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This baked Sweet and Spicy Baked Cauliflower is one of my favorite side dish recipes to make. An Easy vegetarian cauliflower recipe that’s full of flavor and the perfect combination of sweet and spicy. Makes an amazing appetizer recipe or a side dish option.
You may also like my baked cauliflower parmesan or my cheesy cauliflower bake.
What a fun and delicious way to make baked cauliflower. Tired of having baked cauliflowers that are just bland and needs a boost in the flavor department? This sweet and spicy cauliflower recipe is for you. It is so easy to make and bursting with flavor it will be hard to have only one serving. I know there are so many cauliflower recipes out there these days but you have to try this one!
Ingredients needed
These are just a list of ingredients you will need. Full measurements will be listed further down below in the recipe card.
- Cauliflower, cut into bite-sized florets
- Cooking Oil Spray
- Garlic Salt or garlic powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Green Onions, sliced
- Sesame Seeds: either white or black
For the Sweet and Spicy Sticky Sauce:
- Honey: I prefer honey but you can use maple syrup
- Garlic Cloves: use fresh if possible
- Low sodium soy sauce or coconut amino
- Sriracha: or another hot sauce
- Hoisin Sauce
- Gluten-free flour or cornstarch
How to make it
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and line a baking tray with parchment pepper.
- Arrange the cauliflower florets in a single layer onto the prepared baking tray and spray with cooking oil. Sprinkle with garlic salt, and pepper, and using your hands toss well to coat.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, until it starts to brown on the edges. While cauliflower is cooking, combine all the sauce ingredients into a small saucepan and whisk until well incorporated.
- Place the saucepan over medium heat and stir frequently until sauce thickens, about 4-5 minutes.
- Once the cauliflower has finished baking, remove from the oven and allow to cool for a few minutes.
- Pour the sauce over and toss until fully coated. Top with green onions and sesame seeds and enjoy!
Recipe notes
- You may want to cook the cauliflower to whatever crispiness you prefer.
- The sauce should be cooked well enough to get it thick. You do not want a watery sauce. So, I recommend using cornstarch if you can.
Frequently asked questions
This recipe is not keto. Generally speaking, cauliflower is very similar to Broccoli and is low in carbs. Even though this particular baked cauliflower recipe is not keto-friendly because of the sweet and spicy sauce that’s added to it, generally simply baked cauliflower with no added sugar sauces are keto-friendly. They are a great cruciferous veggie with 1.5 grams of net carbs per half a cup.
Cauliflower tends to have a lot of dirt and sometimes bugs stuck in its crevices. So, it is recommended to soak it in salted water for 10-15 minutes.
This may have happened by overcrowding your pan. Cauliflower has a high water content. If baking, it may be hard to get them crispy if you overcrowd the pan. Make sure you space it out.
If you have leftovers, place them in a sealed container and store them in the fridge for up to 5 days.
How to make this recipe in an air fryer
If you prefer to use your air fryer to cook the cauliflower instead of baking them in the oven you can. Follow the following steps on how to make this in the air fryer.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400F and lightly spray the grates with cooking oil spray.
- Lay the seasoned cauliflower in the air fryer basket and stir fry for 22-25 minutes or until crispy enough to your liking. Open the air fryer halfway through cooking and toss the florets.
- While the cauliflower is cooking, make the sauce. Add all the sauce ingredients to a small pot and cook until the sauce thickens, about 4-5 minutes. Set aside.
- Once the cauliflower is ready, place in a bowl, toss it with the sauce, and garnish with sliced onions and sesame seeds. Enjoy!
What to serve it with
- Beef Wellington
- Garlic Beef Tenderloin Roast
- Lemon garlic oven-roasted whole chicken
- Air Fryer Turkey Breast
- Honey Glazed Air Fryer Salmon
- Honey Garlic Air Fryer Tofu
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You may also like
- Chimichurri grilled cauliflower steaks
- Creamy Broccoli Cauliflower Salad
- Keto Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
- Shrimp Cauliflower Fried Rice
- Spicy Honey Baked Cauliflower
- Air Fryer BBQ Cauliflower Wings
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Sweet and Spicy Baked Cauliflower
Ingredients
- 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
For the Sweet and Spicy Sticky Sauce:
- ¼ Cup Honey
- 2 Garlic Cloves, minced
- ¼ Cup Low sodium soy sauce or coconut amino
- 1 tablespoon Sriracha
- 1 tablespoon Hoisin Sauce
- 1 teaspoon Gluten-free flour or cornstarch
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and line a baking tray with parchment pepper.
