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General Tso's Cauliflower

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Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients

For the General Tso's Sauce:

  • tablespoon  sesame oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • knob of ginger, grated
  • ½  cup  chicken or vegetable broth
  • ½  cup  soy sauce
  • ⅓  cup  rice vinegar
  • ¼  cup  sugar  (more to taste)
  • tablespoons  tomato paste
  • tablespoons  cornstarch, dissolved in 1-2 tablespoons of cold water

For the Batter:

  • cup  flour
  • ⅔  cup  cornstarch
  • 1½  teaspoons  baking powder
  • teaspoons  salt
  • eggs
  • water as needed  (about ½ cup)

Other Ingredients:

  • head cauliflower, cut into small florets
  • a deep layer of oil for frying
  • scallions and sesame seeds for topping
  • Your favorite rice, cooked (sticky, jasmine, and basmati would all be great options)

Instructions

  • General Tso's Sauce: Heat the sesame oil in a small saucepan over medium low heat. Add the ginger and garlic and stir fry for a minute or two. Add remaining ingredients and whisk to combine. Bring to a low boil; simmer for another 20-30 minutes or until sauce is thickened. Add more sweetness, citrus, etc. to your taste.
  • Cauliflower Batter: Whisk all the batter ingredients until a loose batter forms. The batter should be thick enough to cling to the cauliflower and cover it but stay loose enough to easily drip off (adjust thickness with water).
  • Cauliflower Frying: Pour oil into a heavy bottomed skillet to make it deep enough so it will cover the cauliflower about halfway (probably ends up being a few cups). Heat the oil over medium heat. Drop a small bit of batter in the oil to test it - when it rises to the top and bubbles, the oil is ready.
  • Dip cauliflower florets in the batter and let the excess drip off before gently setting in the oil. Fry for a few minutes on each side, then flip, repeating sides several times if necessary until you get a nice golden brown fried exterior. The additional frying time helps make it a little crunchier, which I very much like. Remove and set on a cooling rack with paper towels underneath (again, rather than putting it all on a plate or bowl with paper towels, this keeps it crispy vs. soggy).
  • Serving: Toss the fried cauliflower with the sauce (enough just to cover) and sprinkle with scallions and sesame seeds for serving. Serve with rice.