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.

Which country made orange cauliflower? ›

This orange trait originated from a natural mutant found in a cauliflower field in Canada. Cultivars include 'Cheddar' and 'Orange Bouquet. '

How do they make rainbow cauliflower? ›

WHAT GIVES CAULIFLOWER IT’S PURPLE, GREEN & ORANGE COLOR AND HOW DOES IT COMPARE TO WHITE IN NUTRITIONAL VALUE. 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.

Which color cauliflower is the healthiest? ›

Purple cauliflower

Relative to other variants of this vegetable, purple cauliflower benefits your health in a unique way thanks to the presence of an antioxidant called anthocyanin. Anthocyanin is what gives this type of cauliflower its rich purple hue, and it can help prevent heart disease and reduce inflammation.

Can you eat too much cauliflower a day? ›

Unfortunately, consuming these vegetables in excess can also lead to digestive issues. The cruciferous vegetables are hard to digest, especially when eaten raw. So, it can easily lead to the problem of bloating or gas.

Does orange cauliflower taste different than regular cauliflower? ›

What does it taste like? Colored cauliflower holds the same firmness, crumbly florets, and texture as its white counterpart, with subtle differences in taste. Orange cauliflower is also dubbed “cheddar” cauliflower, though it tastes nothing like cheese. Its flavor is mild, slightly sweet, and creamy.

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.

Is cauliflower a fruit or vegetable? ›

Cauliflower is a member of the cruciferous vegetable family along with Brussels sprouts, cabbage, broccoli, collard greens, kale, kohlrabi, rutabaga, turnips and bok choy. These vegetables all contain a compound that produces a strong, distinct odor that some find unappealing.

Why are my cauliflower bites soggy? ›

Why are my cauliflower wings 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.

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.

Does purple cauliflower exist? ›

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 does it mean when your cauliflower turns purple? ›

Genetically, many cauliflowers tend toward purple, red, or blue pigments. Cauliflower is a cool-weather vegetable, and when a lot of heat and sunlight hits the developing cauliflowers, they can display a purplish tinge along the edges of the heads.

What is the purple haze on cauliflower? ›

Lengthy, hot summer days will cause a purple color in cauliflower heads; you may even see leaves sprouting out of the curd. If this has already happened, there's nothing to be done about it except to take note for next year's crop.

What is the healthiest orange vegetable? ›

Orange vegetables contain beta-carotene, a form of Vitamin A, which is great for eyesight and eliminating free radicals. Beta-carotene gives the vegetable its orange color. Some of the healthiest orange fruits and vegetables are sweet potatoes, squash, pumpkin, carrots, mangos, oranges, and papaya.

Is orange cauliflower the same as 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 most nutritious cauliflower? ›

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 cauliflower better for you than broccoli? ›

While they are both very nutritious vegetables, broccoli has a higher vitamin content, specifically in vitamin K and C, than cauliflower and is specifically known to be great for eye health. Broccoli florets also provide more minerals and fiber as well as contains vitamin A that isn't in cauliflower.

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