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Sweet & Spicy Orange Cauliflower Nuggets

Ingredients

Scale

For the Cauliflower:

1 small head cauliflower

1/2 cup flour

1 Tbls. cornstarch

1/2 cup unsweetened plant based milk (I used almond)

1/2 tsp. each salt, pepper, garlic powder

1 cup bread crumbs or panko bread crumbs

sesame seeds for garnish, if desired

For the Orange Sauce:

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 tsp. ginger paste (could use fresh, minced ginger)

1/81/4 tsp. red pepper flakes

1/2 C. orange juice (if squeezing your own,  add some zest)

1/2 C.  brown sugar

1/4 C. white vinegar

1/4. C. soy sauce

2 Tbls. orange marmelade

1 tsp. sesame oil

2 Tbls. cornstarch

2 Tbls. water

Instructions

Prepare Cauliflower:

  • Core cauliflower and cut up florets into small bite size pieces. Set aside
  • In bowl, whisk together flour, almond milk, salt, pepper, garlic powder to make a smooth batter.
  • Add breadcrumbs or panko to a separate bowl.
  • Add cauliflower to the batter mixture and stir to coat the pieces.  Remove cauliflower pieces one at a time and shake off excess batter then roll in breadcrumbs to coat.  Place each piece on baking sheet if baking in the oven or place in air fryer to cook.
  • Bake in preheated 400° oven (on baking sheet with silicone mat or parchment paper) for about 20 minutes or in 400° air fryer about 15 minutes (turning pieces halfway)

Prepare  Orange Sauce:

  • In saucepan, combine sauce ingredients except cornstarch and water and bring to a boil.  Reduce. heat to medium.  Stir together cornstarch and water in small cup to make a slurry to thicken the sauce.   Whisk slurry into sauce and combine well. Cook sauce for a few minutes until it thickens. Remove from heat.
  • Taste and adjust seasoning,  if necessary.  More soy for saltiness,  more sugar for sweetness, more chili flake for spice.  Also, if sauce gets too thick just add a little water or more orange juice.

To Serve:

Add cauliflower pieces to sauce and stir to coat the pieces in the sauce.  Garnish with sesame seeds.  Serve with rice, if desired.