• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Her Wholesome Kitchen
  • All Recipes
  • Salads
  • eBooks
  • About
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • All Recipes
  • Salads
  • eBooks
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • All Recipes
    • Salads
    • eBooks
    • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Vegan

    Baked Sweet and Sour Cauliflower

    Updated: Feb 1, 2022 » This post may contain affiliate links » By: Megan » 2 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    This sweet and sour cauliflower is oven baked cauliflower coated in a classic sticky sweet and sour sauce. It's a twist on a takeout classic that's lighter, healthier, and vegan.

    sweet and sour baked cauliflower
    Jump to:
    • About
    • Ingredients
    • Substitutions
    • Instructions
    • FAQ
    • More Takeout-Inspired Recipes
    • Comments

    About

    This recipe is an easy, simple way to make sweet and sour cauliflower that's ready in 30 minutes. The flavors mimic traditional sweet and sour chicken, but the sauce is lightened up and the chicken is swapped for cauliflower.

    The Best Sweet & Sour Sauce

    The best part of this recipe is the sauce: it's sticky, thick and just the right balance of sweet and sour.

    The sauce gets poured over the crispy cauliflower, which is oven-roasted (not fried), and coats all the nooks and crannies of the cauliflower perfectly!

    For more of our favorite veggie-fied vegan dinners (with only 5 ingredients!), check out: Roasted Cauliflower Steaks and Jackfruit Pulled Pork.

    sweet and sour baked cauliflower

    Ingredients

    • Cauliflower 
    • Olive oil 
    • Cornstarch 
    • Pure maple syrup
    • Ketchup
    • Soy sauce
    • Apple cider vinegar
    • Garlic powder

    Substitutions

    • Oil: avocado oil, olive oil, or any high-heat oil will work best for this recipe.
    • Cornstarch: substitute tapioca flour or arrowroot flour for a similar texture.
    • Maple syrup: honey can also be used.
    • Soy sauce: swap with coconut aminos or tamari sauce to make this recipe gluten free.
    sweet and sour baked cauliflower

    Instructions

    1. Preheat the oven to 425° Fahrenheit. 
    2. Prepare the cauliflower: remove any leaves from the cauliflower and chop into bite-sized florets. In a medium bowl, toss the cauliflower with the oil. Then toss the cauliflower with 1 tablespoon cornstarch. 
    3. Bake the cauliflower: add the cauliflower in one layer on a foil or parchment paper lined baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes, flip and bake for 5 - 10 minutes more, until the cauliflower is browned (it will be dark brown in some spots) and cooked through. 
    4. Make the sauce: as the cauliflower cooks, make the sauce. In a small bowl, stir together the maple syrup, ketchup, soy sauce, vinegar and garlic powder. 
    5. Cook the sauce: in a small skillet over medium high heat, bring the sauce to a boil. Turn the heat to low and simmer. In a small bowl, mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of water. Pour this mixture into the sauce and simmer 3 - 5 more minutes, until the sauce has thickened.
    6. Serve: in a large bowl, gently toss the cauliflower in the sauce. Optionally, serve with a side of white rice and topped with green onions & sesame seeds.

    FAQ

    How long should I bake the cauliflower for?

    Bake the cauliflower for 10 minutes, flip it and then bake for 5 - 10 minutes more. Your cauliflower will be dark brown in some spots and should be cooked though.

    How can I make my sauce thicker?

    To make your sauce thicker, simmer it for a couple minutes more. If it is still not thick enough, add an additional mix of 1 tablespoon cornstarch and 1 tablespoon water.

    How can I make my sauce more sour or sweet?

    Taste the sauce when done and adjust accordingly: to make it more sour, add additional apple cider vinegar; to make it sweeter, add maple syrup.

    sweet and sour baked cauliflower

    More Takeout-Inspired Recipes

    If you like this recipe, you’ll love these other plant-based, takeout-inspired favorites!

