This is a tasty alternative to your traditional orange chicken. It's baked not fried and takes just a little over half an hour from start to finish
Calories 1709kcal
Ingredients
For The Cauliflower
1large head cauliflower florets
1cupcoconut milkmay sub any milk or milk substitute
1 ¼cupall-purpose flourmay sub gluten free flour blend
1tspsalt
¼tspbaking powder
For The Orange Sauce
1cuporange juice
⅓cuphoney
2tbssoy sauce
2tbsapple cider vinegarmay sub any vinegar
1tspground ginger
½tspgarlic powder
½tspred pepper flakesoptional
¼tsppepper
⅓cupwater
1 ½tbcorn starch
1tbsorange zest
Optional Garnish: sesame seedsgreen onions, orange slices or siracha
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400F and prepare a baking sheet with non-stick spray or parchment. For added crispiness, use a baking/cooling rack but it’s not necessary.
Start by making a batter by whisking together the milk, flour, salt and baking powder. Whisk until no lumps remain adding more water to thin or more flour to thicken batter. Shooting for a slightly thicker batter works the best.
Dip the cauliflower florets into the batter then line them along the baking sheet. You can also stir them directly into the batter and shake off the excess batter.
Bake for 25-30 minutes or until cauliflower begins to brown.
While the coated cauliflower is baking, combine the orange juice, soy sauce, vinegar, honey, spices and orange zest together in a sauce pot. Cook for 2-3 minutes on medium high heat.
In a separate small bowl whisk together the corn starch and water to make a slurry.
Add slurry to the sauce mixture and bring to a boil. Then reduce heat to low and simmer for 2-3 more minutes. Once the sauce starts to come together, set aside to cool as it continues to thicken.
Toss hot cauliflower florets in cooled sauce and enjoy! Serve warm over rice and enjoy.
Notes
Can be refrigerated for up to 3 days
Can be frozen up to three months.
Reheat by roasting for 15 min at 350F or microwave or air fryer at 375F for 5-7 minutes (but initial crisp will softer unless using air fryer reheating method)