Pork Free Crispy Cauliflower Manchurian
Cauliflower Manchurian is one of those dishes that genuinely surprises people ā bold, sticky, a little tangy, and deeply savory in a way that feels like serious restaurant cooking. The florets get dredged in a cassava flour and arrowroot batter seasoned with turmeric and ginger, then pan-fried in coconut oil until each piece is golden and crisp on the outside while staying tender within. The sauce brings together coconut aminos, apple cider vinegar, honey, garlic, fresh ginger, and carrot matchsticks into something glossy and complex that clings to every floret. Because the entire recipe leans on pantry-friendly, plant-based ingredients, there's nothing to second-guess ā no hidden animal fats, no ambiguous additives, just clean, punchy flavor from start to finish. Coconut aminos do a lot of heavy lifting here, delivering that deep umami hit you'd expect from a soy-based sauce without any of the usual label-reading stress. Finish it with a shower of sliced scallion greens and fresh cilantro and it looks as good as it tastes. This is the kind of weeknight dish that earns a permanent spot in the rotation.
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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
- 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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