Easy Orange Cauliflower Recipe - Build Your Bite (2024)

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This baked orange cauliflower is a vegetarian version of Chinese Orange Chicken. The homemade orange sauce with crispy bites of cauliflower is so delicious!

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Cauliflower is all the rage in vegetarian cooking, and for good reason.

This crispy orange cauliflower is baked, not fried, and is a crazy delicious dupe for orange chicken.

When I was making my orange tofu recipe, I just knew that crispy chunks of cauliflower needed to happen next!

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It took me four times to perfect my orange sauce recipe, and now I’m using it on everything!

While I love a good classic stir fry sauce, or teriyaki sauce, there is just something so good about a homemade orange sauce.

It brings all the flavor of takeout to your dinner table.

I have now made this sauce with all kinds of stir fry recipes and it is such a fun change!

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How to Make Orange Cauliflower

Step 1: Wash and cut up a head of cauliflower into bite sized pieces.

Step 2: In a small bowl, mix together flour, water, and seasonings to make the batter for dipping.

In a separate bowl add the panko bread crumbs.

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Step 3: Dip each piece of cauliflower into the batter, then tap off any excess.

Roll in the panko bread crumbs to coat.

Place each piece of cauliflower onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet.

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The parchment paper will make sure that the cauliflower gets nice and crispy without sticking.

Try not to let the pieces touch as they might stick together.

Step 4: Bake the cauliflower at 425 degrees for 20 – 30 minutes, flipping at least once halfway through.

This will allow the pieces to get crispy on all sides.

The end result should be super crisp bite sized pieces.

I used this same method to make this Teriyaki Cauliflower as a copycat for vegan Teriyaki Chicken!

Step 5: While the cauliflower is cooking, you will make a batch of the homemade orange sauce on the stove.

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What is orange sauce made of?

Homemade orange sauce is made of orange juice, brown sugar, pure maple syrup, rice vinegar, soy sauce, minced garlic, and minced ginger.

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Step 6: Once the cauliflower is done cooking, add it to the orange sauce and stir until the bites of cauliflower are totally coated.

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Serve this orange cauliflower over white rice for the ultimate takeout style dinner!

Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds if you want to.

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I was delighted how much this tasted like orange chicken, and it was even delicious reheated the next day.

The oven gets the cauliflower crispy without frying it, making this a much lighter recipe.

The panko bread crumbs give it that great breaded texture!

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If you love orange sauce takeout, this orange cauliflower recipe is a must try.

White rice is a must, in my opinion, just like you would eat it if you ordered takeout!

If you love stir fry recipes, be sure to checkout these Teriyaki Vegetables too.

Are you making this recipe? I want to see! Don’t forget to tag me on instagram @buildyourbite and hashtag #buildyourbite with your recipe creations!

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Be sure to pin this recipe for later and followBuild Your Bite on Pinterestfor all the latest delicious recipes!

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Did you make this recipe? Be sure to leave a star rating below!

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Yield: 4 servings

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

This crispy baked orange cauliflower is the vegetarian version of the classic Chinese favorite Orange Chicken.

Ingredients

For the Cauliflower

  • 1 head of cauliflower
  • 1 cup water
  • ¾ cup all purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 ½ cups panko bread crumbs

For the Orange Sauce

  • 1 batch of Orange Sauce

for serving

  • 4 servings cooked white rice

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees
  2. Wash and cut cauliflower into bite sized pieces
  3. In a bowl, combine the water, flour, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt
  4. Place the panko bread crumbs in a separate bowl
  5. Dip each piece of cauliflower in the water/flour mixture, tap off excess, then roll in the panko bread crumbs. Add more bread crumbs if necessary.
  6. Place the breaded pieces of cauliflower on a parchment paper lined baking sheet
  7. Bake at 425 degrees for 20 - 30 minutes, flipping at least once, until crispy on all sides.
  8. While the cauliflower is cooking, make a batch of orange sauce
  9. Once the cauliflower is finished cooking, add to the orange sauce and stir to coat
  10. Serve orange cauliflower over white rice and top with optional sesame seeds and green onions, if desired
Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 453Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 566mgCarbohydrates: 92gFiber: 3gSugar: 3gProtein: 12g

Did you make this recipe?

Be sure to tag me on instagram @buildyourbite and hashtag #buildyourbite with your recipe creations!

