Description
Delightful Korean Baked Cauliflower showcases bold Korean flavors with a crispy texture. Spicy-sweet sauce and golden cauliflower florets create an irresistible dish you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 medium cauliflower, cut into florets
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ⅔ cup panko breadcrumbs
- ½ cup raw almonds
- 2 tbsps white sesame seeds
- 1 tbsp potato starch (or corn starch)
- 1 cup non-dairy milk (almond milk)
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- ½ cup ketchup
- ½ cup mirin
- 4 tbsps maple syrup
- 2 tbsps sriracha
- 2 tbsps tamari soy sauce
- 2 tbsps gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 4 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 1 tsp ginger, grated
- 2 tsps apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp white pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp ginger powder
- 1 tsp fine sea salt
- 1 pinch gochugaru (Korean chili pepper flakes)
Instructions
- Marinade Preparation: Immerse cauliflower florets in vegan buttermilk mixture, ensuring complete coverage. Refrigerate for 45-60 minutes to enhance flavor absorption.
- Breading Components: Pulse almonds into fine fragments and combine with Panko breadcrumbs. Create separate flour-starch blend for coating process. Establish breading stations with flour mixture, buttermilk, and Panko-almond coating.
- Sauce Creation: Sauté ginger and garlic in sesame oil until fragrant. Integrate remaining sauce ingredients, stirring until mixture reaches boiling point and achieves desired consistency. Remove from heat.
- Coating Technique: Methodically dredge marinated cauliflower: first in flour mixture, then buttermilk, finally rolling in Panko-almond combination. Arrange coated florets on parchment-lined baking sheet, optionally drizzling with olive oil for enhanced crispiness.
- Baking Process: Preheat oven to 420°F (215°C). Bake cauliflower for 20-25 minutes, rotating tray midway to ensure uniform golden-brown crispness. Look for deep golden exterior with crunchy texture.
- Finishing Touch: Allow cauliflower to rest 3-5 minutes after baking. Generously drizzle prepared sauce over crispy pieces, ensuring even distribution. Serve immediately while maintaining optimal temperature and crunchiness.
Notes
- Marinate Strategically: Let cauliflower soak in buttermilk for 45-60 minutes to enhance flavor absorption and tenderness.
- Breading Technique Matters: Create a multi-station coating process using flour, buttermilk, and Panko-almond mixture for maximum crispiness.
- Almond Texture is Key: Pulse almonds carefully in food processor to achieve fine, consistent fragments that won’t overpower the breading.
- Oven Positioning Ensures Crunch: Rotate baking sheet halfway through cooking to guarantee even golden-brown coloration and uniform crispness.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Korean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 305
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 0mg