This post is sponsored by KA-ME, who has been making it easy to make at-home Asian meals for 50 years! All opinions are my own.
Who wants a big bowl of these flavorful Hoisin Cauliflower Bites? Crispy cauliflower covered in crispy panko bread crumbs and tossed in a savory KA-ME Hoisin Sauce mixture, then baked to perfection and topped with sesame seeds and fresh cilantro– such a simple and easy appetizer that your whole family will love.
Have you ever made your own cauliflower bites before? They are such a great way to sneak in some veggies. The breading from the texture and the sauce makes you not even realize that you are eating a big bite of cauliflower. Not only are these Hoisin Cauliflower Bites super tasty, but they can also be made in only 35 minutes or less! Pair these with fresh veggies for the ultimate party platter.
HOW TO GET CRISPY CAULIFLOWER BITES
- Line your pan with parchment paper to make sure the cauliflower bites do not stick to the pan. If you do not have parchment paper you can use spray oil or avocado oil as a substitute.
- When you’re chopping the cauliflower into pieces, make sure they are about the same size. They should be small enough that you can eat them in 2 bites.
- Don’t forget to cover them in panko bread crumbs after you have dipped them in batter. This will really give them that great crispy texture.
- Adding your cornstarch slurry really helps to thicken up your hoisin sauce mixture, so I highly recommend adding it. Slurry is a cooking term referring to the mixture of cornstarch and water. The slurry mixture in this recipe is used to thicken the sauce.
- If you do not have garlic powder, fresh garlic will work as a substitute.
- I drizzled the hoisin sauce mixture on top of the bites, then used a kitchen basting brush to make sure all of the bites were covered with the delicious sauce.
- Baking your bites twice in the batter really ensures that they have that amazing texture. Bake them once for 20 minutes, toss with the hoisin sauce mixture, and bake them again for an additional 5 minutes. Make sure not to overcook your cauliflower bites or they will be super soft on the inside.
- If you feel like your bites are not crispy enough after baking them with the hoisin sauce, turn your oven to broil 500 F to 550 F (260 – 290 C.) Broil them for 2-3 minutes watching them carefully. They can burn quickly, so I like to keep the oven light on and watch them for those couple of minutes.
It is very important to evenly space the cauliflower bites on your pan to ensure they will cook evenly. Remember to also space them evenly when you add the hoisin sauce mixture and bake them again.
For this tasty hoisin sauce I used KA-ME ingredients including KA-ME Hoisin Sauce, Pure Sesame Oil, Tamari and Rice Vinegar . I love using KA-ME products because they make cooking Asian meals at home easy (after all, KA-ME means the Key to Asian Made Easy!), and they have everything you need to make authentic and modern Asian dishes: noodles, oils, sauces, canned veggies, complete meal kits and more! You can find them at a local grocery store near you. Some popular major retailers include Walmart, Publix, and Kroger and to find a specific store near you with KA-ME products click here.
After you have baked your bites for 20 minutes, take them out and add your sauce. I recommend drizzling the sauce on top of the cauliflower bites, then using a kitchen brush to completely cover them. Although you can cover a lot of the cauliflower bites by tossing them in a bowl, using the brush ensures the sauce gets in between the textured breading.
I topped these Hoisin Cauliflower Bites with sesame seeds and fresh cilantro. You can also top these bites with green onions and chopped peanuts.
Make this a complete party tray by pairing it with:
- Carrots
- Celery
- Cucumbers
- Bell peppers
- Broccoli
These Hoisin Cauliflower Bites are:
- Crispy
- Spicy
- Baked
- Flavorful
- Perfect party appetizer
If you make this Hoisin Cauliflower Bites I would love it if you would snap a photo of your food and share it with me on Instagram @itsallgoodvegan.com. I can’t wait to see how you like it!
Hoisin Cauliflower Bites
Crispy cauliflower covered in crispy panko bread crumbs and tossed in a savory hoisin sauce mixture, then baked to perfection and topped with sesame seeds and fresh cilantro
Cauliflower Bites
- 1 small- medium head of cauliflower, stems trimmed and cut into bite sized pieces
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup unsweetened dairy-free milk
- 1 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
- 2 Tbsp cornstarch
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
Hoisin Sauce
- ½ cup KA-ME Hoisin Sauce
- 1 tsp KA-ME 100% Pure Sesame Oil
- 2 tbsp KA-ME Tamari
- 1 tsp KA-ME Rice Vinegar
- ½ tsp garlic, minced
- 1 Tbsp cornstarch
- 3 Tbsp filtered water
Directions
- Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F (218.3 C). Line a large baking pan with parchment paper or spray with cooking oil and set aside.
- In a large bowl combine the garlic powder salt, all-purpose flour, milk, and whisk until you have formed a batter.
- Add the cauliflower to the bowl of the batter and toss until the batter has covered the cauliflower bites.
- Place the panko bread crumbs in a bowl. Add the cauliflower bites and toss until each bite is completely covered.
- Spread the cauliflower evenly on the baking pan and bake for 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, combine the hoisin sauce, sesame oil, tamari, rice vinegar, and garlic in a small saucepan over low-medium heat.
- In a small bowl combine the water and cornstarch and mix into a slurry. Add the mixture to the hoisin sauce and stir until the sauce starts to thicken, around 3-4 minutes. Make sure not the sauce does not boil, it can easily burn.
- Place the Cauliflower in a large bowl and drizzle the hoisin sauce on top of the bites. Toss with a large spoon until all of the bites are completely covered with sauce. Using a kitchen basting brush, completely brush the sauce on the bites.
- Place the cauliflower bites back in the oven and bake for 5 minutes.
- Take cauliflower bites out of the oven and top with sesame seeds and fresh cilantro. Eat immediately, leftovers will get soggy.
- I recommend eating these bites right when they come out of the oven. They taste best fresh and warm.
- Pair these bites with dipping sauce and fresh vegetables for the ultimate party platter.
- If you feel like your bites are not crispy enough after baking them with the hoisin sauce, turn your oven to broil 500 F to 550 F (260 – 290 C.) Broil them for 2-3 minutes watching them carefully. They can burn quickly, so I like to keep the oven light on and watch them for those couple of minutes.
Click here to find these delicious KA-ME products in the grocery aisle at your local store, and check out their website to discover even more delicious recipes!
I can’t even tell that those are not chicken!