Try This Quick General Tso's Cauliflower {Ever} (2024)

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 Caulifloweris a sweetdeep-fried cauliflower dish that is derived from General Tso's Chicken which is served inNorth American Chineserestaurants, 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.

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:

Better Than Takeout Chicken Fried Rice

Shrimp Lo Mein

Bang Bang Chicken

Chicken Chow Mein

Cashew Chicken Stir-Fry

Authentic Vegetable Lo Mein

Chicken Lo Mein

Kung Pao Chicken

What is the story behind General Tso's Chicken?

Here is an excerpt from Wikipedia:General Tso's chicken(pronounced[tswò]) is a sweetdeep-friedchicken dish that is served inNorth American Chineserestaurants (it is also seen with other variants, such asGeneral Tse's chicken).

The dish has been associated withZuo Zongtang (Tso Tsung-t'ang)(1812–1885),aQing dynastystatesman and military leader fromHunan Province, but Zuo could not have eaten the dish or known of it.

Check out more informationGeneral 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.

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 shownin picture 2 and 3.

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.

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.

By Savory Bites Recipes
Published 08/27/2019

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

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.

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.
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.
Switch off the heat.

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.