Our vegetarian spin on firecracker take-out features crunchy baked cauliflower in place of shrimp. You will love this Firecracker Cauliflower recipe!
Homemade Take-Out
I am a huge fan of recreating take-out type dishes at home. With complete control over the ingredients, you can create something much healthier—and something that just downright tastes better as well.
Plus, it can be fun. You can take popular dishes and turn them into meatless meals that you can’t always get on the menu. Like this Firecracker Cauliflower. Traditionally made with chicken or shrimp, this dish is usually pan-fried or deep-fried and then coated in a sweet chili sauce.
Frying vs Baking
Since I’m not the biggest fan of frying (particularly deep frying—all that oil just scares me!), I decided to go the baking route instead. Easier, healthier and no bubbling oil, which is a huge bonus in my book. By using a wire cooling rack set onto a baking sheet, you can keep the bottom of whatever you're baking from getting mushy—just make sure it's an oven-safe rack!
I find cauliflower to be a nice and meaty veggie and it works perfectly in this dish to replace the chicken or shrimp. The florets are coated lightly in a breadcrumb mixture and then baked until just tender and slightly crispy around the edges. Meanwhile, you’ll quickly whisk together a sweet and spicy homemade chili sauce that rivals anything from the store. (And by making it yourself, you can easily adjust the spice level by adding more or less sriracha!)
Serve the cauliflower over a bed of rice, sprinkle with some green onions and then drizzle with the finger-licking good sauce. I found that drizzling the sauce instead of coating the cauliflower with it helps keep the florets nice and crispy.
And go ahead and keep a small bowl of the sauce on the table for extra dunking. Trust me on that one.
Recipe
Ingredients
For the cauliflower:
- 2 large eggs
- 3 tbsp milk
- ½ cup whole wheat flour
- 1 cup whole wheat breadcrumbs
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp sweet paprika
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 large head cauliflower about 2 ½ pounds, cut into 1 ½- to 2-inch pieces
For the sauce:
- ½ cup honey
- 3 tbsp sriracha sauce
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 2 ¼ tsp rice vinegar
- salt to taste
For serving:
- cooked rice
- green onions thinly sliced
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and then set an oven-safe metal cooling rack inside the baking sheet. Spray the rack with an oil mister or cooking spray and set aside.
Make the cauliflower:
- Lightly beat the eggs and milk in a small bowl until combined.
- In a shallow dish, add the flour, breadcrumbs, garlic powder, paprika, and salt. Mix to combine.
- Working with a few pieces at a time, dip the cauliflower into the egg mixture, shake off the excess, then place in the breadcrumb mixture, tossing to coat.
- Place the cauliflower on the prepared baking sheet in a single layer (you can put them close together). Once all the cauliflower is coated, spray it lightly with oil.
- Bake for about 20 to 25 minutes, until the coating is crispy and golden brown, and the cauliflower is tender but not mushy.
Make the sauce:
- While the cauliflower is baking, make the sauce. In a small bowl, whisk together the honey, sriracha, garlic, vinegar, and salt. Taste and add additional sriracha for more heat, if desired.
- Divide the rice into bowls and top with with cauliflower. Drizzle the sauce over the cauliflower, and garnish with green onions. Serve with additional sauce on the side for dipping.
Anele @ Success Along the Weigh says
Ooh this sounds amazing! Spicy just like I like it!
Ashley Jennings says
Thanks Anele! I love spicy foods too!
Helen @ Scrummy Lane says
I'm a regular reader of Ashley's blog and love all of her recipes, but this is one of my favourites so far. So creative! 🙂
Ashley Jennings says
Thanks so much Helen!! : )
marcie says
I've been following Ashley's blog for some time now, and I love how creative she is with veggies. This cauliflower looks so crispy and delicious, and that sauce sounds like a bang-up good job!
Ashley Jennings says
Thank you Marcie! Bang-up good job - you're too funny!
Ronnie Fein says
This looks just about perfect for us, also not vegetarians but typically go meatless. Love the Sriracha addition.
Ashley Jennings says
Thanks Ronnie! We can't get enough Sriracha at our house!
Julia Mueller says
Yaay, welcome, Ashley!! I'm loving this firecracker cauli! Just like you, I'm not vegetarian but I eat tons of vegetarian and vegan meals. I love this healthful recipe and could probably eat it every day. 🙂
Ashley Jennings says
Yay! Thanks Julia - excited to be here! : )
Kathi @ Deliciously Yum! says
Drooling over these! Cannot wait to make 'em ASAP! Such a great job, Ashley. I know what will be my next addiction, ha!
Ashley Jennings says
Thanks Kathi! The sauce especially is very easy to get addicted to! : )
Sarah @ Making Thyme for Health says
Beautiful recipe, Ashley! My mouth is watering. The combo of crispy cauliflower with honey sriracha sounds killer!!
Ashley Jennings says
Thanks Sarah!
Ashley | Spoonful of Flavor says
I have been wanting to try something similar for a while and this recipe looks incredible! Love all of Ashley's recipes and I am so glad to here that she has joined the Oh My Veggies team!
