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This is one of the best ways there is to eat cauliflower. This dish is so flavourful that the nice lady I rent a room from described it as a “party in my mouth.” It works perfectly as an appetizer. I wouldn’t recommend serving it as a side, lest it take the spotlight away from the main dish. Don’t let the long ingredients list scare you, they’re mostly produce and pantry staples.
Cook Time: 50 minutes Serves: 4
Ingredients:
Cauliflower:
2/3 cup flour
1/3 cup cornstarch
3/4 cup water
1 tsp soy sauce
1/2 tsp garlic powder
Pinch of each salt and pepper
4 cups small cauliflower florets
Manchurian Sauce:
1 tbsp vegetable oil
8 cloves garlic, finely minced
1 (2-inch) knob ginger, peeled and grated
1 green or red chili, seeds removed and finely chopped
1/2 red or white onion, finely chopped
1/2 green bell pepper, seeds removed and finely chopped
2 tbsp chili garlic sauce
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp ketchup
1 tsp rice vinegar
2 tsp sugar
1/3 cup water
Method:
- First we’ll make the cauliflower. Preheat your oven to 425 F to start and line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat if you have it.
- In a bowl, mix together all of the cauliflower ingredients except for the cauliflower to make a thick batter. Adjust the water as needed. The batter should be thick enough to easily coat the cauliflower without sliding off.
- Dip the cauliflower florets in the batter to coat and place them on the baking tray. Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven.
- Next up is the Manchurian sauce. Heat up your oil in a skillet, and add your garlic, ginger, chili, onion, and bell pepper. Sauté until golden. Mix in the rest of your ingredients and let the sauce simmer for about five minutes. If it looks too thick to pour, add a splash of water.
- Put your baked cauliflower in a bowl and pour your sauce evenly on top. Mix it up to ensure cauliflower is coated evenly. Serve hot.
Recipe adapted from Vegan Richa’s Indian Kitchen
Image: Andrea Sadowski/The Cascade
Andrea Sadowski is working towards her BA in Global Development Studies, with a minor in anthropology and Mennonite studies. When she's not sitting in front of her computer, Andrea enjoys climbing mountains, sleeping outside, cooking delicious plant-based food, talking to animals, and dismantling the patriarchy.
