Try This Quick General Tso's Cauliflower {Ever}

By: Prasanna| Published: 10:54:00 AM





This General Tso's Cauliflower is sweet and spicy, deep fried cauliflower chunks further tossed in deliciously quick and easy General Tso sauce recipe,which is vegetarian cousin of famous North American Chinese takeout menu dish Orange Chicken- the best vegan General Tso recipe! 





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General Tso's Cauliflower is a sweet deep-fried  cauliflower dish that is derived from General Tso's Chicken which is served in North American Chinese restaurants, and very close to sweet and savory combination of Orange chicken recipe which is another famous Chinese restaurant takeout dish.





This is very easy dish to put together and totally delish, that you can fix the dinner/lunch scenario in under 30 mins.




birdseye view of a plate with general tsos cauliflower sprinkled with sesame seeds



General Tso's Cauliflower



Vegetarian version of famous general tsos chicken is what you can get very close to with this recipe.


We enjoyed this dish with fried rice,you can have this with noodles or rice of your choice.





More Chinese takeout recipes you need to check:






What is the story behind General Tso's Chicken?


Here is an excerpt from Wikipedia: General Tso's chicken (pronounced [tswò]) is a sweet deep-fried chicken dish that is served in North American Chinese restaurants (it is also seen with other variants, such as General Tse's chicken). 

The dish has been associated with Zuo Zongtang (Tso Tsung-t'ang) (1812–1885), Qing dynasty statesman and military leader from Hunan Province, but Zuo could not have eaten the dish or known of it.

Check out more information General Tso .




General Tso's Cauliflower Ingredients:


  • Cauliflower Florets : Crispy fried cauliflower or baked cauliflower can be used in this recipe. I have fried the cauliflower but you can make this recipe more healthier by baking the cauliflower.

  • General Tso Sauce: Easiest sauce made with sesame oil,garlic,ginger,soy sauce,vinegar,hoisin sauce,sugar,chili flakes and vegetable stock.


closeup of general tsos cauliflower with sesame seeds served on plate

How to make General Tso's  Cauliflower ?



Step1:  Wash and completely dry the cauliflower florets.
    In a mixing bowl add the ingredients for the batter except the water.

    Slowly add the water to make pancake batter consistency batter to coat the florets, as shown in picture 2 and 3.


    Step2:  Heat oil in deep pan/ skillet enough to submerge the florets.

    When the oil is hot enough,slowly dip the florets in batter and drop in batches in the batter.

    Make sure the oil is not very hot or the florets will get burned and raw inside.
    Once the florets are crispy,drain them on a kitchen tissue.

    Step3:  Either fry them only once or double fry them to get crispier.

    In a skillet / pan,add the ingredients for sauce except the cornstarch slurry.

    Let it boil,once it comes to boil add the cornstarch mix,keep stirring the sauce till it slightly thickens,as shown in picture 1,
    Switch off the heat.

    Step4:  Pour the sauce over the fried florets,toss well to coat them and serve with sesame seeds.



    how to make general tsos cauliflower



    How to make General Tso's Sauce?


    To make the general tso sauce you have to mix the ingredients in a pan as mentioned: light soy sauce,vinegar,dark soy sauce,sugar,chili flakes,cornstarch slurry,sesame oil,hoisin,grated ginger and grated garlic, let it boil and get slightly thick.


    Drop it over crispy deep fried cauliflower florets ,toss and serve.



    a plate with easy general tsos cauliflower sprinkled with sesame seeds






    Tips to make the General Tsos Cauliflower:




    • Make sure the cauliflower florets are dry before frying or baking or else the batter wont stick to the florets.

    • To get crispier fried cauliflower you can double fry the florets. I have only fried once but you can fry the florets two times to get them very crispy.

    • To get the sauce spicier you can increase the red chili flakes or instead use sriracha if you find the flakes very spicy to handle the heat.

    • Adjust sugar level as per sweetness desired in the sauce.

    • Boil the sauce to make it slightly thick and then pour it over the florets and serve immediately while the florets are crispy.

