Bao buns have taken the culinary world by storm with their pillowy texture and ability to hold a multitude of delicious fillings. But have you ever tried them with a Korean twist? Imagine perfectly air-fried cauliflower coated in spicy, tangy gochujang sauce, within a soft, steamed bao buns. The flavors in this recipe go SO well together, and I’m super excited for you guys to try it!

I’m ALL About Shortcuts!

I know this recipe may seem intimidating due to the long list of ingredients, but when there is a recipe with 10 or more ingredients, I take as many shortcuts as possible! For example, I buy frozen bao buns with my local Asian grocery store. I also love to buy pre shredded carrots and cabbage from the produce section. They also have precut cauliflower florets if you want to save some extra time! You can use the leftovers in salads! Lastly, if I really don’t want to do extra work, I’ll buy spicy mayo from the grocery store! I know that a long list of ingredients makes it seem like recipes are exhausting, but these shortcuts will definitely save you some time and less dishes to wash!

Ingredient List

I know this ingredient list may seem super long to you, but I wanted to emphasize how practical these ingredients truly are. If you are a fan of Asian cuisine, or if you are in the early stages of learning new recipes, these are some pantry / fridge staples that you will need for most dishes. A lot of these ingredients go hand in hand and will be used in most recipes. A tub of gochujang will go a long way, and a bottle of rice vinegar will last you for months, if not years! I highly encourage you to go to your local Asian grocery store and pick up some good quality versions of these ingredients because they will make your food taste so much better 🙂

Other Recipes With Similar Ingredients

If you guys love this recipe, I have some other fun recipes with similar ingredients, but different flavors! My Korean Kimchi Tofu Sliders are such a delight, and pretty healthy for weeknight dinner! Adding kimchi to any recipes truly makes me happy!! Also check out my Vegetable Lo Mein, which I can eat almost any time, any day!! You can add any protein of your choice or double the veggies for more nutrients! 

I hope you guys love my Air Fried Gochujang Cauliflower Bao Buns! If you make this recipe, please be sure to tag @chocolateandcheeseplease in any Instagram stories! I would also love it if you could comment below and rate this recipe with your honest thoughts! If you haven’t seen me on Instagram yet, be sure to follow me and like the reel!

Air Fried Gochujang Cauliflower Bao Buns

Megha Patel

 

prep time:20 minutes mins

cook time:15 minutes mins

total time:35 minutes mins

servings:4 people

It's a handful to say but I promise these are so delicious!!

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Ingredients

Cauliflower + Batter

• 1/3 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 tbsp corn starch
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tbsp garlic powder
• 1/2 cup water (add additional tbsp if too thick)
• 2 cups cauliflower florets

Gochujang Sauce

• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tbsp gochujang
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp honey
• 4 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1 tsp rice vinegar
• 1 tsp gochugaru
• 1/2 tbsp corn starch

Spicy Mayo

• 1/4 cup kewpie mayo (or regular)
• 1 tbsp sriracha (or more per taste)
• 2 Thai chili peppers (finely chopped)

Assembly

• 8-10 bao buns
• carrots (shredded)
• red cabbage (shredded)
• cucumber (finely sliced)
• green onion (finely sliced)
• sesame seeds

Instructions

 

Cauliflower + Batter

• Start off by mixing all of these ingredients (minus the cauliflower) together in a large bowl. Once everything is mixed, throw in the cauliflower.
• Air-fry your battered cauliflower for about 7-10 minutes (or until the batter has hardened). Check and flip every few minutes.

Gochujang Sauce

• While the cauliflower is in the air fryer, add water to your pan on medium heat. Once hot, add in your gochujang, tomato paste, soy sauce and honey. Mix everything until it's combined and a sauce is formed.
• Add the garlic, rice vinegar, gochugaru, and corn starch to your sauce. It will start to thicken up. At this point, keep the heat on simmer (or turn heat off if the sauce starts to burn) until your cauliflower is ready.
• When the cauliflower is cooked, add it to your sauce and mix until it is completely coated.

Spicy Mayo

• Mix all ingredients together in a bowl.

Assembly

• To assemble, grab a bao bun. Add a generous layer of spicy mayo, followed by some shredded carrot, cabbage, sliced cucumber, and cauliflower.
• Garnish with green onion and sesame seeds!