Veggie Inspired

healthy plant based recipes for the whole family

  • Home
  • Meet Jenn
  • Recipes
  • Join for FREE Recipes!
  • My Cookbook
    • The Meatless Monday Family Cookbook
  • Work With Me
  • Press
  • Contact Me
Home » Blog Posts » Easy Plant Based Recipes » Vegan Main Dishes/ Entrees » Orange Cauliflower (Dairy Free, Gluten Free)

Orange Cauliflower (Dairy Free, Gluten Free)

By: Jenn Sebestyen / Published: 04/19/2016 / Last Updated: 08/28/2018

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please see my Privacy Policy for more details.

2264shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Pin
Print Recipe Jump to Recipe

Orange Cauliflower – Roasted cauliflower in a sticky sweet orange sauce that’s loaded with diced peppers. Ready in less than 30 minutes!

Bowl of sticky Orange Cauliflower w/ white rice. Two red chopsticks resting on the side of the bowl.

I’m dubbing myself the queen of cauliflower. I love the stuff so much. And you guys seem to love it too, making my Crispy Baked Cauliflower Tacos and my Buffalo Cauliflower Bites two of the most popular recipes on the blog.

I’m back today with another quick and easy recipe featuring this versatile veggie – Orange Cauliflower!

The cauliflower is roasted until just tender and then smothered in a sticky sweet fresh orange sauce. Serve it over rice for a healthy meal more delicious  than take-out place down the street.

Orange Cauliflower with two wedges of fresh orange.

Orange Cauliflower

This recipe is a play off of Orange Chicken, which you’ve probably seen before. Traditionally, the chicken is battered and fried before being added to the sauce.

Obviously, we are using cauliflower here in place of the chicken. You also won’t find any batter to be fried in this recipe.

Sure, I could have battered it and then baked it for a healthier version, but personally, I just don’t think that’s necessary.

Instead I roasted the cauliflower until just tender, with still a bit of a crunch. Then finished it off in this sweet and sticky fresh orange sauce.

Overhead view of a bowl of Orange Cauliflower. Chopsticks picking up a bite of cauliflower. Bowl of white rice behind.

Full of vitamins

Not only is the cauliflower super healthy, but the orange sauce is loaded with bell peppers and fresh squeezed orange juice, which means even more vitamins coming your way.

I have no idea what’s in the orange chicken at your local take-out joint, but I can pretty much guarantee it’s got nothing on the nutrient profile of my Orange Cauliflower!

Chopsticks picking up a bite of cauliflower from a bowl of sticky Orange Cauliflower.

Add this Orange Cauliflower to your list of recipes to try. When you do try it, please come back and leave me feedback below with your star rating, letting me know how much you loved it.

You can also find me on social media. Be sure to tag @veggie_inspired and #veggieinspired so I’m sure to see your posts.

Enjoy!

5 from 1 vote
Print
Orange Cauliflower
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
30 mins
 
This Orange Cauliflower is a veganized version of your favorite orange chicken recipe. The cauliflower is roasted and then tossed in a sticky sweet orange sauce that's loaded with sweet diced bell peppers. Perfect alone or served over rice.
Course: Entree
Cuisine: dairy free, egg free, oil free, vegan
Keyword: asian vegetable recipes, easy cauliflower recipes, healthy cauliflower recipes
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 338 kcal
Author: Jenn Sebestyen
Ingredients
  • 1 large head of cauliflower
  • 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp vegetable broth
  • 1/2 of a red onion (diced)
  • 3 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 2 sweet bell peppers (diced) (I used 1 red and 1 orange)
  • 1 1/2 cups + 1 tbsp fresh squeezed orange juice
  • 4 tbsp soy sauce or tamari (use wheat-free tamari for gluten-free)
  • 3 tbsp pure maple syrup
  • 3 tbsp rice wine vinegar
  • 2 tbsp cornstarch
  • 2 tbsp water (or more juice)
  • Sesame seeds for garnish (if desired)
  • Cooked Rice (for serving)
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
  2. Cut the cauliflower into large bite size florets. In a medium bowl toss the cauliflower with 1 tbsp juice.
  3. Place the cauliflower in one even layer on a rimmed baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes, (Add an additional 5 minutes if desired, but I like mine to still have a crunch). Cauliflower should be just browning on the edges.
  4. While the cauliflower is roasting, whisk together the orange juice, soy sauce, maple syrup, and vinegar. Set aside.
  5. Stir together the cornstarch and water until smooth and set aside.
  6. Add 1/4 cup vegetable broth to a large pan over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and sauté 5-6 minutes until soft.
  7. Add another 2 tbsp vegetable broth to the pan and add the peppers. Saute 5-6 minutes until softened.
  8. When the peppers are softened, add the orange sauce to the pan and turn up the heat to bring to a boil.
  9. Once boiling, add the cornstarch/water mixture and stir well to incorporate. Simmer over medium heat until the sauce reduces and thickens to almost a syrup like consistency.
  10. Add the cauliflower to the sauce when it's done roasting and stir to coat well.
  11. Sprinkle sesame seeds over the top, if using, and serve immediately by itself or over rice.
Recipe Notes

