Kung Pao Cauliflower
- Level: Easy
- Yield: 4 to 6 servings
-
- Nutritional Analysis
- Per Serving
- Serving Size
- 1 of 6 servings
- Calories
- 195
- Total Fat
- 8
- Saturated Fat
- 1
- Carbohydrates
- 26
- Dietary Fiber
- 3
- Sugar
- 4
- Protein
- 6
- Cholesterol
- 62
- Sodium
- 447
- Total: 45 min
- Active: 45 min
Ingredients
1/4 cup sweet chili sauce
1 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
2 tablespoons vegetable oil, plus more for frying
3 scallions, thinly sliced, white and green parts separated
1 medium jalapeño, thinly sliced
One 1-inch piece ginger, minced
2 large eggs
3/4 cup cornstarch
1 medium head cauliflower (about 2 pounds), cut into florets (6 to 7 cups)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
1 tablespoon roasted and salted peanuts, roughly chopped
Directions
Special equipment:
a deep fry thermometer- Whisk together the sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, vinegar and sesame oil in a medium bowl.
- Heat the vegetable oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the scallion whites and jalapeños and cook, stirring, until the jalapeños are soft and the seeds start to turn golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the ginger and cook, stirring, until soft, about 1 minute. Reduce the heat to medium and stir in the chili sauce mixture. Bring a boil and let cook until slightly thickened, 1 to 2 minutes. Set aside and keep warm.
- Fill a large heavy-bottom pot, fitted with a deep fry thermometer, with 2-inches of oil and heat the oil to 350 degrees F over medium-high heat. Set a wire rack in a rimmed baking sheet.
- Whisk together the eggs, cornstarch and 1 tablespoon water in a medium bowl. Fold in the cauliflower until well coated in the batter. Add one-third of the cauliflower to the oil with a slotted spoon and fry, stirring as needed and adjusting the heat to maintain temperature, until golden, crispy and tender on the inside, about 6 minutes. Remove the cauliflower with the slotted spoon and transfer to the rack. Sprinkle with salt. Fry the remaining cauliflower, in 2 more batches, making sure the temperature of the oil comes back to 350 degrees F between each batch.
- Add the fried cauliflower, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper to the sauce and gently toss to coat well. Transfer to a serving platter and sprinkle with cilantro, peanuts and the reserved scallion greens.