stick, then the egg won’t stick, then the panko won’t stick, then you won’t have any crust.
- Next, cut the cauliflower florets into bite-size (or two-bite) pieces.
- Arrange workspace: Place flour in one bowl, beaten eggs in another bowl, and panko breadcrumbs in another bowl. Add salt and pepper to the panko and stir.
- Preheat your oven to 400°F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
- Dip the cauliflower florets into the flour, then egg, then breadcrumbs, and place on the baking sheet. Repeat with all florets.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until the cauliflower is fork-tender and the coating is crispy.
- While the cauliflower is baking, make the sauce. In a small microwave-safe bowl, add the sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and cornstarch. Whisk to combine.
- Microwave for 60 to 90 seconds or until boiling. Remove and whisk. It will thicken more as it cools.
- Drizzle sauce over the baked cauliflower and gently toss to evenly coat. Serve immediately. Or, you can dip the cauliflower in the sauce.
How to make General Tso Cauliflower Sauce
General Tso sauce is the best, so don’t skimp on it. If you’re adding chicken, you may want to double the amount of sauce.
While the cauliflower is baking, make the sauce. In a small microwave-safe bowl, add all the sauce ingredients and whisk to combine. (Use a large enough bowl that it doesn’t boil over when it boils.)
Microwave the sauce ingredients for 60 to 90 seconds or until it boils. Once it starts to boil, remove the bowl from the microwave and whisk.
The sauce will thicken as it cools.
Tips and more…
The sauce will make the breading on the cauliflower soft so if you want it to be crispy when you eat it, wait to add the sauce until just before you serve it. You can have everything ready and do a quick toss and plate.
To speed up the cooking time, this is a fantastic recipe to use your air fryer. To cook in an air fryer, you’ll complete the same steps, except instead of putting them in the oven, you’ll place the cauliflower on a greased tray in your air-fryer basket. Cook until golden brown and tender, 10-12 minutes.
MORE CAULIFLOWER RECIPES YOU’LL ENJOY!
- Baked Breaded Cauliflower Bites
- Panko Baked Cauliflower
- Baked Breaded Cauliflower
- CHEDDAR BACON CAULIFLOWER CASSEROLE
- Skinny Baked Breaded Cauliflower
MORE HEALTHY RECIPES YOU’LL ENJOY!
- CROCK POT GENERAL TSO CHICKEN
- Turkey Sausage Frittata
- GENERAL TSO POTSTICKERS
- Tastiest Cauliflower Rice Recipes
- Easy Asian-inspired Main Dish Recipes
- Roasted Winter Vegetable and Pesto Quinoa Bowl
- Panko Crusted Broccoli
- Low-Carb Peach Mascarpone Dessert Flatbread
Baked General Tso’s Cauliflower
Ingredients
SAUCE
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 4 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce or Tamari or coconut aminos
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons hoisin
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger fresh, minced or grated
- 4 large garlic clove minced or grated
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
CAULIFLOWER
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 large eggs beaten
- 1 head cauliflower cut into bite-sized pieces
Instructions
CAULIFLOWER
- Wash and allow the cauliflower to dry. Cut the cauliflower florets into bite-size (or two-bite) pieces.
- Arrange your workspace: Place flour in one bowl, beaten eggs in another bowl, and panko breadcrumbs in another bowl. Add salt and pepper to the panko and stir.
- Preheat your oven to 400°F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
- Dip the cauliflower florets into the flour, then egg, then breadcrumbs, and place on the baking sheet. Repeat with all florets.
- Bake for 30 minutes, or until crispy the cauliflower is fork-tender and the coating is crispy.
SAUCE
- While the cauliflower is baking, make the sauce. In a small microwave-safe bowl, add all the sauce ingredients and whisk to combine. (Use a large enough bowl that it doesn't boil over when it boils.)
- Microwave for 60 to 90 seconds or until boiling. Remove and whisk. It will thicken more as it cools.
- Drizzle sauce over the baked cauliflower and gently toss to evenly coat. Serve immediately.
AIR FRYER METHOD
- To cook in an air fryer, you'll complete the steps above except instead of putting them in the oven you'll place the cauliflower on a greased tray in your air-fryer basket. Cook until golden brown and tender, 10-12 minutes.
Nutrition
Nutritional information given is an automatic calculation and can vary based on the exact products you use and changes you make to the recipe. If these numbers are important to you, I recommend calculating them yourself.
This side dish makes kids eat more veggies haha the family loved the flavor of it!
This was perfect for Meatless Monday – nobody even really knew it was cauliflower till I told them! So much flavor!
Thank you for a great easy cauliflower recipe! I made it for my family and they loved it!!
We have been adding a lot more vegetarian versions of our fav meals to the meal plan lately. This is one my hubby is 100% on board with and asks for time and time again. Definitely a keeper.
Yay! It’s not always easy to get my husband to enjoy vegetables. And even less so if I’m trying to make a meatless meal. This delicious General Tso’s cauliflower has changed his mind. This recipe was a hit! Thank you!
You removed my question without answering the question. How much flour? It is not listed in ingredients, but used in the directions. It looks like a great recipe. Would love to try it.
No, I didn’t remove it, it’s still in moderation as was this one. I haven’t answered comments yet today. I updated the recipe card, not sure what happened but all the cauliflower ingredients weren’t showing. It’s correct now.
Did I miss the flour amount?
Finger-licking good! Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Omg, as a vegetarian I miss General Tso chicken so much but this option looks amazing. Thank you!