~Fresh squeezed juice will give the best flavor in this recipe. Store bought juice will work in a pinch, but know that the orange flavor won't be as vibrant.

~Nutrition facts calculated without sesame seed garnish or rice for serving.

 

 

Nutrition Facts
Orange Cauliflower
Amount Per Serving
Calories 338 Calories from Fat 36
% Daily Value*
Fat 4g6%
Sodium 1171mg51%
Potassium 27mg1%
Carbohydrates 67g22%
Fiber 12g50%
Sugar 46g51%
Protein 10g20%
Vitamin A 20050IU401%
Vitamin C 1081.6mg1311%
Calcium 70mg7%
Iron 5mg28%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.


More Easy Dairy Free Dinner Ideas:

Stir Fry Zucchini Noodles

Stir Fry Zucchini Noodles

Fregola Pasta w/ Cherry Tomatoes & Basil

Sloppy Lentil Sandwiches

Sloppy Lentil Sandwiches

« Chocolate Nice Cream Breakfast Parfait
Smoky Roasted Red Pepper Cashew Dip »

Pre-Order Your Copy Today and Receive 5 Bonus Dessert Recipes!

Book cover of The Meatless Monday Family Cookbook

Comments

  1. Jane says

    August 28, 2018 at 1:41 pm

    I made this dish for my husband tonight and it was a 100% success!! So happy to have found such an exciting dish to add to my vegan repertoire and I will definitely be making this for my non-vegan friends in the future. Already looking forward to leftovers tomorrow… x

    Reply
    • Jenn S. says

      August 28, 2018 at 2:17 pm

      Thank you, Jane! So happy to hear it was a success all around. It’s one of my favorites too!

      Reply
  2. Dorothea says

    March 08, 2018 at 6:09 pm

    Hi Jenn, this recipe looks amazing! Unfortunately in my country is very hard to find maple syrup, what can I use instead of it? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Jenn S. says

      March 08, 2018 at 6:47 pm

      Hi, Dorothea. You could use agave or even just brown sugar. If you use brown sugar, start with just two tablespoons as it tends to be sweeter, and you may need to add a little bit of water to thin it out. Let me know how it turns out!

      Reply
  3. Becca Amuse Your Bouche says

    April 26, 2016 at 6:43 am

    I’ve never made this kind of orange sauce before but I know I would love this! It looks so full of flavour.

    Reply
    • Jenn S. says

      April 26, 2016 at 7:41 am

      You should definitely try it, Becca! So good! Thank you!

      Reply
  4. Nayna Kanabar says

    April 25, 2016 at 2:55 pm

    My hubby is a big fan of cauliflower so I am always looking for new ideas for cooking cauliflower.This is very innovative.

    Reply
    • Jenn S. says

      April 25, 2016 at 4:16 pm

      Thank you, Nayna! I hope you both enjoy!

