Sweet Heat Chicken Cauli Bowls with Cabbage-Carrot Rice & Pickled Cucumber

Saucy cauliflower is the star of this bowl, making it a perfect vegan dinner idea! Here, you’ll roast florets until crisp and golden, then coat them in a jammy, garlicky sweet-hot glaze. Nestle the saucy cauli over a steaming bowl of veggie-loaded rice with tangy pickled cukes on the side. This bowl’s got all the bold flavors you crave, without the meat: Witness the power of cauliflower!

Prep: 35 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Servings: 4

Ingredients

2 servings 4 servings
  • 1 mini cucumber
  • 10 oz cauliflower florets
  • 2 scallions
  • 1 ginger
  • 1 garlic
  • 0.5 cups jasmine rice
  • 4 oz red cabbage and carrot mix
  • 5 tsp rice wine vinegar
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1 apricot jam
  • 4 tbsp sweet soy glaze
  • 1 tsp sriracha
  • 6 tsp cooking oil
  • 0.25 tsp sugar
  • salt
  • pepper
  • 10 oz chopped chicken breast
  • 2 mini cucumbers
  • 20 oz cauliflower florets
  • 4 scallions
  • 2 gingers
  • 2 garlics
  • 1 cup jasmine rice
  • 8 oz red cabbage and carrot mix
  • 10 tsp rice wine vinegar
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • 2 apricot jams
  • 8 tbsp sweet soy glaze
  • 2 tsp sriracha
  • 6 tsp cooking oil
  • 0.5 tsp sugar
  • salt
  • pepper
  • 20 oz chopped chicken breast

Instructions

  1. • Adjust rack to top position and preheat oven
    to 425 degrees. Wash and dry produce.
    • Halve cucumber lengthwise; slice into
    ¼-inch-thick half-moons. Cut cauliflower
    into bite-size pieces. Trim scallions; mince
    whites and slice greens on a diagonal into
    ½-inch pieces. Peel and mince or grate
    ginger. Peel and mince or grate garlic.
  2. • In a small bowl, combine cucumber,
    vinegar, ¼ tsp sugar (½ tsp for 4 servings),
    and a pinch of salt. Set aside to pickle.
    Open package of chicken and drain off
    any excess liquid. Heat a drizzle of oil
    in a medium pan over medium-high
    heat (use a large pan for 4 servings). Add
    chicken or turkey and season with salt
    and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently,
    until browned and cooked through,
    4-6 minutes. Turn off heat; transfer to a
    plate. Wipe out pan.
  3. • Toss cauliflower on a baking sheet with a
    large drizzle of oil, salt, and pepper. Roast
    on top rack until tender, 20-25 minutes.
  4. • Meanwhile, heat a drizzle of oil in a small
    pot over medium-high heat. Add scallion
    whites and cook, stirring occasionally, until
    fragrant and softened, 1 minute.
    • Add rice, ¾ cup water (1½ cups for
    4 servings), and a pinch of salt. Bring
    to a boil, then cover and reduce to a
    low simmer. Cook until rice is tender,
    15-18 minutes. Keep covered off heat
    until ready to serve.
  5. • While rice cooks, heat a drizzle of oil in a
    medium pan over medium-high heat. Add
    scallion greens; cook, stirring, until fragrant,
    1 minute.
    • Add cabbage and carrot mix; cook,
    stirring occasionally, until scallions are
    slightly charred and veggies are tender,
    3-4 minutes. Turn off heat; transfer to a
    plate. Wipe out pan.
    Use pan used for chicken or turkey here.
  6. • In a second small bowl, whisk together half
    the cornstarch and ¼ cup cold water
    (all the cornstarch and ½ cup cold water for
    4 servings) until no lumps remain. Set aside.
    • Heat a drizzle of oil in pan used for veggies
    over medium heat. Add ginger and garlic;
    cook, stirring occasionally, until fragrant,
    30 seconds.
    • Stir in jam, sweet soy glaze, cornstarch
    mixture, and as much Sriracha as you like.
    Cook, stirring constantly, until thickened
    and syrupy, 2-3 minutes. Reduce heat to
    low. TIP: Add water a splash at a time if
    sauce seems too thick.
    • When cauliflower is done roasting, add to
    pan with sauce; stir until thoroughly coated.
    Stir chicken or turkey into sauce along
    with cauliflower.
  7. • Stir cabbage mixture into pot with rice.
    • Divide rice between shallow bowls. Top with
    saucy cauliflower and pickled cucumber
    (draining first). Serve.
    Chicken is fully cooked when internal temperature reaches 165°.