Mediterranean Diet Friendly Crispy Cauliflower Manchurian
Cauliflower takes center stage here in a dish that delivers serious crunch and bold, glossy sauce without leaning on anything heavy or processed. The batter is built from cassava flour and arrowroot starch, which fries up beautifully golden in coconut oil and gives each floret a satisfying crisp shell that holds its own once tossed in the sauce. That sauce ā coconut aminos, apple cider vinegar, honey, fresh garlic, and two hits of ginger ā is bright, savory, and just a little sweet, coating every piece in something genuinely craveable. Carrots and scallions add color and a gentle bite, keeping the whole dish feeling fresh and vegetable-forward in the best way. The approach leans on whole, minimally processed ingredients throughout, which is exactly what makes it such a natural fit for a plant-rich, wholesome way of eating. It comes together in one skillet after a quick pan-fry, so the effort is low but the payoff looks and tastes like something you'd order at a restaurant. Finish it with fresh cilantro and those reserved scallion greens and you've got a dish that's as pretty as it is satisfying.
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Learn more āIngredients
4 servings
For the battered cauliflower
- 1 medium head cauliflower (about 2 lb), cut into 1 Ā½-inch florets
- ā cup cassava flour
- 3 tbsp arrowroot starch
- Ā½ tsp fine sea salt
- Ā½ tsp ground turmeric
- Ā½ tsp ground ginger
- ā cup water
- 3 tbsp coconut oil, for frying
For the sauce
- 3 tbsp coconut aminos
Chef's tipSoy sauce is saltier and less sweet; start with less and adjust. - 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp arrowroot starch
- 1 tsp fresh ginger, finely grated
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
- 4 scallions, white and light green parts thinly sliced, dark green tops reserved for garnish
- 3 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger, finely minced
- 1 medium carrot, cut into thin matchsticks
For serving
- scallion dark green tops, thinly sliced (optional)
- fresh cilantro leaves (optional)
Instructions
- 1
In a small bowl, whisk together the coconut aminos, apple cider vinegar, honey, 1 tsp arrowroot starch, and grated fresh ginger until the starch is fully dissolved. Set aside.
- 2
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the cassava flour, 3 tbsp arrowroot starch, salt, turmeric, and ground ginger. Add the water and stir until a thick, smooth batter forms ā it should cling to the back of a spoon without dripping off immediately. Add the cauliflower florets and toss until each piece is evenly coated.
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