Craving take out but trying to eat healthier? With absolutely delicious sauce and panko-crusted cauliflower, this General Tso’s Cauliflower recipe is a delicious take on takeout, just like our Sticky Garlic Cauliflower!
General Tso’s Cauliflower
Cauliflower is a chameleon in the kitchen. You can whip it into “mashed potatoes” that are just as light and fluffy as potatoes, roast it up and turn it into tacos, and now you can make Chinese food with it! And I don’t know how to stress just HOW GOOD this General Tso’s Cauliflower is.
You’re probably like, “this girl is full of it, there’s no way cauliflower with some sauce on it is THAT good”, but guys, it’s THAT good.
This General Tso’s Cauliflower recipe is a part of a meal plan I recently developed aimed at helping you to cook healthy, fresh food for dinner each night.
It’s called Cook It Fresh and it’s 31 days of finger-licking, way delicious food (all in about 30 minutes or less!) The program just launched this week, so if you’re interested in getting your health on track, check it out here.
To make General Tso’s Cauliflower you’ll need:
- ½ head of cauliflower
- ½ cup flour
- 2 large eggs, whisked
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- ¼ tsp each salt and pepper
- ½ cup dry quinoa + 1 cup water
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 Tbsp fresh grated ginger
- ½ cup vegetable broth
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup rice vinegar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 Tbsp tomato paste
- 2 Tbsp cornstarch dissolved in 2 Tbsp cold water
Kitchen tools you may find useful:
For another delicious way to use cauliflower in the kitchen, check out this Roasted Cauliflower with whipped feta cheese and a zingy herb sauce, or this Copycat Cauliflower Chipotle Rice. Another healthier alternative in the kitchen is our Roasted Eggplant. With fresh mint sauce and feta cheese, this side dish is not only easy but boasts tons of flavor!
More Cauliflower Recipes
- Cauliflower Risotto
- Bang Bang Cauliflower
- Cauliflower Pizza Bites
- Sticky Garlic Cauliflower
- Mexican Cauliflower Rice
General Tso’s Baked Cauliflower
IMPORTANT - There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
Print It Rate ItIngredients
- ½ head cauliflower
- ½ cup flour
- 2 large eggs whisked
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- ¼ tsp each salt and pepper
- ½ cup dry quinoa + 1 cup water
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 Tbsp fresh grated ginger
- ½ cup vegetable broth
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup rice vinegar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 Tbsp tomato paste
- 2 Tbsp cornstarch dissolved in 2 Tbsp cold water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Arrange workspace, placing flour, egg, and panko in separate bowls. Mix salt and pepper into panko.
- Cut cauliflower into bite-sized florets. Working in batches, coat the florets in flour, then egg, then breadcrumbs. Set on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until crispy.
- Add quinoa and water to a medium saucepan. Set over high heat and bring to a boil. Cover and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, until tender.
- Set a small saucepan over medium heat and add the sesame oil, garlic, and ginger. Cook for 2 minutes, until fragrant, then add remaining “Sauce” ingredients except the cornstarch mixture. Whisk to combine and bring to a simmer. While whisking, slowly pour in the cornstarch mixture. It should thicken quite quickly; if not, continue simmering until thick.
- Drizzle sauce over the baked cauliflower and gently toss to evenly coat. Serve cauliflower over warm quinoa.
Nutrition
The recipes on this blog are tested with a conventional gas oven and gas stovetop. It's important to note that some ovens, especially as they age, can cook and bake inconsistently. Using an inexpensive oven thermometer can assure you that your oven is truly heating to the proper temperature. If you use a toaster oven or countertop oven, please keep in mind that they may not distribute heat the same as a conventional full sized oven and you may need to adjust your cooking/baking times. In the case of recipes made with a pressure cooker, air fryer, slow cooker, or other appliance, a link to the appliances we use is listed within each respective recipe. For baking recipes where measurements are given by weight, please note that results may not be the same if cups are used instead, and we can’t guarantee success with that method.
- 8 Ounces Isn’t Always 1 Cup - January 23, 2026
- Marinara Sauce - January 6, 2026
- Gingerbread Martini - December 18, 2025
Noreen says
I love all your cauliflower recipes! I haven’t tried this one yet, but it sure looks good! Thank you so much for all your wonderful food ideas.