Crispy Cauliflower nuggets in honey sesame sauce

Crispy shallow fried cauliflower nuggets tossed in delicious Chinese style honey garlic sauce and sprinkled with sesame seeds and green onions. Better than take out and this is so easy to make. Kids friendly.

 

Best served with fried rice. I served it with spicy garlic fried rice. If you are serving for adult(s),  you can use 1/2 cup of your favourite beer instead of water to make the nugget batter.  I shallow fried the nuggets, however deep frying yields the crispiest nuggets.

 

 

Ingredients for the nuggets

• 1 and 1/2 Cups Cauliflower florets
• 1/2 Cup All purpose flour
• 2 Tablespoon Corn starch
• 1/2 Teaspoon dried mixed herbs ( I used oregano, thyme, rosemary and basil)
• 1.2 Teaspoon red chilli flakes
• Salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 2 Tablespoon vegetable oil to shallow fry

For the honey sesame sauce

• 1 Tablespoon sesame oil
• 2 Garlic cloves minced
• 1 Teaspoon fresh ginger minced
• 1/4 Cup finely chopped red onions or shallots
• 1/2 Teaspoon red chilli flakes
• 1/4 Cup organic Honey
• 1 Tablespoon low sodium soy sauce
• 1 Tablespoon sesame seeds
• 1 Tablespoon spring onions greens chopped
• Salt and ground black pepper to taste

Directions

1. In a mixing bowl, add all purpose flour, corn starch, dried herbs, chilli flakes, salt and black pepper. Mix everything. Then add 1/2 Cup cold water and whisk it until the batter is smooth and there are no lumps
2. Wash cauliflower florets and par dry. In a skillet or tawa , heat oil. When the oil is hot, dip cauliflower florets in the prepared batter and place it in the hot oil. You can place 4 cauliflower florets at a time on the pan. Shallow fry the florets until they are crispy and golden, flipping sided intermittently
3. Remove them from oil and drain on paper towel. Repeat step number 2 and shallow fry the remaining nuggets also. Alternatively , you can deep fry the florets if you prefer. Deep frying yields a best crispy fried nuggets. :)
4. Now prepare the sauce : In a separate pan, add sesame oil. when the oil is hot, add garlic and ginger and fry on high flame for 30 seconds
5. Add red onions and fry until they are crispy golden and caramelized
6. Then add chilli flakes and fry for 30 seconds
7. Add honey, soy sauce and give it a nice stir
8. Cook the sauce for a minute just until it thickens slightly
9. Check salt and add more if required. Season with black pepper if required
10. Now add the fried cauliflower nuggets and toss nicely to coat with sauce
11. Sprinkle with sesame seeds, spring onion greens and serve hot