Ingredients
Method
Prepare the Cauliflower
- Cut cauliflower into uniform 1.5-inch florets. Pat completely dry with paper towels and let sit on clean kitchen towels for 10 minutes to remove excess moisture.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, salt, and garlic powder. Gradually add cold water, whisking until smooth. The batter should coat the back of a spoon.
- Heat oil in a large, heavy pot to 375°F. Use a candy thermometer to monitor temperature.
Make the Sauce
- While oil heats, combine honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, grated ginger, and minced garlic in a small saucepan.
- In a small bowl, whisk cornstarch and 2 tablespoons water until smooth. Set aside.
- Bring honey mixture to a simmer over medium heat. Whisk in cornstarch slurry and cook for 1-2 minutes until sauce thickens slightly. Remove from heat and keep warm.
Fry and Serve
- Working in batches, dip cauliflower florets in batter, letting excess drip off. Carefully add to hot oil, frying 3-4 minutes until golden and crispy.
- Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Repeat with remaining cauliflower, maintaining oil temperature between batches.
- Transfer hot cauliflower to a large bowl and pour warm sauce over top. Toss gently to coat evenly.
- Garnish with sesame seeds and sliced scallions. Serve immediately while hot and crispy.
Notes
For extra crispiness, you can double-fry the cauliflower: fry once for 2-3 minutes, drain, then fry again for 1-2 minutes until golden. The sauce can be made up to 3 days ahead and reheated gently before serving. If you don't have a deep thermometer, test oil temperature by dropping in a small amount of batter - it should sizzle immediately and float to the surface.
