Description
Sticky Sesame Cauliflower: Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and coated in a glossy sweet-and-spicy sesame sauce—a bold, Asian-inspired vegetarian favorite for weeknight dinners and crowd-pleasing appetizers.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 medium head cauliflower, cut into florets
- ½ cup cornstarch
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp paprika
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- ¼ cup gluten-free soy sauce or tamari
- 3 tbsp honey or maple syrup
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp grated fresh ginger
- 1 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp water
- Sesame seeds (optional garnish)
- Sliced green onions (optional garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, toss cauliflower florets with cornstarch, garlic powder, paprika, salt, pepper, and olive oil until well coated.
- Spread evenly on the baking sheet and bake for 30–35 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and crispy.
- While cauliflower bakes, combine soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger in a small saucepan.
- Bring to a simmer over medium heat, then stir in cornstarch slurry and cook until thickened.
- Toss baked cauliflower with the sticky sesame sauce until evenly coated.
- Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions before serving.
Notes
- For extra crispiness, bake on a parchment-lined sheet and flip halfway through.
- Use tamari for a gluten-free option.
- To keep this vegan, substitute honey with maple syrup in the sauce.
- If the sauce thickens too much, whisk in a splash of water or rice vinegar to loosen.
- Make-ahead tip: roast the cauliflower, cool, and reheat briefly before tossing with sauce.
- Garnish variations: extra sesame seeds or sliced green onions.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30–35 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: Asian-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (yields 4 servings)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 16 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: Sticky Sesame Cauliflower, Crispy Cauliflower, Vegetarian, Asian-inspired, Gluten-free, Weeknight Dinner, Plant-based, Appetizer