General Tso's Cauliflower
Author: 
Recipe type: Main Dish
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 4
 
Ingredients
For the sauce:
  • 2 tablespoon canola oil
  • 1 tablespoon ginger, minced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 5 whole dried red chili peppers
  • 1 tablespoon sake
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons mirin
  • 2 cups + 1 tablespoon water
  • 2 tablespoon cornstarch
For the cauliflower:
  • ½ cup cornstarch
  • ½ cup rice flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • 2 teaspoons Kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon ground ginger
  • 3 tablespoons sesame seeds
  • 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • 1 cup cold water, plus more as needed
  • 1½ pound cauliflower, cut into 1 inch florets
  • Canola oil for frying
  • 2 cups jasmine rice, cooked
  • 2 scallions, cut thinly on the bias, for serving
  • Additional sesame seeds, for serving
Instructions
To make the sauce:
  1. Heat canola oil in a wok over medium heat. Add ginger and let it sizzle for 15 seconds. Next, add garlic and dried red pepper. Stir, then pour in sake. After a few seconds, add in sesame oil, soy sauce, mirin, and 2 cups water. Turn heat down to medium low and bring the mixture to a simmer.
  2. In a small bowl, mix together 1 tablespoon of water and cornstarch, until a thick slurry forms.
  3. Slowly add the cornstarch slurry to the sauce while stirring constantly, and simmer for 1-2 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon. Remove from heat and set aside.
To make the cauliflower:
  1. In a large bowl, combine cornstarch, flour, baking powder, salt, ground ginger, sesame seeds, and crushed red pepper and whisk until combined. Pour in water and whisk until a batter is smooth and coats the back of your spoon. If mixture is too thick, add an additional tablespoon of water.
  2. Pour canola oil in a medium-sized, heavy bottom saucepan until it is about 1½ inches thick. Bring oil up to 375 degrees (using a candy thermometer helps make sure the temperature is right).
  3. Once oil is at the right temperature, add cauliflower to batter. Working in batches, use a slotted spoon to transfer the cauliflower from the bowl to the oil, allowing the excess batter to drip off before dropping into oil. Fry cauliflower, rotating with a slotted spoon to make sure all sides are being cooked, until cauliflower is golden brown, about 5-6 minutes. Transfer cauliflower to a paper towel lined plate and continue frying additional batches.
  4. Right before serving, place sauce back on low heat until it is just warm. Transfer cauliflower to sauce and toss to coat. Serve cauliflower over jasmine rice garnished with scallions and sesame seeds.
Recipe by Things I Made Today at https://www.thingsimadetoday.com/2016/07/06/general-tsos-cauliflower/