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    Home » Instant Pot Recipes (Pressure Cooker)

    Instant Pot Kung Pao Cauliflower

    Published: Jan 15, 2026, by TheAirFryingDiva, This post may contain affiliate or amazon links.
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    Instant Pot Kung Pao Cauliflower, savory, sweet, and somewhat spicy cauliflower florets pressure cooked to perfection in 20 minutes.
    See The Recipe

    This Instant Pot Kung Pao Cauliflower takes less than 20 minutes to put together.

    Made with cauliflower florets pressure cooked with Kung Pao ingredients, this dish has the perfect balance of savory, sweet, and somewhat spicy flavors surrounding cauliflower that has a texture like chicken.

    Instant Pot Kung Pao Cauliflower, savory, sweet, and somewhat spicy cauliflower florets pressure cooked to perfection in 20 minutes.

    What you will read about in this recipe.

    • What makes Kung Pao so good?
    • What you need to make Kung Pao Cauliflower.
    • How to Make Instant Pot Kung Pao Cauliflower
    • Tips for making the best Kung Pao Cauliflower"
    • How to store Kung Pao Cauliflower
    • Print the recipe for Instant Pot Kung Pao Cauliflower

    What makes Kung Pao so good?

    Kung Pao, usually made with chicken, is a classic Sichuan Chinese dish known for its perfect balance of sweet, spicy, savory, and tangy flavors coming together in a mouthwatering good meal.

    I like that this recipe can be made easily in a pressure cooker and as a vegan or vegetarian friendly option.

    Have you tried my Instant Pot Tofu Curry?

    Made with extra firm tofu and chopped ginger, that simple recipe has a nice combination of sweet, savory, and spicy flavors in a creamy sauce. Both this recipe for Kung Pao Cauliflower and that recipe for Tofu Curry are great tasting vegan diet friendly recipes that can be made in an Instant Pot.

    Hoisin sauce helps to give this recipe a savory flavor. You can find hoisin sauce here.

    Instant Pot Kung Pao Cauliflower, savory, sweet, and somewhat spicy cauliflower florets pressure cooked to perfection in 20 minutes.

    What you need to make Kung Pao Cauliflower.

    • Cauliflower Rinsed and broken down into florets.
    • Seasonings Ginger Powder and Garlic Powder.
    • Brown Sugar Added as a sweet element used in this recipe.
    • Water. Used as a base in the sauce.
    • Sauces Soy Sauce and Hoisin Sauce.
    • Rice Vinegar. Adds a tangy element.
    • Sesame Oil For flavor and moisture.
    • Slurry. Cornstarch and Water helps to thicken the sauce.
    • Garnish. Peanuts and chopped Green Onions.
    Instant Pot Kung Pao Cauliflower, savory, sweet, and somewhat spicy cauliflower florets pressure cooked to perfection in 20 minutes.

    How to Make Instant Pot Kung Pao Cauliflower

    • Prep Time: 15 minutes .
    • Pressure Cook Time: 2 minutes .
    • Servings: 4.
    • How to Serve: over rice or noodles.
    • Notes: You will need bowls, a slotted spoon, and a whisk .

    1. Toss. Place your cauliflower florets into a large bowl. In a small bowl, use a whisk or a fork to combine together the ginger, a half cup of water, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, and sesame oil. Pour half of this mixture over the cauliflower, toss the ingredients, and repeat this process with the remaining mixture.
    2. Instant Pot. Transfer the tossed ingredients to your Instant Pot. Close and lock the lid and set the steam valve to 'sealing'.
    3. Cook. Cook the ingredients on manual / high pressure fortwo minutes and then immediately release the pressure . Use a slotted spoon to scoop out the cauliflower and transfer it to a serving bowl, leaving the liquid in the cooker.
    4. Sauté Set you pressure cooker to sauté mode. In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and remaining water (two tablespoons) until combined and then add it to the pot. Simmer the sauce until thickened (about a couple of minutes).
    5. Serve. You can serve your cauliflower over rice or noodles and topped with peanuts and chopped green onions.
    Instant Pot Kung Pao Cauliflower, savory, sweet, and somewhat spicy cauliflower florets pressure cooked to perfection in 20 minutes.

    Tips for making the best Kung Pao Cauliflower"

    When selecting cauliflower, select one with a firm and compact head. The florets should be very white, without spots

    More helpful tips for you.

    1. When breaking up your cauliflower florets, try to make the pieces in a uniform size that is also easy to eat. This will help the cauliflower pressure cook evenly.
    2. While I am using cauliflower, you could personalize your dish by adding other vegetables. Chopped carrots and pea pods are nice choices.
    3. This Kung Pao Cauliflower can be served just like the regular chicken version. You can serve this dish over rice, vermicelli or udon noodles for example.
    Instant Pot Kung Pao Cauliflower, savory, sweet, and somewhat spicy cauliflower florets pressure cooked to perfection in 20 minutes.