Ashley Jennings says
Thanks Ashley! Hope you enjoy!
Olivia - Primavera Kitchen says
I often read Ashley's blog and I love how talent she is with veggies and fruits.
All her recipes are to die for, but this one is seriously perfection 😉
Ashley Jennings says
Thank you so much Olivia! : )
Joyce Porter says
Looks delicious! Pinned for later. Thanks!
Ashley Jennings says
Thanks Joyce!
Claire says
Just made these for dinner- they were quick and delicious! I made them to go with a lentil and spinach dish, along with the rice recommended. I added peanut butter to the sauce for some creaminess. Looking forward to leftovers for lunch tomorrow.
Claire
Ashley Jennings says
So happy to hear it! Sounds delicious with the lentil and spinach dish and the peanut butter!
Kelly says
Yay, love Ashley and this recipe! The cauliflower looks so crispy and delicious and I would find any excuse to slather the honey sriracha sauce on everything!
Ashley Jennings says
Thanks Kelly! I definitely did that with the sauce! : )
Monica says
Ashley always shares creative recipes and this is a perfect example. I love all the flavors built into this recipe, taking cauliflower to another level of deliciousness. I have a feeling I'd want to use this sauce on a lot of things! Glad to discover this site. : )
Ashley Jennings says
Thanks Monica! You should - I know I did! : )
Jessica @ Jessiker Bakes says
So, I looked at this photo and said "hmm I know that photography style" and clicked over because I love cauliflower and the photo was gorgeous, and I said ! Ashley! Congrats :). I'm going to stop being embarrassing now. This firecracker cauliflower is such a brilliant idea! I love that it is baked not fried and love that sauce!
Ashley Jennings says
haha thanks Jessica! Not embarrassing at all : ) I love baking things like this too!
michael says
This looks so good! I'm on the other side of the world, heading into winter, so the recent salads and things are all wrong timing for me. 🙂 Crunchy spiciness = good all year round.
Ashley Jennings says
Thanks Michael! I agree - crispy crunchy spicy foods are good all the time!
Jamie@Milk 'n' Cookies says
This firecracker cauliflower looks incredible. It's so much fun to recreate takeout classics at home. It's a great idea to bake the cauliflower florets on a rack -- I love that they end up crispy even without being deep fried!
Ashley Jennings says
Thanks Jamie! Yes! I love baking veggies on a rack - so nice and crispy!
Allison says
Fantastic recipe, Ashely! So inventive. I like the cooling rack idea to get them crispy. Cannot wait to try this one!
Ashley Jennings says
Thanks Allison! The rack really helps! It gets evenly crispy that way!
Ruby says
Hi,
Did you use whole wheat Panko breadcrumbs?
thanks
Ashley Jennings says
Hi Ruby! I used just plain whole wheat breadcrumbs for this recipe. But panko breadcrumbs would also work as well!
Ruby says
This was so good!! The breaded, baked cauliflower was so tasty. Thanks!
Ashley Jennings says
So glad to hear it Ruby! : )
Nicole ~ Cooking for Keeps says
Looks SO good Ashley!!!
Ashley Jennings says
Thanks Nicole!
Jill says
Hi this looks wonderful- any thoughts on how to make it vegan without messing it up? Lol
Thanks!
Ashley Jennings says
Hi Jill! Thank you! For the cauliflower portion - I would try using more milk (I think coconut milk would be great here), like 1/2 cup or so and leave out the eggs. Dunk the pieces into the milk and then you'll likely need to lightly press the breadcrumb mixture to get it to stick. For the sauce - I think agave would be a good sub for the honey. Hope that helps!!
Olena@iFOODreal says
This looks fantastic, Ashley! I think you are another great OMV contributor and now I will be reading your blog.:) This cauliflower looks scrumptious! I'm like you not a vegetarian but I eat a lot of vegetarian dishes and have limited dairy in my diet.
Ashley Jennings says
Thanks so much Olena! Sounds like we eat pretty similar : )
Sharon says
This looks so good and I LOVE cauliflower but you lost me at 2 large eggs. Do you think the eggs are necessary or can you think of a substitute?
Ashley Jennings says
Hi Sharon! I think it should still work without the eggs - I'd try using more milk (coconut milk would be awesome!) - about 1/2 cup or so. Dunk into the milk and then you'll probably have to press lightly to get the breadcrumb mixture to stick better!
Raquel @ My California Roots says
Wow, these look great! I'd love to do a "make it vegan" rendition of these. I'll let you know if I do!
Ashley Jennings says
Thanks Raquel!
Kelly @ Trial and Eater says
Oh my gosh, I have to try this! Like, right now.
Ashley Jennings says
haha thanks Kelly! Enjoy!
Jennifer Stewart says
Yummy! I am going to try this with almond flour to go with my paleo diet right now! Ill make them for my non paleo friends! Great idea and I am so into cauliflower right now. Love your blog!
Ashley Jennings says
Hope you enjoy Jennifer!!