      Reply
  5. Vegan Heaven says

    April 24, 2016 at 3:54 am

    I already saw this recipe on Facebook, Jenn, and it looks sooo good! That sauce!! Yummy! 🙂

    Reply
    • Jenn S. says

      April 24, 2016 at 8:34 am

      Thank you, Sina! The sauce is so good!

      Reply
  6. Ceara says

    April 22, 2016 at 7:48 pm

    Ok Jenn this looks like such an incredibly gorgeous meal – it looks SO flavorful!

    Reply
    • Jenn S. says

      April 23, 2016 at 6:54 am

      Thank you, Ceara! It’s definitely going to become a staple around here!

      Reply
  7. Sophia | Veggies Don't Bite says

    April 21, 2016 at 9:37 pm

    We used to love orange chicken! This looks delicious. My hubby has actually asked me to recreate his favorite part orange chicken dish, but it was a bit different than this. I have it on my long list of todo’s!

    Reply
    • Jenn S. says

      April 22, 2016 at 7:21 am

      Thanks, Sophia! I have a long list like that too. Never enough time!!

      Reply
  8. Alisa Fleming says

    April 21, 2016 at 7:45 pm

    Seriously, whenever I need cauliflower inspiration, I’m just going to visit your blog Jenn. And this looks waaay better than takeout!

    Reply
    • Jenn S. says

      April 22, 2016 at 7:20 am

      Aw, thanks, Alisa! Definitely better than take-out! No oily film left in your mouth! 🙂

      Reply
  9. Kristen Chidsey says

    April 21, 2016 at 7:24 am

    Pinning–this is my kind of meal!! LOVE!!

    Reply
    • Jenn S. says

      April 21, 2016 at 5:37 pm

      Thank you, Kristen!!

      Reply
  10. Donna says

    April 20, 2016 at 11:37 pm

    Ok I am making this tomorrow night!! I also think of myself as the cauliflower queen 🙂 but I haven’t tried it in a dish like this, and I am very excited to!

    Reply
    • Jenn S. says

      April 21, 2016 at 7:25 am

      Oh yay – we can rule together! 🙂 I hope you love it! Please let me know how it turns out!! Enjoy!

      Reply
  11. Uma says

    April 20, 2016 at 6:04 pm

    Always homemade food is good. But I will find an excuse to eat out side for non Indian cuisine. This time no excuse I will try this 🙂 looks very good Jenn.

    Reply
    • Jenn S. says

      April 21, 2016 at 7:25 am

      Thank you, Uma! If you get a chance to try it, please let me know what you think!

      Reply
  12. Kelly says

    April 20, 2016 at 9:55 am

    Love this as a healthier option. So much better for you, and quite honestly, looks like it tastes better!

    Reply
    • Jenn S. says

      April 21, 2016 at 7:24 am

      Thank you so much, Kelly! Personally, I think it does taste better! 🙂

      Reply
  13. Linda says

    April 20, 2016 at 9:26 am

    OMG that looks amazing!! I love orange sauce and I guarantee you I’d be sneaking spoonfuls of this into my gluttonous mouth before it made it to the delicious bowls of cauliflower.

    Reply
    • Jenn S. says

      April 21, 2016 at 7:24 am

      HaHa, thanks, Linda!Sneaking spoonfuls is perfectly acceptable in my book!Thank you!

      Reply
  14. Aimee / Wallflower Kitchen says

    April 20, 2016 at 8:13 am

    This looks absolutely drool-worthy! YUM

    Reply
    • Jenn S. says

      April 20, 2016 at 8:40 am

      Thanks, Aimee!

      Reply
  15. Mel says

    April 19, 2016 at 10:32 pm

    All hail Queen Cauliflower…..
    Queen Cauliflower…that made me laugh! The humble cauliflower is such a wonderful ingredient and this recipe looks delicious. I love citrus flavours in savoury recipes.

    Reply
    • Jenn S. says

      April 20, 2016 at 8:12 am

      I think I’ll make myself a sash. 🙂 Thanks, Mel! I know citrus is a winter fruit, but it’s so fresh and vibrant that it really reminds me of spring!

