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You are here: Home / Recipes / Main Dish / Vegetarian / Sesame Cauliflower

Sesame Cauliflower

Published April 20, 2020. Last updated August 24, 2020 by Lauren Vavala

Thanks for sharing!

Sesame Cauliflower is a delicious, incredibly flavorful way to put an Asian-inspired vegetarian meal on the table any night of the week. It’s a super simple recipe that takes just 20 minutes to make.

close up of sesame cauliflower being lifted up with a wood turner in a black skillet with part of a blue and white towel showing

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Back in my vegetarian days, using cauliflower as a replacement for starchier foods or meat wasn’t anywhere near as popular as it is now. I believe mashed cauliflower and cauliflower rice were the two ways cauliflower was being used the most.

There really weren’t many, if any, Chinese cauliflower recipes. I remember I used to order “broccoli in brown sauce” whenever we ate takeout. I’m not even sure if that’s the correct term for the sauce, or if the sauce is even vegetarian.

This is why I rarely ate out. It can be hard to know exactly what’s in the food you’re eating. Unless, you make it yourself.

Why This Recipe Works

The combination of crispy cauliflower in a sweet, sticky sesame sauce is absolutely delicious. It’s family friendly, but it you want a spicier dish, simply add 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes to the sauce.

This Sesame Cauliflower recipe has all the same delicious flavors of take out sesame dishes, but without any questionable ingredients. The homemade sesame sauce recipe is 100% vegetarian and can easily be made vegan. Simply swap out the honey for agave.

This dish can be made gluten free, as well.

How to Make Sesame Cauliflower

What You Need To Make This Recipe

Ingredients needed for sesame cauliflower on a white background

For The Cauliflower:

  • 1 head of cauliflower, cut into florets. You should have 4-5 cups.
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons oil for frying (I use vegetable or olive oil)

For The Sesame Sauce:

  • 1/2 cup water
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons honey (or agave to keep vegan)
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 1 clove garlic (minced)
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger (or 1 tablespoon fresh, grated ginger)
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch (whisked with 1 tablespoon of water)
  • sesame seeds (optional, garnish)
  • sliced green onions (optional, garnish)

Prep!

Cut the cauliflower into bite size florets and mince the garlic.

If you are serving this dish with rice, noodles, or spaghetti squash, you will want to get that cooking, as well.

Create!

Battered cauliflower in a glass bowl over a white background

Whisk together the 3 tablespoons of soy sauce with the 2 tablespoons of cornstarch. It will be somewhat thick.

In a large bowl, combine the cauliflower florets with the soy sauce and cornstarch mixture. Toss well.

Cauliflower florets cooking in a black skillet over a white background

Heat the oil in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add the battered cauliflower florets.

Cook, stirring frequently, until browned and crispy. This will take anywhere from 3-5 minutes depending on the size of the florets. Remove to a plate.

sesame sauce in a glass bowl over a white background

Meanwhile, combine all of the ingredients for the sesame sauce in a medium bowl and whisk well.

sesame cauliflower in a black skillet with a wood turner

Pour the sauce into the same skillet used for the cauliflower and raise the heat to bring to a boil, stirring constantly until the desired thickness is reached. This typically takes just a minute or two.

Stir the cauliflower back into the skillet and toss to coat with the sauce.

Present!

sesame cauliflower in a black skillet with a wood turner over a blue gray background with a blue and white striped towel

Serve over rice, noodles, or even spaghetti squash.

Want to make it even fancier? You can serve this dish (or any similar dish) in really cool chopstick bowls. Garnish with sesame seeds and/or sliced green onions, if desired.

Tips and Techniques

  • Use low sodium soy sauce for a less salty tasting recipe.
  • You can make this a spicy sesame cauliflower recipe simply by mixing a 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of crushed red pepper into the sesame sauce.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Use within 3-5 days.

How to Make This Recipe Gluten Free

To make this recipe gluten free, just be sure to use gluten free soy sauce and serve over rice, gluten free noodles, or spaghetti squash.

More Recipes With Cauliflower to Try

If you love cauliflower, you’ve come to the right blog. Here are a few of my favorite cauliflower recipes, but there are many, many more:

  • Loaded Cauliflower Bites
  • Cheesy Broccoli Cauliflower Rice
  • Keto Cauliflower Au Gratin
  • Cheesy Cauliflower Soup
  • Cauliflower Pizza Crust
  • Roasted Cauliflower Corn Chowder
  • Cauliflower Chicken Chowder
  • Instant Pot Coconut Curry Meatballs & Cauliflower

I also have a post on How To Cook Cauliflower with 7 different methods and one on How To Rice Cauliflower that you might find helpful.

