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BAKED CAULIFLOWER BITES

mayurisjikoni
Baked Cauliflower Bites  is a delicious, crispy starter or appetizer dish. Instead of frying the batter coated cauliflower florets, bake them to make them healthier and less oily. Serve them with any sauce of your choice.
5 from 2 votes
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Appetizer, Starter
Cuisine Indo-Chinese
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

FOR THE CAULIFLOWER

  • 400 g cauliflower
  • ½ cup all purpose flour
  • ¼ cup rice flour
  • ½ cup milk water or stock
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp onion powder
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp kashmiri red chilli powder
  • ¼ tsp pepper powder

FOR THE HOT & SWEET SAUCE

  • 2 tbsp oil
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • ½ tsp kashmiri chilli powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 2 tbsp maple syrup
  • 1 cup vegetable stock or water
  • 1 tbsp hot chili sauce
  • 1 tsp ginger paste
  • 1 tsp garlic minced
  • ¼ tsp pepper powder
  • 1 tsp kashmiri red chilli powder
  • ½ tsp salt

FOR TOPPING

  • 1 tbsp roasted sesame seeds
  • 1- 2 tbsp spring onion finely chopped

Instructions
 

PREPARATION OF THE CAULIFLOWER

  • Cut the cauliflower into bite size florets. Make sure there are no worms in between.
  • Soak the cauliflower in water for 10 minutes. This removes dirt and if there are any worms.
  • Drain out the water and wash well.
  • Arrange the florets on a kitchen towel so that excess water gets absorbed.
  • Preheat the oven to 180C.
  • Line a baking tray with some parchment paper.

PREPARE THE BATTER

  • Mix the flours.
  • Add salt, pepper, kashmiri chilli, onion and garlic powders.
  • Mix well.
  • Add the milk or water little at a time to form a batter. It should not be too thin or too thick.
  • Dip the cauliflower florets in the batter and arrange on the prepared tray.
  • Bake the batter coated cauliflower florets for 20-25 minutes. The cauliflower should be cooked and appear light golden in colour.
  • While the cauliflower is baking prepare the sauce.

PREPARATION OF THE HOT AND SWEET SAUCE

  • Take about a ¼ cup of the vegetable stock or water. Add cornstarch in it and mix it well.
  • Heat both sesame and neutral oil in a wide pan over medium heat.
  • Stir fry the garlic till it turns light pink in colour.
  • Add the ginger and stir fry for a few seconds.
  • Add the water or stock.
  • Add chilli sauce, maple syrup, vinegar, soy sauce, salt, pepper, kashmiri chilli powder.
  • Allow the mixture to become hot.
  • Keep stirring the mixture and add the slurry little at a time.
  • Keep stirring till the sauce becomes a bit thick.
  • Lower the heat and allow the sauce to simmer till it becomes thick.

FINAL PREPARATION

  • Take the baked cauliflower out of the oven.
  • Using a fork or chopsticks, dip the baked cauliflower in the sauce.
  • Arrange on a serving dish or board.
  • Sprinkle some sesame seeds and chopped spring onion over the cauliflower.
  • Serve baked cauliflower with the remaining sauce on the side as a starter or appetizer.

Notes

  • Use vegetables of your choice.
  • Replace maple syrup with honey or brown sugar.
  • Allow the cauliflower florets to bake till done.
  • Use any sauce of your choice.
  • Make sure the cauliflower is fresh and tender and not old.
Keyword baked cauliflower bites, baked cauliflower with hot and sweet sauce