Orange chicken is the bomb and all, but this popcorn cauliflower is absolutely the best veggie alternative of the like and in some senses better depending on preference. ANYWAYS, I hope you enjoyed this version of basically glorified glazed cauliflower tempura that’s just done right…in my humble opinion. Let’s dive in!
Begin by washing, de-stemming, and cutting half a head of cauliflower into bite-size florets…
…and trimming the ends.
Ingredients
- 1/2 head of cauliflower
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 tbsp baking soda
- 1 tbsp salt
- 3/4 cup beer
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/4 cup honey
- 3 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp chopped lemon zest
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp red pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp picked thyme leaves
Instructions
- Begin by washing, de-stemming, and cutting half a head of cauliflower into bite-size florets—and trimming the ends.
- In a separate bowl, add 1 cup of flour, 1 tbsp of baking soda, 1 tbsp of salt, 3/4 cup of beer, 1 tbsp of lemon, and mix until ingredients are well combined. Toss in a handful of cauliflower florets and using a slotted spoon drain off the excess batter before carefully dropping the battered cauliflower into a pan of hot oil (375°F). Fry until golden brown, transfer to baking sheet/cooling rack to strain the excess grease, and repeat. Once all of the florets have been fried, transfer to the oven and bake at 375°F for an additional 10-15 minutes.
- In a small sauce pot on medium to low heat, add in 3 tbsp of fresh lemon juice, 1/4 cup of honey, 1 tbsp of brown sugar, 1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar, 1 tsp of garlic powder, 1 tsp of red pepper, 1 tsp of chopped lemon zest, a pinch of salt, and 1 tbsp of cornstarch (optional: reducing for longer will achieve the same result of thickening the glaze). Mix well and reduce until it becomes a sticky syrup.
- Once the cauliflower is finished baking transfer it to a large metal bowl and coat in the honey lemon glaze. Add a pinch of fresh thyme and lemon zest. Give a few tosses and transfer to a serving dish. I went with a paper cup lined with wax paper for that fair-foods vibe! Top with another pinch of thyme and lemon zest—all that’s left to do is ENJOY!
| Top Left: Boos Cutting Board | Top Middle: All-Clad Pot | Top Right: Metal Bowl Set |
| Bottom Left: All-Clad Pan | Bottom Middle: Glass Bowl Set | Bottom Right: Sheet Pan |