Love this Sesame Cauliflower recipe? Follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook for more!

close up of sesame cauliflower being lifted up with a wood turner in a black skillet with part of a blue and white towel showing
Print

Sesame Cauliflower

Sesame Cauliflower is a delicious, incredibly flavorful way to put an Asian-inspired vegetarian meal on the table any night of the week. It’s a super simple recipe that takes just 20 minutes to make.
Course Main Dish
Cuisine Chinese, Gluten Free, Vegetarian
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 194kcal
Author Lauren Harris

Ingredients

Cauliflower

  • 1 large head cauliflower * cut into florets
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce * see notes
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Sesame Sauce

  • 1/2 cup water
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce * see notes
  • 2 tablespoons honey * or agave, if vegan
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 1 clove garlic * minced
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger * or 1 tablespoon grated, fresh ginger
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch * whisked with 1 tablespoon water
  • sesame seeds * optional, garnish
  • sliced green onions * optional, garnish

Instructions

Cauliflower

  • Whisk together 3 tablespoons of soy sauce with 2 tablespoons of cornstarch to create a thick slurry.
  • In a large bowl, combine the cauliflower florets with the soy sauce and cornstarch mixture. Toss well.
  • Heat the oil in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add the battered cauliflower florets.
  • Cook, stirring frequently, until browned and crispy. This will take anywhere from 3-5 minutes depending on the size of the florets. Remove to a plate.

Sesame Sauce

  • While the cauliflower is cooking, combine all of the ingredients for the sesame sauce in a medium bowl and whisk well.
  • Pour the sauce into the same skillet used for the cauliflower and raise the heat to bring to a boil, stirring constantly until the desired thickness is reached, about 1-2 minutes.
  • Stir the cauliflower back into the skillet and toss to coat with the sauce.
  • Garnish with sesame seeds and/or sliced green onions, if desired. Serve on its own or over rice, noodles, or spaghetti squash.

Notes

Tips and Techniques

  • Use low sodium soy sauce for a less salty tasting recipe.
  • You can make this a spicy sesame cauliflower recipe simply by mixing a 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of crushed red pepper into the sesame sauce.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Use within 3-5 days.

How to Make This Recipe Gluten Free

To make this recipe gluten free, be sure that your soy sauce is gluten free and serve over rice, gluten free noodles or spaghetti squash.
** Nutritional information is an estimate and may vary.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 194kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Sodium: 1545mg | Potassium: 394mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin C: 54mg | Calcium: 30mg | Iron: 1mg

This recipe was originally published on June 6, 2017. It was updated with an improved recipe, new images, tips, and techniques in April 2020.

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Filed Under: Gluten Free, Main Dish, Recipes, Vegetarian

Comments

  1. Pam Greer says

    October 23, 2018 at 1:38 pm

    I am always looking for easy recipes!! These sauces will definitely be a time saver!

    Reply
  2. Lisa Huff says

    October 23, 2018 at 1:33 pm

    Didn’t realize P.F. Changs sold sauces! Going to check it out! Looks perfect for these veggies!

    Reply
  3. Vicky says

    October 23, 2018 at 1:28 pm

    Wait, PF Chang’s has sauces that you can get at the store! This is a game changer! I am stocking up on these. You have found a way to make cauliflower appealing even for people who don’t like it.

    Reply
  4. Cindy @ The Sweet Nerd says

    October 23, 2018 at 12:52 pm

    What an easy hack for a weeknight. My boys will love this peanut butter and sesame sauce combo.

    Reply
  5. Stephanie says

    October 23, 2018 at 12:37 pm

    This sounds fabulous. I love anything with cauliflower and this sounds like such a simple recipe perfect for a tasty easy dinner.

    Reply
  6. Trudi says

    June 27, 2017 at 4:55 pm

    Are PF Chang’s sauces gluten free? I sure hope so!

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      June 28, 2017 at 2:49 pm

      Unfortunately, no. They contain regular soy sauce with wheat in it. Sorry!

      Reply
  7. Cheryl Anderson says

    June 7, 2017 at 1:11 pm

    This looks so good, I need to try this recipe. Maybe this will get my family to eat cauliflower lol.

    Reply
  8. Shashi at Savory Spin says

    June 6, 2017 at 9:50 am

    Wow – travel soccer is going to have y’all so so busy – and this is the perfect DIY dish to whip up on a busy weekend or week night even – sounds absolutely delicious – I am heading over to Walmart this afternoon and I so need to get my hands on some bottles of those NEW P.F. Chang’s® Home Menu sauces to try out this recipe with! Thanks so much for sharing! #client

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      June 7, 2017 at 3:55 pm

      Thanks so much!

      Reply

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Welcome, I'm Lauren!

Delicious Little Bites is where I share all types of recipes from appetizers to desserts. You will also find plenty of keto, gluten free, and vegetarian recipes here to help you put a delicious meal on the table every night that the whole family will love! Read More...

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