Firecracker Cauliflower

Step 1

Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a large (three-quarter) baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread out panko bread crumbs onto baking sheet in a very thin and even layer. You want all of the panko to bake evenly so you don't want your layer to be too thick. If your baking sheet is too small, you can use two baking sheets. Spray panko lightly and evenly with canola oil spray. Bake about 5 minutes until crumbs are a light golden brown. Allow crumbs to cool.

Step 2

Line a separate baking sheet with parchment paper. Take a cauliflower piece and coat it in whisked eggs, making sure to shake off any excess egg drippings before adding it to the panko bread crumbs (if the egg drippings get onto the panko, the panko will not stick to the ball). Place cauliflower onto sheet of panko crumbs. Dry your hands and scoop some panko over the cauliflower and press crumbs onto cauliflower. Remove cauliflower and place onto prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining cauliflower.

Step 3

Place cauliflower into oven and bake for about 15-20 minutes or until cauliflower are crispy and a dark golden brown.

Step 4

While cauliflower is cooking, make the sauce. Add sriracha, butter, brown sugar, vinegar and salt into a small saucepan and bring to a simmer. Stir and cook until everything is evenly mixed. Allow the sauce to simmer until it is slightly thickened and reduces by 1/ Taste and adjust as needed. If you like things spicy, add in the pepper flakes. In a small bowl, dissolve cornstarch in water. Pour into the sauce and immediately stir so that the cornstarch does not clump up. Bring sauce to a simmer again and cook until sauce thickens again (the bubbles should appear thicker and slower to pop when the sauce thickens). Your sauce should still be a liquid, but it should be a thick liquid so that it will cling and coat the cauliflower.

Step 5

Pour sauce over cauliflower right before serving. Garnish with scallions. The sauce will cause the cauliflower coating to lose its crispness soon after so it is best to wait until right before eating to add the sauce and to consume right away.