This Sweet and Spicy Baked Cauliflower is a flavorful vegetarian dish that delivers a perfect balance of sticky sweetness and savory heat. It is roasted until tender and then tossed in a homemade glaze, making it an addictive appetizer or a hearty side dish.
With its glossy, thick sauce and sesame-onion garnish, this dish looks and tastes better than takeout.
Recipe Details
- Flavor Profile: A delicious mix of sweet honey, savory soy/coconut amino, and spicy Sriracha creates a bold, umami-packed glaze.
- Texture: The cauliflower is tender from baking, while the sauce adds a sticky, coating consistency that clings to every floret.
- Time: 5 minutes prep, 20 minutes cook time.
- Difficulty: Easy. Just roast the vegetable and whisk the sauce.
What You’ll Need
To make this recipe, you will need a large head of cauliflower and basic seasonings like garlic salt. The star of the show is the sticky sauce, which comes together using pantry staples like honey, soy sauce (or coconut amino), Sriracha, and Hoisin sauce. A thickener like cornstarch ensures the glaze coats the veggies perfectly.
Ingredient Notes
- Cauliflower – You need one large head, cut into bite-sized florets. Keeping them similar in size ensures they bake evenly.
- Honey – This provides the base sweetness and stickiness for the sauce.
- Sriracha – Adds the spicy kick. You can adjust the heat slightly, but this amount gives a nice warmth without being overwhelming.
- Hoisin Sauce – This adds depth and a savory, barbecue-like flavor to the Asian-inspired sauce.
- Low sodium soy sauce or coconut amino – Using a low-sodium option helps control the saltiness, especially since garlic salt is used on the cauliflower itself.
- Gluten-free flour or cornstarch – This is essential for thickening the sauce so it clings to the cauliflower rather than sliding off.
Add-ins and Substitutions
- Adjusting Heat – If you prefer a milder sauce, you can reduce the Sriracha slightly. For more heat, add an extra pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce mixture.
- Garnish – While green onions and sesame seeds are classic, you could also add a sprinkle of cilantro for freshness.
- Vegetable Swap – This sauce works beautifully with broccoli as well, following the same roasting method.
How to Make Sweet and Spicy Baked Cauliflower
- Prep the Oven: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
- Season the Cauliflower: Arrange the cauliflower florets in a single layer on the prepared baking tray. Spray them with cooking oil spray. Sprinkle with the garlic salt, and salt and pepper to taste. Using your hands, toss well to ensure the florets are evenly coated.
- Bake: Place the tray in the preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, until the cauliflower starts to brown on the edges.
- Make the Sauce: While the cauliflower is cooking, combine the honey, minced garlic, low sodium soy sauce (or coconut amino), Sriracha, Hoisin sauce, and gluten-free flour (or cornstarch) in a small saucepan. Whisk until well incorporated.
- Thicken the Sauce: Place the saucepan over medium heat. Stir frequently until the sauce thickens, which should take about 4-5 minutes.
- Cool and Coat: Once the cauliflower has finished baking, remove it from the oven and allow it to cool for a few minutes. Pour the thickened sauce over the cauliflower and toss until fully coated.
- Serve: Top with the sliced green onions and sesame seeds, and enjoy!
Pro Tip: Letting the cauliflower cool for a few minutes before adding the sauce is crucial. If you toss the piping hot roasted vegetables immediately into the hot sauce, they can steam and become mushy.
Recipe Tips
- Don’t Overcrowd: When arranging the cauliflower on the baking tray, ensure the florets are in a single layer with a little space between them. This helps them roast and brown on the edges rather than steam.
- Sauce Consistency: Keep an eye on the sauce while it simmers. It should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. If it gets too thick, you can whisk in a tiny splash of water.
- Uniform Cutting: Cut your florets into even sizes so that some don’t end up burnt while others are still crunchy.
FAQs
- Is this recipe gluten-free? Yes, as long as you use gluten-free flour or cornstarch, coconut aminos (or GF tamari), and ensure your Hoisin sauce is a gluten-free variety.
- Can I make this ahead of time? This dish is best enjoyed fresh while the cauliflower is tender and the sauce is sticky. If made too far in advance, the cauliflower may absorb the sauce and become soft.
- What can I serve this with? This makes a great appetizer on its own, or you can serve it over steamed white or brown rice for a complete meal.
Serving Suggestions
- Rice Bowls: Serve over jasmine rice or quinoa for a filling lunch or dinner.
- Protein: Pair this as a side dish alongside grilled chicken or tofu.
- Appetizer: Serve with toothpicks as a party snack.
Make This Recipe in Advance
- Prep: You can cut the cauliflower florets and whisk the sauce ingredients (cold) a day in advance. Store the cauliflower in a produce bag and the sauce mixture in a jar in the fridge.
- Cooking: When ready to eat, bake the cauliflower and simmer the sauce fresh for the best texture.
Sweet and Spicy Baked Cauliflower
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This Sweet and Spicy Baked Cauliflower is a better-than-takeout vegetarian dish that delivers the perfect balance of sticky sweetness and savory heat. Roasted until tender and tossed in a glossy homemade glaze featuring honey, soy, and Sriracha, it makes for an addictive appetizer or a hearty side dish.
Ingredients
The Cauliflower
- 1 large head cauliflower, cut into bite-sized florets
- Cooking oil spray
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon green onions, sliced
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
The Sweet and Spicy Sticky Sauce
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce or coconut amino
- 1 tablespoon Sriracha
- 1 tablespoon Hoisin sauce
- 1 teaspoon gluten-free flour or cornstarch
Instructions
Prep the Oven
Preheat your oven to 400°F and line a large baking tray with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
Season the Cauliflower
Arrange the cauliflower florets in a single layer on the prepared baking tray. Spray them generously with cooking oil spray. Sprinkle with the garlic salt, plus regular salt and pepper to taste. Use your hands to toss the florets ensuring they are evenly coated.
Bake
Place the tray in the preheated oven and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the cauliflower is tender and starts to brown on the edges.
Make the Sauce
While the cauliflower is roasting, combine the honey, minced garlic, low sodium soy sauce (or coconut amino), Sriracha, Hoisin sauce, and gluten-free flour (or cornstarch) in a small saucepan. Whisk until the flour is dissolved and the mixture is well incorporated.
Thicken the Sauce
Place the saucepan over medium heat. Stir frequently until the sauce bubbles and thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon, which should take about 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
Cool and Coat
Once the cauliflower has finished baking, remove it from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes. This prevents the vegetables from steaming and becoming mushy. Pour the thickened sauce over the cauliflower and toss until every floret is fully coated.
Serve
Transfer to a serving dish, top with the sliced green onions and sesame seeds, and enjoy immediately.
Notes
Cool Before Tossing: Do not skip the cooling step. If you toss piping hot roasted cauliflower directly into hot sauce, it releases steam and loses its texture. Letting it rest for 3-5 minutes ensures a better bite.
Air Fryer Method: You can make this in an air fryer! Cook the florets at 400°F for 10-12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, then toss in the simmered sauce.
Spice Level: This recipe is moderately spicy. For a family-friendly version, reduce the Sriracha to 1 teaspoon. For extra heat, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the simmering sauce.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: Asian Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 142
- Sugar: 21g
- Sodium: 950mg
- Fat: 1g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: baked cauliflower, sticky cauliflower, spicy honey garlic sauce, vegetarian wings, healthy appetizer, roasted cauliflower, asian side dish