    How to store Kung Pao Cauliflower

    Once your cauliflower has fully cooled it can be stored in an airtight container. When properly stored and refrigerated, it should keep for up to a few days. .

    Here are some more recipes that can be made in an Instant Pot.

    • 3 Ingredient Instant Pot Tomato Sauce
    • Instant Pot No Drain Mashed Potatoes
    • Instant Pot Bean Soup
    • Instant Pot Garlic Butter Knots
    • Instant Pot Stuffed Peppers
    • Instant Pot Spicy Thai Peanut Noodles

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    Instant Pot Kung Pao Cauliflower, savory, sweet, and somewhat spicy cauliflower florets pressure cooked to perfection in 20 minutes.

    Print the recipe for Instant Pot Kung Pao Cauliflower

    Instant Pot Kung Pao Cauliflower
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    Instant Pot Kung Pao Cauliflowe

    Instant Pot Kung Pao Cauliflower, savory, sweet, and somewhat spicy cauliflower florets pressure cooked to perfection in 20 minutes.
    Prep Time15 minutes mins
    Cook Time2 minutes mins
    Total Time17 minutes mins
    Course: Dinner, Main Course, Meal
    Cuisine: instant pot, pressure cooker
    Search Result: Instant Pot Kung Pao Cauliflowe
    Servings: 4

    Equipment

    • Instant Pot
    • Bowl

    Ingredients

    • 1 head Cauliflower --Rinsed and broken down into florets.
    • 1 teaspoon Ginger Powder
    • 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
    • 1 tablespoon Brown Sugar
    • ½ cup Water.
    • 3 tablespoon Soy Sauce
    • 1 tablespoon Hoisin Sauce.
    • 1 tablespoon Rice Vinegar.
    • 1 teaspoon Sesame Oil
    • 2 tablespoon Cornstarch
    • 2 tablespoon Water

    Instructions

    • Toss. Place your cauliflower florets into a large bowl. In a small bowl, use a whisk or a fork to combine together the ginger, a half cup of water, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, and sesame oil. Pour half of this mixture over the cauliflower, toss the ingredients, and repeat this process with the remaining mixture.
    • Instant Pot. Transfer the tossed ingredients to your Instant Pot. Close and lock the lid and set the steam valve to 'sealing'.
    • Cook. Cook the ingredients on manual / high pressure fortwo minutes and then immediately release the pressure . Use a slotted spoon to scoop out the cauliflower and transfer it to a serving bowl, leaving the liquid in the cooker.
    • Sauté Set you pressure cooker to sauté mode. In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and remaining water (two tablespoons) until combined and then add it to the pot. Simmer the sauce until thickened (about a couple of minutes).
    • Serve. You can serve your cauliflower over rice or noodles and topped with peanuts and chopped green onions.

    Recipe Notes

    *Please check the nutritional labels to assure that you are sticking to your diet restrictions for any substitutions used.
    Also, please see the actual recipe post for further details on this recipe.
    Nutritional Information is only an estimate and can vary especially with ingredients that are used.
    See theairfryingdiva.com for details on this recipe.
    *As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that the links on this website, and specifically on this post, that lead to other sites may be affiliate links.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 93kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 0.4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 0.1mg | Sodium: 866mg | Potassium: 483mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 0.4IU | Vitamin C: 69mg | Calcium: 41mg | Iron: 1mg
    Please note: Nutritional data has been calculated using a tool that comes with this recipe card and not by me. This means that Nutritional Information is only an estimate and can vary especially with ingredients that you use. The accuracy of this tool may differ from other tools as expected. Also note that there is no instructional value to the video that may be attached to this recipe. It is only there for visual pleasure. For more information about the images in this recipe, please refer the the recipe instructions. Thank you!

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    Instant Pot Kung Pao Cauliflower, savory, sweet, and somewhat spicy cauliflower florets pressure cooked to perfection in 20 minutes.

    Instant Pot Kung Pao Cauliflower, savory, sweet, and somewhat spicy cauliflower florets pressure cooked to perfection in 20 minutes.

    Please see recipe post for further details on this recipe.

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    Filed Under: Instant Pot Recipes (Pressure Cooker), Sides, Vegan

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that the links on this website, and specifically on this post, that lead to other sites may be affiliate links.

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    I am Annie, an author, restaurant owner, RN, and an over-all food enthusiast. As a busy person, convenient methods of food preparation are my specialty.

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