      Reply
  16. Strength and Sunshine says

    April 19, 2016 at 12:33 pm

    Ugh. YES! When I see orange on a menu….it must be had! One of the best “chinese take out” flavors!

    Reply
    • Jenn S. says

      April 19, 2016 at 3:07 pm

      Thanks, Rebecca! It was definitely a flavor that needed to be recreated! I hope you get a chance to try it! 🙂

      Reply
  17. Natalie | Feasting on Fruit says

    April 19, 2016 at 11:06 am

    Mouth is watering here. Big time! I agree, breading not necessary at all when you have that thick delicious sauce to douse it in. One of my all time favorites, and I am pretty amazed it’s oil free!

    Reply
    • Jenn S. says

      April 19, 2016 at 11:49 am

      Thanks so much, Natalie! The sauce would be great on pretty much anything! 🙂

      Reply
  18. Becky says

    April 19, 2016 at 9:00 am

    One of my favorite take out splurges is orange “chicken” from the vegan Chinese place here in town. Maybe I can kick the habit with this recipe!

    Reply
    • Jenn S. says

      April 19, 2016 at 9:10 am

      You have a vegan Chinese restaurant??? That is awesome!! I’m super jealous, but yes, this should do if you are up for making it yourself! And super quick too! Thanks, Becky!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. 11 Summer Vegan Recipes You'll Absolutely Want To Try - Lifesoever says:
    08/06/2018 at 4:30 am

    […] of other ingredients they are cooked with. Just like this Orange Cauliflower Recipe from Jenn at Veggie Inspired that has has been roasted then smothered in a sticky sweet fresh orange sauce. […]

    Reply
  2. 20 Game-Changing Vegan Cauliflower Recipes - Vegan Heaven says:
    10/03/2017 at 5:46 pm

    […] Orange Cauliflower by Jenn from Veggie Inspired […]

    Reply
  3. 35 Easy Vegan Weeknight Dinners - Vegan Heaven says:
    08/06/2017 at 7:35 am

    […] #32 Orange Cauliflower […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

My name is Jenn. This is my blog where I share delicious plant based recipes for the whole family. I love to cook; I can read cookbooks like novels; and I enjoy experimenting in the kitchen by making standard American favorites healthier.
Read more…

 

Pre-Order Your Copy Today and Receive 5 Bonus Dessert Recipes!

Book cover of The Meatless Monday Family Cookbook

As Featured In…

Holiday Sweets & Treats

One cranberry oatmeal bar on a metal spatula.
Chocolate Peppermint Rice Crispy Treat stacked two high on a plate.
Brown Rice Crispy Treats w Strawberries
Chocolate Almond Cookies
Overhead view of mug of spiked hot cocoa with a bottle of Bom Bom liquor next to it. Cinnamon sticks and candy canes lie nearby.
Close up view of a plate of kolaczki cookies filled with apricot jam and dusted with powdered sugar

Fall Favorites

Stack of 4 baked vegan pumpkin donuts
Stack of cookies in front of a plateful of cookies
Front view of a glass of Pumpkin Latte. Orange decorative pumpkin and a small metal bucket of flowers in the background.
Pumpkin Fudge Brownies
Baked Apple Cider Donuts
Pumpkin & Kale Stuffed Shells

Reader Favorites!

Vegan Chickpea BBQ Sandwich topped with creamy dairy free coleslaw and pickles on a whole wheat bun.
Cinnamon-Sugar-Cookies
Veggie Cream Cheese Spread (Dairy Free)
Cinnamon Chickpea Blondies
Vegan Chickpea Salad
Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

My name is Jenn. This is my blog where I share delicious plant based recipes for the whole family. I love to cook; I can read cookbooks like novels; and I enjoy experimenting in the kitchen by making standard American favorites healthier.

Read more...

Let’s Stay Connected!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

AMAZON AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE

Jenn Sebestyen/Veggie Inspired is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jenn Sebestyen and Veggie Inspired with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Copyright © 2019 · veggieinspired · Privacy Statement · Nutrition Disclaimer

2264shares