    • Sticky Sesame Tofu
    • Sticky Sesame Cauliflower
    • Orange Tofu
    • Orange Cauliflower
    Print
    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
    sweet and sour baked cauliflower

    Sweet and Sour Cauliflower


    ★★★★★

    5 from 2 reviews

    • Author: Megan
    • Total Time: 30 minutes
    • Yield: 3 - 4 servings 1x
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Description

    This sweet and sour cauliflower is oven baked cauliflower coated in a classic sticky sweet and sour sauce. It's a twist on a takeout classic that's lighter, healthier, and vegan.


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 1 head cauliflower (cut into florets)
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil (or avocado oil)
    • 2 tablespoons cornstarch (divided (or tapioca flour))
    • ¼ cup pure maple syrup
    • ⅓ cup ketchup
    • 3 tablespoons soy sauce (or coconut aminos, tamari sauce)
    • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder

    Instructions

    1. Preheat the oven to 425° Fahrenheit. 
    2. Prepare the cauliflower: remove any leaves from the cauliflower and chop into bite-sized florets. In a medium bowl, toss the cauliflower with the oil. Then toss the cauliflower with 1 tablespoon cornstarch. 
    3. Bake the cauliflower: add the cauliflower in one layer on a foil or parchment paper lined baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes, flip and bake for 5 - 10 minutes more, until the cauliflower is browned (it will be dark brown in some spots) and cooked through. 
    4. Make the sauce: as the cauliflower cooks, make the sauce. In a small bowl, stir together the maple syrup, ketchup, soy sauce, vinegar and garlic powder. 
    5. Cook the sauce: in a small skillet over medium high heat, bring the sauce to a boil. Turn the heat to low and simmer. In a small bowl, mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of water. Pour this mixture into the sauce and simmer 3 - 5 more minutes, until the sauce has thickened.
    6. Serve: in a large bowl, gently toss the cauliflower in the sauce. Optionally, serve with a side of white rice and topped with green onions & sesame seeds.
    • Prep Time: 5 minutes
    • Cook Time: 25 minutes
    • Category: Main Course
    • Cuisine: Asian-Inspired

    Nutrition

    • Calories: 229
    • Sugar: 24.2
    • Sodium: 1229
    • Fat: 9.6
    • Saturated Fat: 1.4
    • Carbohydrates: 35.3
    • Fiber: 2.5
    • Protein: 4

    Keywords: asian inspired, cauliflower, dinner, sweet and sour, takeout

    Did you make this recipe?

    Share a photo and tag us @her.wholesome.kitchen — we can't wait to see what you've made!

    More Vegan

    • Spring roll salad with peanut sauce.
      Spring Roll Salad
    • Edamame crunch salad with peanuts.
      Edamame Crunch Salad
    • Southwest quinoa salad with avocado.
      Southwest Quinoa Salad
    • Black bean stuffed sweet potato.
      Black Bean Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Mary S.

      October 03, 2021 at 12:09 pm

      5 stars
      Can't believe how good this was!! Have already made it twice! Tastes like takeout... 🙂

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    2. Mike

      November 11, 2023 at 11:40 pm

      Hi Megan, this looks really nice and I’ll be trying it soon (just need to get some more apple cider vinegar) but do you this would also if I used a mix of cauliflower and broccoli? Just thinking it might be nice to have the extra veggie.

      Also is it healthier to use good honey (I use organic Manuka honey from New Zealand) or maple syrup (the real stuff)? Which has more calories and/or is higher in fructose? (I’ll google this as well but interested to get your take on it)

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆
    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Megan! I love to share easy salad recipes that taste amazing!

    Browse all recipes here →

    Footer

    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Story Explorer
    Disclaimer: Her Wholesome Kitchen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. If you purchase through one of our links, we may earn a commission at no cost to you.

    Copyright © 2025 HER WHOLESOME KITCHEN LLC