    • If you are planning to serve later then make the sauce and keep aside.Fry the florets when you are ready to serve,toss them in sauce and serve.

    • More time the florets will sit in the sauce the more soggy they will get.

    close look of general tsos cauloflower served on a plate




    Try This Quick General Tso's Cauliflower {Ever}

    Savory Bites Recipes
    Published 08/27/2019
    Try This Quick General Tso's Cauliflower {Ever}
    This General Tso's Cauliflower is sweet and spicy, deep fried cauliflower chunks further tossed in deliciously quick and easy sauce,which is vegetarian cousin of famous North American Chinese takeout menu dish Orange Chicken!

    Ingredients

    • 2 Cup Cauliflower florets
    • For batter:
    • 1 Cup Flour
    • 1/4 Cup Cornflour
    • As per need Salt
    • 1 tsp Black Pepper Powder
    • 1 tsp Chili Powder
    • 1 tsp Baking Powder
    • Water as needed to make batter
    • For General tso sauce:
    • 2 Tbsp Sesame Oil
    • 4 Cloves Garlic,grated
    • 1 Inch Ginger,grated
    • 4 Tbsp Light Soy Sauce
    • 2 Tbsp Dark Soy Sauce
    • 2 Tbsp White/Rice Vinegar
    • 2 Tbsp Sugar
    • 1/2 tsp Red Chili Flakes
    • 2 Tbsp Hoisin Sauce
    • 1/3 Cup Vegetable Stock
    • 1 tsp Cornstarch mixed with 1 Tbsp Water
    • For Garnish:
    • Sesame Seeds

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    Instructions

    1. Wash and completely dry the cauliflower florets.
    2. In a mixing bowl add the ingredients for the batter except the water.
      Slowly add the water to make pancake batter consistency batter to coat the florets.
    3. Heat oil in deep pan/ skillet enough to submerge the florets.
      When the oil is hot enough,slowly dip the florets in batter and drop in batches in the batter.
    4. Make sure the oil is not very hot or the florets will get burned and raw inside.
      Once the florets are crispy,drain them on a kitchen tissue.
      Either fry them only once or double fry them to get crispier.
    5. In a skillet / pan,add the ingredients for sauce except the cornstarch slurry.
      Let it boil,once it comes to boil add the cornstarch mix,keep stirring the sauce till it slightly thickens.
      Switch off the heat.
    6. Pour the sauce over the fried florets,toss well to coat them and serve with sesame seeds.
      Enjoy!
    Yield: 3 Servings
    Prep Time: 00:15:00 mins.
    Cook time: 00:15:00 mins.
    Total time: 30 mins.
    Tags: chinese,general tsos cauliflower,vegetarian,appetizer


    Recipe Notes:

    • Make sure the cauliflower florets are dry before frying or baking or else the batter wont stick to the florets.
    • To get crispier fried cauliflower you can double fry the florets. I have only fried once but you can fry the florets two times to get them very crispy.
    • To get the sauce spicier you can increase the red chili flakes or instead use sriracha if you find the flakes very spicy to handle the heat.
    • Adjust sugar level as per sweetness desired in the sauce.
    • Boil the sauce to make it slightly thick and then pour it over the florets and serve immediately while the florets are crispy.
    • If you are planning to serve later then make the sauce and keep aside.Fry the florets when you are ready to serve,toss them in sauce and serve.
    • More time the florets will sit in the sauce the more soggy they will get.





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      a closeup of sweet general tsos cauliflower on a silver plate



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      best ever general tsos cauliflower





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      Hi, I'm Prasanna!

      I will be the first one to admit that I am an accidental food blogger. I love trying out new recipes and giving them a twist of my own. Hope you enjoy trying out the recipes ... do leave me your valuable feedback 😊

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        Comments

        1. Why is there not a specific amount listed for the water used in the batter? I don't like having to experiment or guess. Thank you

          ReplyDelete
          Replies
          1. Water should be added slowly little by little to make a smooth batter but not runny.Hope this helps.

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        2. Why can't we print your recipes?????

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