How to Wok Cauliflower? Several ways

Cauliflower is a large round cabbage of flower buds. It is one of the most famous vegetables in the Netherlands. Cauliflower can be prepared in many ways. In this blog, we are going to stir-fry cauliflower. So the big question is how do we stir-fry cauliflower?

First cut and wash cauliflower.  Depending on the dish, blanch cauliflower for 2 minutes. Then stir fry at a high temperature for about 5 minutes. Add any additional ingredients and sauce and stir fry for 3 minutes. 

Cauliflower is a vegetable that can be used in many ways. Many herbs and seasonings come into their own with cauliflower. Do you want to know which herbs can go with cauliflower? Then read our blog ‘ Which Herbs For Cauliflower? ‘.

The first in this blog is to discuss how to cut and clean cauliflower.  

With cauliflower, first remove the large leaves that are hiding the cauliflower. These leaves ensure that the cabbage remains white during growth.  

Then cut away the florets around the trunk. Do this with a sharp knife. You can make large florets and small florets. The large florets take longer to cook, but they look great on a platter at a buffet or dinner. 

During your work in the kitchen, good and sharp knives are essential. This makes work fun and easy. This knife block on bol.com is highly recommended! 

Now the florets can be rinsed in a colander under the tap to rinse off any sand. 

Smaller cauliflower florets are fine for stir-frying. Before stir-frying cauliflower, the florets are first blanched. 

Cauliflower Blanching

To stir-fry cauliflower, it is best to blanch it beforehand. Place a pan of water on the heat source and bring it to a boil. Place the cauliflower florets in a large sieve (colander is also possible) and place the sieve in the water. Let the cauliflower cook for about 3 minutes and remove it immediately from the pan.

This is blanching. Brief cooking of vegetables in preparation of a dish. In this case wok. 

Cauliflower Wok

Stir-frying is a technique for cooking cauliflower, in this case, for a short time and over high heat. If you want to stir-fry well, a wok with a wide rising edge and a solid bottom is recommended. Are you going to wok for the first time or are you ready for a new one, check out these top pans on bol.com? It will make wok cooking easier!. 

Place a wok on the stove or other heat source and add sunflower oil. Make this hot. Add cauliflower and stir or ‘turn’ it. The time of wok cooking in about 3 minutes.

Cauliflower is often stir-fried with other vegetables and seasonings, which lengthens the stir-frying time. The more in the pan, the longer it takes to cook.  

Cauliflower Wok Recipe

Below are 4 recipes for stir-frying cauliflower with herbs and other seasonings. It can be fun to experiment with herbs and other vegetables. Look in your fridge what you have lying around and try this out. It might be a surprise what you made of it. Good luck and have fun. 

Cauliflower Wok Ketjap

Preparation for 4 people: Prepare all ingredients in bowls. You don’t always have to take it off to get things ready. 

• 600 grams cauliflower, cut into small florets or slices and blanched. 
• 2 onion, chopped 
• 2 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced 
• 4 tbsp sunflower oil 
• 6 tbsp soy sauce manis  
• 2 spring onions cut into rings ringen 

Preparation method: 

1. Place the wok on a heat source and let the sunflower oil get hot.  
2. Add the onion and fry it for a while. 
3. Add the garlic to the onion and fry for a while. Keep stirring. 
4. Now the blanched cauliflower can be added. Stir this all together and fry on high heat. Keep stirring so it doesn’t burn. 
5. After 5 minutes, turn the heat to medium-high and add the ketjap manis. You can add more if you like. Taste in between to see if it is to your liking.  
6. Serve the cauliflower and sprinkle the spring onions over it. Looks nice on your plate and tastes delicious! 

Stir-frying cauliflower with ketjap is delicious with brown rice and cucumber from sweet and sour, for example. 

Cauliflower Stir-fry Herbs

Prepare all the ingredients in bowls, so you don’t have to take them off every time to prepare a few things. For 4 people you need the following ingredients. The quantities per spoon are level spoons.

• 600 grams small cauliflower florets, blanched 
• 2 onions, chopped small 
• 1 can of tomato puree 
• 1 tsp chives 
• 2 onions, chopped small
• 1 tsp thyme 
• 1 tsp rosemary 
• 4 tbsp sunflower oil
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1 garden herb stock cube or vegetable 
• 100 ml of water approximately 

Preparation method: 

1. Place the wok on the heat source and heat a dash of sunflower oil.  
2. Add the onions and fry until translucent.
3. Add the spices and stir in the cauliflower florets. Heat it well on high heat for about 5 minutes. Keep stirring otherwise it will go too fast.  
4. Stir in the tomato puree and fry for 3 minutes over medium heat. This will make the puree a little sweeter. You are meant to keep stirring.  
5. Crumble the stock cube over the wok and add the water, little by little. If it becomes too watery, stop adding water or add more if it becomes too dry. Stir well and heat the cauliflower with herbs well. 
6. Taste to see if the cauliflower is cooked enough, otherwise leave it on the heat source for a while. 
7. Serve the cauliflower on a nice plate or scoop it from the pan onto your plate. Delicious with baked potatoes. 

Cauliflower Wok Curry

It’s handy to have all the ingredients ready so that you can go through in one go and don’t have to get off to grab things. Have fun cooking! 

Necessities: 

• 600 grams small cauliflower florets, blanched 
• 2 onions sliced 
• 2 cloves of garlic or 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp coconut oil or sunflower oil
• 1 tbsp curry powder 
• pepper and salt
• 1 tbsp turmeric

Preparation method: 

1. Place a wok on a heat source and heat the coconut oil.  
2. Add the onions and fry until translucent.  
3. Add all the spices to the onions and stir well. If it gets too dry, you can add some coconut oil.  
4. Add the cauliflower florets to the onions and stir well so that the cauliflower is nicely covered by the herbs.  
5. Add salt and pepper. Taste what you think of your homemade cauliflower and add spices or salt and pepper if you feel you should.  

You can eat this tasty cauliflower with potatoes or rice.  

Cauliflower Wok Minced Meat

You can also stir-fry cauliflower with minced meat. In this recipe we use vegan minced meat.

Necessities: 

• 600 grams blanched cauliflower florets
• 250 grams of vegan minced meat 
• 2 cloves garlic or 2 level tsp Garlic powder (I like it) 
• 1 tsp onion powder
• a handful of Violife grated cheese 
• 1 tsp rosemary or chives 
• parsley
• 1 tbsp coconut oil or sunflower oil

Preparation method:  

1. Place a wok on the heat source and heat the coconut oil. Add the minced meat and fry it.
2. Add garlic and stir it in. The other herbs can now also be added. Stir this well too. If it all gets too dry, you can add some coconut oil to make it a bit smoother. 
3. Add the cauliflower florets to the minced meat and turn the heat to medium high and let it stand for 5 minutes. Stir occasionally to keep it from burning.  
4. Finally, you can stir in a handful of cheese and let it melt. Stir it well and serve. You can still put it in the oven if you want, but you don’t have to. It also tastes so very good.

Enjoy this tasty meal! 

As you can see, there are several options for stir-frying cauliflower. You can try out your own spice combinations. A one-pan dish with a wok is quick and easy. Have fun cooking!