Bang Bang Cauliflower is a sheet pan side dish of cauliflower florets tossed in a sweet and spicy sauce made from sweet chili sauce, hot sauce, lime juice, garlic powder, and avocado oil. The florets get a sprinkle of grated Parmesan and roast at 500 degrees for about 18 minutes, until tender and golden brown. Some of the sauce is held back and drizzled over the baked cauliflower with fresh parsley and sesame seeds right before serving. It takes about 30 minutes, makes 4 servings, and goes well next to chicken or fried rice.
Spread the florets in an even layer on the baking sheet and stir them halfway through baking, so every piece gets time against the hot pan and browns evenly.
Serve Bang Bang Cauliflower alongside chicken paprikash, chicken marsala, or Mandarin chicken. It also goes well with Schezwan fried rice or spinach stew.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I know when the cauliflower is done?
Bake the florets at 500 degrees for about 18 minutes, stirring halfway through. They are done when they are tender and golden brown on the edges.
How much of the sauce should I save for the end?
Pour almost all of the Bang Bang Sauce over the florets and toss until they are fully coated, then keep the rest back. That reserved sauce gets drizzled over the baked cauliflower with the parsley and sesame seeds right before serving.
What can I use instead of Frank’s RedHot Sweet Chili Sauce?
The recipe is written for Frank’s RedHot Sweet Chili Sauce, which contains added sugar. For a version with no added sugar, the recipe notes link to a homemade sweet chili sauce made with a sugar substitute, and you can use it in place of the Frank’s.
Why you’ll love this 30-minute baked cauliflower recipe
- The sauce is sweet, spicy, and tangy, made from sweet chili sauce, hot sauce, lime juice, and garlic powder.
- About 30 minutes from start to finish, and 18 of those minutes are in the oven.
- Grated Parmesan goes on before baking, so it bakes right onto the florets.
- It bakes on one sheet pan and goes well next to chicken, fried rice, or a stew.
More vegetable side dishes to try
Here are more vegetable sides from Real Balanced:
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Bang Bang Cauliflower
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp 45mL avocado oil
- 2 tbsp 30mL Frank’s RedHot Sweet Chili Sauce (see substitution note below)
- 1 tbsp 15mL hot sauce
- Juice from 1 lime
- ¾ tsp garlic powder
- ⅛ tsp pepper
- 1 medium cauliflower, cut into florets
- ¼ cup 30g grated Parmesan cheese
Garnishes:
- Finely chopped fresh parsley
- Sprinkle of black sesame seeds or plain sesame seeds
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 500 degrees and line baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Prepare Bang Bang Sauce: In a small mixing bowl, whisk together avocado oil, sweet chili sauce, hot sauce, lime juice, garlic powder, and pepper.
- Prepare Cauliflower: To a large mixing bowl, add cauliflower florets then pour in almost all of the sauce, leaving some extra to drizzle on top of the baked cauliflower. Using a spoon, toss until florets are fully coated in sauce.
- Bake Cauliflower: Transfer florets to prepared baking sheet and arrange in even layer. Sprinkle florets with grated Parmesan then bake until tender and golden brown, about 18 minutes, stirring halfway through.
- Final Steps: Garnish with a drizzle of the remaining Bang Bang Sauce, the parsley, and a sprinkle of sesame seeds, then serve.
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