Sweet & Spicy Cauliflower

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My sweet and spicy cauliflower recipe is a great way to enjoy this healthy vegetable. Being quite mild flavored it really takes on the flavors of soy, sriracha and honey, in the sweet and spicy sauce, turning it into a delicious side dish that everyone will enjoy.

Sweet & Spicy Cauliflower

This oven roasted sweet and spicy cauliflower recipe is a quick and easy cook. You can actually get ahead by preparing both the cauliflower and the sweet and spicy sauce earlier in the day. Then when you are ready to eat, all you need to do is coat the cauliflower in the sauce and place it into a hot oven to roast.

I often oven roast vegetables as it really brings out the natural sweetness in the vegetable, enhancing the flavour. This sweet and spicy oven baked cauliflower is crispy and crunchy; and tastes far better than plain boiled or steamed cauliflower.

This easy vegetable side dish is versatile, and a great addition to Asian inspired main dishes. However, it works equally well with some roasted meats like chicken or pork, or with some stir fried seafood like shrimp.

Sweet & spicy cauliflower recipe ingredients

• CAULIFLOWER: I use 1 head cauliflower, to serve 4.
• SOY SAUCE: I use light soy sauce to season the cauliflower.
• CHILI SAUCE: Sriracha sauce adds great flavor and chili spice to the cauliflower.
• HONEY: runny honey adds the sweetness to this dish.
• DRY SPICES: I add a combination of garlic powder, onion powder and ground ginger to the sauce for depth of savory flavor.

How to make sweet & spicy cauliflower

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Whisk together the soy sauce, sriracha sauce, honey, garlic powder, onion powder, and ground ginger until well combined.

Toss the cauliflower in the sauce.

Spread the cauliflower in an even layer on the baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes, until tender.

Flavor variations

• Cauliflower – I’ve used cauliflower in this recipe, but it would equally well with broccoli or romanesco broccoli.
• Soy sauce – I used light soy sauce, look for low sodium or gluten free soy sauce if necessary.
• Sriracha sauce – if following a gluten free or vegan diet, check the ingredients label on the sauce.
• Honey – swap honey for maple syrup if following a vegan diet.
• Chili – I’ve added sriracha sauce which has a nice level of chili heat. If you like your food extra spicy add some chili powder or red pepper flakes to the sauce.

Serving suggestions

Sweet and spicy cauliflower is a great tasting side dish. Serve it with other Asian inspired main meals and side dishes like my Slow Cooker Chicken Teriyaki, Homemade Sesame Chicken, Air Fryer Bang Bang Chicken, Asian Zucchini Noodles. Or add it as a delicious ingredient in my Teriyaki Salmon Bowl.

Recipe hints & tips

• Take time to ensure that the cauliflower is completely coated in the sweet and spicy sauce.
• Lay the cauliflower florets on the baking sheet in a single layer and don’t overcrowd the pan otherwise the cauliflower will steam rather than roast in the oven.
• This recipe works best with fresh cauliflower, rather than frozen.
• Double the recipe up if feeding a larger group of diners.
• If cooking for larger number I recommend using 2 baking sheets so that the cauliflower is well spaced out and not overcrowded.

FAQs

Try these great tasting roasted vegetable side dishes here at When is Dinner:

• Oven Roasted Garlic Parmesan Asparagus
• Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
• Oven Roasted Sweet Potato with Bacon
• Sheet Pan Roasted Broccoli
• Roasted Carrots & Mushrooms
• Roasted Green Beans with Bacon