Air Fryer Tandoori Gobi

Name: Air Fryer Tandoori Gobi
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 head of cauliflower; 1 tbp oil; 1 tbsp rice flour; 1 tbsp besan flour; 1/2 tsp kashmiri red chili powder; 1/4 tsp turmeric powder; 1/2 tsp garam masala powder; 1/2 tsp cumin powder; 1/4 tsp ginger powder; 1 1/2 tbsp plant based yogurt - I used cashew yogurt; salt to taste; 1/2 tsp kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves)

Looking for a delicious and spicy appetizer? Look no further than Air Fryer Tandoori Gobi!

The name tandoori says it all but the air fryer version of this popular snack is a notch better than the original version.

Close up shot of tandoori gobi with yogurt dip. — Tandoori Gobi

I even have the spices listed to create your own chaat masala that you need to dress up the cauliflower florets.

It's the perfect accompaniment for tea time or as a savory appetizer. With flavors bursting in every floret, you have got to try it today to believe it.

The best part is that it only takes 15 minutes to prepare from scratch with your air fryer.

So what are you waiting for?! Check the recipe card and try this amazing recipe today!

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Why this recipe works
Ingredients note
Instructions
Recipe FAQ's
Expert tips
Serving suggestions
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Comments

Why this recipe works

This cauliflower tandoori recipe is super easy to follow and doesn't require any special ingredients.

Tandoori gobi a.k.a Cauliflower tikka bites is a great dish to serve at parties or get-togethers, and it is sure to please everyone.

With an air fryer, you can cook the cauliflower florets to perfection, resulting in a crispy and delicious appetizer.

The tandoori gobi can be served with a dipping sauce of your choice, making it even more irresistible.

It's also a great pairing for roti, steamed rice, or salads and veggie wraps.

You can prepare this tandoori gobi without an air fryer too! Just bake the coated cauliflower florets in an oven at 400 degrees for about 25 to 30 minutes.

But I highly recommend using an air fryer to get that perfect crispy texture and to cook it fast.

Ingredients note

tandoori gobi ingredients are on the table.

Cauliflower: I used a medium-size cauliflower, which comes to about 3 cups of florets. If you are using a large head of cauliflower, then you might need to increase the other ingredients accordingly.

Spices: I used Kashmiri chili powder, garam masala powder, and turmeric powder. You can also use store-bought tandoori masala powder. These spices bring an authentic taste to the dish. Cumin powder is another spice that you could consider adding, but that's optional.

Besan flour: Besan flour is the key ingredient and the binder that brings the spices together. This is also known as chickpea flour or gram flour. You can find it online or at any Indian grocery store.

Yogurt: I used plain vegan cashew yogurt, but you can also use homemade coconut milk yogurt. I have used Cashew yogurt as a marinade for gobi tikka and tofu tikka in the past and it has never failed to impress.

Oil: Extra virgin olive oil is the best option to bring out natural flavors from the florets as well as the spices. Other options for oil are vegetable oil and sunflower oil.

Rice flour: This is optional, but it helps to make the cauliflower bites extra crispy.

See the recipe card for a list of ingredients and quantities, plus recipe instructions. You can find the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Instructions

Start by washing the cauliflower florets and patting them dry with a paper towel.

A large bowl is with spices and flour to prepare tandoori batter.

In a large bowl, add all the dry spice ingredients one by one along with one teaspoon salt, and mix well. Make sure there are no lumps. If required add 1-2 tablespoons of water.

Add the yogurt to the spices and get an even mix with no lumps.

A bowl is with cauliflower and tandoori marinate masala.

Add the florets to the bowl and coat them well with the mixture.

A bowl is with marinated tandoori cauliflower.

Add the crushed Kasuri methi and coat the cauliflower florets well.

Let it sit for 10 -15 minutes.

Meanwhile, preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Once the air fryer is preheated, add the marinated cauliflower florets in a single layer and spray some oil on top.

Cook for about 15 minutes, or until the florets appear cooked (At the halfway mark, shake your air fryer basket and continue to cook).

Air fryer basket is with cooked tandoori cauliflower bites.

Remove cauliflower onto a plate or a serving bowl. Repeat this process with the remaining cauliflower florets.

Easy Tandoori Cauliflower bites are ready! Serve them with your favorite dips. Enjoy!

Recipe FAQ's

Can I make this recipe without an air fryer?

Yes, you can bake the cauliflower florets on a baking tray in a preheated oven at 400F for 25-30 minutes. But I highly recommend using an air fryer to get that perfect crispy texture.

Can I make this recipe gluten-free?

Yes, you can easily make this recipe gluten-free by using gluten-free flour such as chickpea flour.

Can I make this cauliflower tikka without yogurt?

Yes, you can make this recipe without yogurt by using non-dairy milk such as almond milk or coconut milk. And squeeze a teaspoon of lemon juice into the marinade.

Is the cauliflower tandoori recipe vegan?

Yes, this recipe is 100% vegan however the original recipe is not. The traditional recipe usually calls for dairy yogurt to marinate the florets. My recipe is the plant-based version without any compromise in taste.

Expert tips

If you want to make this recipe spicier, then add more red chili powder.
Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket, otherwise, the cauliflower florets will not get crispy. So, cook in batches if needed.
If you don't have an air fryer, then you can bake the cauliflower in a preheated oven at 400F for 25-30 minutes.
If you only have small florets, be sure to check them halfway through the process to avoid burning them.
You can add ginger garlic paste and coriander powder to the marinade. I skipped them here for simplicity.
If you are running out of time, you could skip the marinating step and jump right into the cooking step.
The recipe for the yogurt-spice marinade is fairly versatile and could be used for other recipes such as vegan paneer tikka or air fryer aloo gobi.

Serving suggestions

Serve air fryer tandoori gobi with a dipping sauce of your choice. I like to serve it with green chutney or mint yogurt dip. Chili sauce or tomato ketchup are some common options. You could also serve the bite-size florets as is.

It also goes well with roti, naan, steamed rice, or as a stuffing in veggie wraps.