This Jamaican Jerk Cauliflower is inspired by the popular Jamaican Jerk dishes. Cauliflower florets are seasoned and baked, then smothered in homemade Jamaican Jerk Sauce that is full of bold and indulgent flavors.
Jamaican Jerk chicken was very popular. It was sold mostly as a street food, enjoyed by the locals and tourists alike. 19 years ago, I stopped eating meat so I had to resort to making my own jerk sauce to add to tofu or vegetables.
This version of Jamaican Jerk recipe is my own, I tried to make it as natural as possible using fresh ingredients. From memory, the sauce has several variations to it. The main base ingredients are allspice, thyme, green onions and scotch bonnet peppers.
Batter:
Jerk Sauce:
Jamaican Jerk chicken was very popular. It was sold mostly as a street food, enjoyed by the locals and tourists alike. 19 years ago, I stopped eating meat so I had to resort to making my own jerk sauce to add to tofu or vegetables.
This version of Jamaican Jerk recipe is my own, I tried to make it as natural as possible using fresh ingredients. From memory, the sauce has several variations to it. The main base ingredients are allspice, thyme, green onions and scotch bonnet peppers.
Ingredients:
- 1 medium head cauliflower, cut into small florets
Batter:
- 1/2 cup unsweetened non-dairy milk, (I use almond milk) or vegan mayo
- 1/2 cup brown rice flour, or other gluten-free flour
- 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast flakes
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- Pinch of turmeric
- 1 teaspoon salt
Jerk Sauce:
- 2 spring onions, roughly chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, chopped
- 2 teaspoons grated ginger
- 6 allspice berries
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, (optional)
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/4 Scotch Bonnet, or habanero pepperseeds removed and discarded (optional)
- 1/4 cup Bragg's liquid aminos, Tamari soy sauce (gluten-free)
- 1/4 cup tomato sauce
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 1/4 cup raw cane sugar, or more to taste
- 2 tablespoons molasses
- 1 lime, juiced
- spring onions, for garnish
Instructions:
- Preheat oven 400 degrees. Lightly grease and line baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside
- Combine batter ingredients in a bowl and whisk to form a loose batter, may need to add some water.
- Dip florets into batter one by one and place onto the baking sheet. Spray or brush with oil. Bake for 30 minutes until golden brown and crispy, turning halfway.
- While cauliflower is baking, prepare the sauce.
- Place all the ingredients for the sauce in a high speed blender or food processor. Process until smooth.
- Pour sauce into a medium saucepan on medium heat. Cook stirring constantly until sauce thickens, about 3-5 minutes.
- Toss cauliflower florets with sauce.Delicious served with rice and peas!
