Sweet And Sour Cauliflower

Bright and colorful, sweet and sour cauliflower that’s super-fast to make!

This sweet and sour cauliflower recipe is ideal for meatless Monday, super-fast to prepare and make for a flavorful meal when served over a bed of white rice.  

Health Benefits of Cauliflower

We absolutely love cauliflower in our home, and it is considered one of the healthiest foods. Cauliflower is filled with vitamin K which is essential for blood clot, and it is great for your bones. 

In addition to being filled with vitamin K, Cauliflower also helps to reduce the risk of cancer, as well as heart and brain disorders. 

Cauliflower also helps get rid of toxins as well as helps to strengthen your immune system.

Deriving from the Latin word caulis, cauliflower means flower and belongs to the Brassicaceae family. 

Cauliflower is also rich in niacin, fiber, Vitamin B6, folate, potassium, and thiamin, to name a few. 

The Ingredients

Cauliflower stir-fry pieces of tender florets, sauteed leeks and red bell pepper strips, then toss in a delicious mildly tangy sauce.

Prepared with store-bought sweet and sour sauce but is elevated to make you feel like you’ve just ordered from a five-star restaurant.

This cauliflower dish is not overly sweet and is not sour to make you squint your eyes. 

Coated generously in an egg and corn starch mixture, then is added in a sticky, mildly tangy sauce, providing you with a perfect sweet-sour balance!

This budget friendly meal is made with just a few simple ingredients.

Cauliflower: Cut the cauliflower florets into bite size pieces. It is best to use fresh cauliflower instead of frozen cauliflower. The frozen cause flower will not fry well as it is too wet. 

Oil For Frying: Use vegetable oil, peanut oil, or Canola oil to fry the cauliflower. 

Egg white and Corn Starch: Help the cauliflower to brown while frying, and keep it from falling apart, while keeping the outer layer crispy. 

Salt and Pepper: To season the dish. You may also use soy sauce if desired.  

Lemon Juice: Provide a mild acidic flavor to the dish. 

Bell Pepper and Leeks: Leeks have an oniony flavor which works well in this dish. They are also related to chives, garlic, and shallots. They provide some depth to many dishes, particularly in this Swedish Potato Salad. Any bell pepper (color) will work. 

Sweet And Sour Sauce: For this recipe, we used a store-bought sweet and sour sauce. However, a homemade version will also work.

How To Make It 

This meal is made in one pan! Small pieces of cauliflower that’s briefly fried in a saucepan or wok to provide a browned surface crust to the vegetable. 

With this recipe there’s no need to double fry the cauliflower, here’s how to make it: 

Start by cutting out the florets into bite size pieces. In a medium size bowl, add the corn starch then add in the florets. Mix well until they are all coated. 

Heat 1 cup of oil in a large saucepan or wok. Coat the cauliflower florets in the egg whites (a few batches at a time).

Then fry until the cauliflower is light brown at 375 degrees. Not all the cauliflower will brown while frying. This will not change the recipe or texture of the dish. 

Once the all the cauliflower has browned, reduce the heat to medium and add in the leeks, bell pepper, and garlic. Stir well and cook for 30 seconds. 

Next, add in the sweet and sour sauce and add in the cauliflower florets. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Continue to stir to combine and serve over a bed or white rice and enjoy. 

Recipe Variations

You may opt in for onions if you are not a fan of leeks. Scallions, shallots, and or green onions will also work. 

Experiment with the dish by adding in the following vegetables or ingredients listed below. 

Sliced carrots

Snap peas

Broccoli 

Pineapples

Zucchini 

Sweet peas.

Bake Instead Of Deep Fry

For a healthier option, instead of deep frying the cauliflower, bake the cauliflower until golden brown at 375 degrees for 20 minutes; flipping halfway through to crisp on both sides. 

To bake the cauliflower, mix the egg whites and cornstarch together. Then add in the cauliflower to the mixture.

Mix well to combine then place the cauliflower in a cookie sheet. Spray with oil and bake until golden brown. 

Recipe Tips and Tricks 

Use freshly squeezed lemon juice to liven up the sauce. 

It is best to cut the cauliflower to similar size so that they can cook evenly. If you are cutting back or cutting down on calories, we recommend you skip the frying.

Simply sauté the cauliflower in olive oil for about 10 minutes. If you want to cut back on calories, you can skip the frying. After sauteing, 

Add some heat to the dish by adding either cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes. 1

Store leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container. When ready to eat, simply reheat the dish in the microwave. 

More Fuss Free Cauliflower Recipes To Try 

Once you are done trying this delicious sweet and sour cauliflower recipe, take meal prepping to the next level and expand your dinner options. 

Below are some of our favorite dishes that are fuss free and requires little to no real work. 

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