Ingredients

Serves 8

Cauliflower
Sunflower oil, for deep frying
1 cup all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour)
1 cup cornstarch
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1½ cups club soda
2 heads cauliflower, cut into medium-large florets

Sauce
¾ cup orange juice
⅜ cup sugar
⅜ cup soy sauce
⅜ cup vegetable broth
¼ cup rice vinegar
1⅓ tablespoons sesame oil
3¼ tablespoons cornstarch
1⅜ tablespoons sunflower oil
1⅝ teaspoons chili crisp (to taste)
½ cup green onion, thinly sliced
2⅜ teaspoons garlic, minced
2⅜ teaspoons ginger, minced
2⅜ teaspoons orange zest (about 2 large oranges = 1 tablespoon, microplaned)

Directions

1. Cauliflower. In an electric skillet or deep fryer, heat oil to 375. Combine flour, cornstarch, salt, and baking powder. Stir in club soda just until blended (batter will be thin). Dip florets, a few at a time, into batter and fry until cauliflower is tender and coating is light brown. 8-10 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Note:  An equal amount of gluten-free flour can be substituted for wheat flour.

Alternate cooking option: Batter the cauliflower and roast at 425 degrees in oven until golden brown.

When all the cauliflower is cooked, assemble in a large ceramic casserole dish, glass baking dish, or stainless steel roasting pan.

2. Sauce. Create a slurry with the cornstarch and an equal amount of veggie broth. Blend well. Whisk together the orange juice, sugar, soy sauce, remaining veggie broth, rice vinegar, and sesame oil. Set aside. Next, lightly saute garlic and ginger in sunflower oil in a skillet for a minute. Add green onions and cook for 30 seconds. Add in the sugar and liquids–orange juice,  soy sauce, veggie broth, rice vinegar and sesame oil. Stir well to combine. Simmer for 2 minutes so that the sugar is dissolved. Thicken the sauce with the cornstarch slurry. Remove from the heat when the mixture has formed a thick sauce. Stir in orange zest and chili crisp.

3. Combine. Add sauce to the cauliflower, toss to coat. 

4. Serve. With jasmine rice. Sprinkle with thinly sliced green onion.