BAKED CAULIFLOWER BITES

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.

📝 Ingredients

• 400 g cauliflower
• 1/2 cup all purpose flour
• 1/4 cup rice flour
• 1/2 cup milk (water or stock)
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp kashmiri red chilli powder
• 1/4 tsp pepper powder
• 2 tbsp oil
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1/2 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
• 1/4 tsp pepper powder
• 1 tsp kashmiri red chilli powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp roasted sesame seeds
• 1- 2 tbsp spring onion finely chopped

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1--- PREPARATION OF THE CAULIFLOWER ---
2. 2Cut the cauliflower into bite size florets. Make sure there are no worms in between.
3. 3Soak the cauliflower in water for 10 minutes. This removes dirt and if there are any worms.
4. 4Drain out the water and wash well.
5. 5Arrange the florets on a kitchen towel so that excess water gets absorbed.
6. 6Preheat the oven to 180C.
7. 7Line a baking tray with some parchment paper.
8. 8--- PREPARE THE BATTER ---
9. 9Mix the flours.
10. 10Add salt, pepper, kashmiri chilli, onion and garlic powders.
11. 11Mix well.
12. 12Add the milk or water little at a time to form a batter. It should not be too thin or too thick.
13. 13Dip the cauliflower florets in the batter and arrange on the prepared tray.
14. 14Bake the batter coated cauliflower florets for 20-25 minutes. The cauliflower should be cooked and appear light golden in colour.
15. 15While the cauliflower is baking prepare the sauce.
16. 16--- PREPARATION OF THE HOT AND SWEET SAUCE ---
17. 17Take about a ¼ cup of the vegetable stock or water. Add cornstarch in it and mix it well.
18. 18Heat both sesame and neutral oil in a wide pan over medium heat.
19. 19Stir fry the garlic till it turns light pink in colour.
20. 20Add the ginger and stir fry for a few seconds.
21. 21Add the water or stock.
22. 22Add chilli sauce, maple syrup, vinegar, soy sauce, salt, pepper, kashmiri chilli powder.
23. 23Allow the mixture to become hot.
24. 24Keep stirring the mixture and add the slurry little at a time.
25. 25Keep stirring till the sauce becomes a bit thick.
26. 26Lower the heat and allow the sauce to simmer till it becomes thick.
27. 27--- FINAL PREPARATION ---
28. 28Take the baked cauliflower out of the oven.
29. 29Using a fork or chopsticks, dip the baked cauliflower in the sauce.
30. 30Arrange on a serving dish or board.
31. 31Sprinkle some sesame seeds and chopped spring onion over the cauliflower.
32. 32Serve baked cauliflower with the remaining sauce on the side as a starter or appetizer.