Spicy Peanut Cauliflower Stir-Fry

This spicy-as-you-want-to-make-it cauliflower peanut stir-fry is a hearty vegan dinner recipe. Serve it with rice or quinoa or a complete meal!

Made with a spicy peanut sauce, fresh crunchy cauliflower, and bright red bell peppers, this easy vegan recipe is ready in less than 20 minutes from start to finish.

How to make cauliflower stir-fry

This stir-fry is a tasty way to enjoy cauliflower with crunchy peanuts and a creamy vegan sauce.

Saute the cauliflower

Prep the cauliflower by breaking it into florets of the same size. This is essential for the cauliflower to cook evenly. 

Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Saute the cauliflower until golden brown and fork-tender. This will take 5-7 minutes. But don’t turn it too often – just once or twice is all you need.

TIP: Add the cauliflower in batches. Crowding the pan will cause the cauliflower to steam, not brown. You want the caramelized flavor.

The red bell pepper adds a nice sweetness. It cooks quickly so add it only when the cauliflower is about ready.

Make the sauce.

Start with room temperature, all-natural peanut butter. Whisk in the spices, soy sauce, vinegar, sriracha or chili sauce, sugar, and sesame oil until combined and smooth. If the sauce is too thick, add hot water, 1 tablespoon at a time.

TIP: Grate the ginger. I like to use my Microplane to create a ginger paste. Mincing will take forever and will leave you with chunks of ginger versus a well-spiced, smooth sauce.

Will almond butter work? It should. Natural almond butter tends to be a bit more grainy so you might need to puree it in a blender versus whisking to get it smooth. You can also do this with cashews.

Sauce it up!

Add the sauce to the vegetables and stir until it’s all heated through. Be sure to reserve some of the sauce for dipping. 

Once the peanut sauce is in the pan you’re on burn watch. 

Don’t walk away. 

Once it’s hot, remove the pan from the heat. Add chopped, salted peanuts and garnishes.

Difference between sesame and toasted sesame oil

Sesame oil can be both virgin and refined. It’s a light-tasting oil that’s great for stir-fry dishes and sautes. 

When people mention sesame oil, they are often talking about toasted sesame oil.

Toasted sesame oil has a very strong flavor. It has a distinct aroma – of warm, slow-roasted sesame seeds. It adds a toasted nutty flavor to Asian dishes. I am a fan. 

But a little goes a long way. For this recipe, I recommend no more than 1 tablespoon in the sauce and that may be pushing it honestly. So you can start with less based on your preferences.

Store toasted sesame oil in the refrigerator to maintain freshness. 

Is this recipe spicy?

Not really. But you can add more sriracha or chili sauce to the dish to spice it up. Make it as spicy as you want!

Is this recipe gluten-free?

To make this recipe gluten-free, opt for coconut aminos instead of soy sauce. Soy sauce usually contains gluten. If you can’t find coconut aminos (or it’s just too expensive), buy tamari. Tamari is a gluten-free free soy sauce that works great in this recipe.

Serve this cauliflower stir-fry with…

Brown rice, quinoa, or chickpea pasta noodles for a filling protein boost. All of these keep the recipe vegan and gluten-free. But you can certainly add any side item you like or even eat it solo.

Want more protein? Add cooked tofu, edamame, shrimp, or chicken to the stir-fry.

Try my Easy Vegan Weeknight Stir-Fry for another quick and healthy meal!