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Bon Appétit

Sticky and Spicy Baked Cauliflower

By Christina Chaey

2.7

(3)

A plate of rice topped with a spicy red sauce coated cauliflower
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Sophie Strangio

No need to deal with a pot of hot oil to get crispy battered cauliflower. These oven-baked florets come out crackly and just rich enough before getting bathed in a sticky-sweet gochujang glaze.

What you’ll need

Recipe information

  • Yield

    4 servings

Ingredients

1 cup (125 g) all-purpose flour
½ cup cornstarch
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. Diamond Crystal or ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt
1 large head of cauliflower (about 2½ lb.), cut into large florets
¼ cup gochujang (Korean hot pepper paste)
3 Tbsp. soy sauce
2 Tbsp. pure maple syrup
2 Tbsp. mirin
2 tsp. unseasoned rice vinegar
Steamed rice, toasted sesame seeds, and thinly sliced scallions (for serving)

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Preheat oven to 400°. Whisk flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl to combine. Whisk in 1 cup water to create a thin pancake-like batter (you may need to add more water to achieve the right consistency). Using your hand or 2 forks and working one at a time, dip cauliflower florets into batter, letting excess drip back into bowl, and divide between 2 parchment-lined rimmed baking sheets. Bake cauliflower until edges are just beginning to turn golden brown, 20–25 minutes.

    Step 2

    Meanwhile, whisk gochujang, soy sauce, maple syrup, mirin, and 1 cup water in a medium bowl. Pour sauce into a skillet large enough to hold all of the cauliflower florets (a 12" skillet should do it) and bring to a simmer over medium heat, whisking occasionally. Cook, whisking, until sauce is thick enough to coat a spoon, 8–10 minutes. Stir in vinegar and remove pan from heat.

    Step 3

    Using tongs, transfer cauliflower to skillet with glaze and toss until florets are evenly coated in sauce.

    Step 4

    Divide rice among shallow bowls and spoon cauliflower over. Top with sesame seeds and scallions.

TagsDinnerMainEasyWeeknight MealsVegetarianHealthyishVeganCauliflowerVegetableBon Appétit
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