Easy Orange Cauliflower Recipe - Build Your Bite (2024)

FAQs

Is orange cauliflower good for you? ›

Orange cauliflower is an excellent source of beta-carotene, the orange pigment found within the cauliflower head that can be converted into vitamin A in the body. Vitamin A supports healthy organ functioning, improves skin complexion, and can boost the immune system.

How do they grow orange cauliflower? ›

Orange cauliflower contains a genetic mutation that allows the plant to store extra beta-carotene, giving the variety an orange hue. It is important to note that Orange cauliflower is not genetically modified and was solely created from natural occurrences.

How do they make rainbow cauliflower? ›

The colored varieties are created by mixing cauliflower with other plants. For example, green cauliflower is a cross between cauliflower and broccoli. Beta carotene makes cauliflower orange. (It makes carrots orange too).

Which color cauliflower is the healthiest? ›

Purple. Purple cauliflower is the healthiest option, with numerous advantages. The purple hue is due to the antioxidants called anthocyanins. These are the pigments present in various other plants and plant-based products, including red cabbage and red wine.

Is it safe to eat cauliflower every day? ›

The fact that it's a vegetable makes cauliflower automatically good for you. Additionally, cauliflower is packed with nutrients that give it unique benefits, such as fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K and choline. These properties give you a good reason to eat it frequently or even daily.

Why are my cauliflower bites soggy? ›

If your buffalo cauliflower bites are soggy, it's likely because they were not tossed with the sauce while hot. Be sure to add them to the bowl with the sauce as soon as they come out of the oven so that they stay nice and crispy.

What goes with cauliflower bites? ›

The best side dishes to serve with buffalo cauliflower are coleslaw, spinach artichoke dip, chicken wings, cheese curds, fried shrimp, blooming onion, garlic bread, sweet potato fries, Greek salad, cucumber salad, baked mac and cheese, grilled vegetables, and cornbread.

How long does cauliflower last in the fridge? ›

Moisture can lead to discoloration or decay of the cauliflower. You should also skip washing your cauliflower before storing it, but you should wash it once you're ready to use it. When properly stored, cauliflower can last up to three to five days in the fridge.

Can you eat orange cauliflower raw? ›

The entire vegetable (floret, leaves, and stock) is edible and can be eaten raw or cooked. Orange cauliflowers have a mild, sweet, nutty flavor which is amplified when roasted!

Does orange cauliflower stay orange when cooked? ›

In sum, orange cauliflower will hold its color no matter how (or how long) you cook it and green cauliflower will stay green as long as you don't overcook it. Stick with sautéing purple cauliflower to prevent its color from fading or make sure to blanch it until just crisp-tender.

What does cauliflower turn purple? ›

Purple cauliflower is not dyed. Its signature color comes from the same antioxidant found in red cabbage and red wine: anthocyanin. Sun exposure further exaggerates its effect on the cauliflower, resulting in bright purple heads.

What is the purple stuff in cauliflower? ›

The purple color in cauliflower is caused by the presence of anthocyanin, which is a harmless, water-soluble pigment in the curd. Anthocyanin is the same pigment found in red cabbage. Sun exposure exaggerates its effect on the developing cauliflower head.

Are purple cauliflower rare? ›

Sprouting Purple cauliflower is a rare sight in markets and is typically only available at farmer's markets in areas with warmer growing seasons. To provide a similar product to consumers year-round, the Japanese Tokita Seed Company developed an early sprouting variety called fioretto or biancoli.

Is orange cauliflower healthier than white? ›

When it comes to those lovely colored versions of cauliflower, they do offer a few special nutrients. Compared with white cauliflower, the orange variety contains extra beta-carotene (about 480 mcg per cup vs. about 9 mcg)

Is orange cauliflower better than white cauliflower? ›

Orange cauliflower was first discovered in Canada in 1970, although it took years of crossbreeding before it was widely available. The color comes from a genetic mutation that allows the plant to hold more beta carotene. It also contains about 25% more vitamin A than white cauliflower.

What is the healthiest food cauliflower? ›

It's high in vitamins C and K, and is also a good source of folate, which supports cell growth and is essential during pregnancy. Cauliflower is fat-free and cholesterol-free. And it's low in sodium. A one-cup serving contains only 25 calories, 5 grams of carbohydrates and 2 grams of dietary fiber.

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