- Arrange the 1 Large Head Cauliflower florets in a single layer onto the prepared baking tray and spray with Cooking Oil Spray. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon Garlic Salt, Salt and pepper, to taste, and using your hands, toss well to coat.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, until it starts to brown on the edges. While cauliflower is cooking, combine all the sauce ingredients ( ¼ Cup Honey, 2 Garlic Cloves (minced), ¼ Cup Low sodium soy sauce or coconut amino, 1 tablespoon Sriracha, 1 tablespoon Hoisin Sauce, and 1 teaspoon Gluten-free flour or cornstarch ) into a small saucepan and whisk until well incorporated.
- Place the saucepan over medium heat and stir frequently, until sauce thickens about 4-5 minutes.
- Once the cauliflower has finished baking, remove from the oven and allow to cool for a few minutes.
- Pour the sauce over and toss until fully coated. Top with 1 tablespoon Green Onions (sliced) and 1 tablespoon Sesame Seeds and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Soak the cauliflower in salted water to make sure all debris is removed. Rinse well.
- Cut the florets into even sizes to ensure even cooking.
- Use cornstarch if you can, it will make the sauce thicken well.
- Sometimes it is hard to get that really crispy cauliflower in the oven. Feel free to air-fry them. Follow my air fryer instructions.
- Store leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Delicious, I served as a side w grilled chicken. Very easy, I did have to bake the cauliflower a little longer than 15 minutes. My husband was pleasantly surprised. He is not a cauliflower fan.
So happy you guys loved it.
Made it and it came out delicious. I served it with rice and it was the perfect balanced combination. I didn’t have Hoisin sauce but it was delicious nonetheless. Can’t wait to try it with the Hoisin sauce. Thank you for sharing this amazing easy recipe.
Thank you so much. So glad you loved it.
Delicious recipe!
You have got to try it, and so easy. I substituted a few things… was not about to go to the store
Loved it
Lol. Glad you loved it.
Great flavor!
Looks more than good enough to eat!
I really likes this recipe! I loved the sweet and the spicy together. Could have ate the entire thing by myself lol.
Great, Glad you loved it. Thanks for taking the time to leave feedback. Appreciate it
why is this included as a “healthy” food? It’s not, It is drenched in sugar.
I’m making this again today. I’m planning on adding tofu and serving it over rice. I’m so glad I’m the only one who will eat it so it’s all mine!
Simple and delicious!! The key to the steps is definitely not to overcook the cauliflower, and too simmer or boil the sauce enough until it is very thick or it won’t stick to the cauliflower.
My family cannot get enough of this.
Made this tonight and it was fantastic! My husband loved it and said he really liked it and wants to have it again. Also said I should make more next time!!! Healthy Vegan recipe too! Winner!!!
I made this exactly as written and it was FABULOUS! Brought it to a pot luck gathering and it was the first thing to go. Will make it again and again.
Glad you loved it
I am wondering if you could make this ahead of time, like bake it the night before, and put it altogether for a potluck?
I don’t recommend cooking the nights before.
Hello,
Great recipe. I look forward to more. I’d like to point out however, that whatever editing programme you are using is putting capital letters on almost everything. Although that is an error in English, most of the time it is harmless. However in the case of distinguishing teaspoons and tablespoons it might cause user errors. The short form of teaspoon is tsp. The shortform of tablespoon is T. These have been the norms for decades and were developed to avoid confusion. Capital T is always big. Small t is always small. Thjanks for listening.
M.Susan
Thank you for the info. I agree it could be confusing. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. We will do better
Excellent recipe!! Thank you so much for sharing it with all of us! A new family favorite. I can’t wait to make it again!!!
amazing. So glad.
Is the posted nutrition info for one serving or four?
It is per serving
Can’t wait to try this. Looks so yummy!!