Cauliflower 65 Air Fryer

Name: Cauliflower 65 Air fryer
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 5 cups cauliflower (or 1 head of cauliflower); ½ tsp Kashmiri red chili powder; 1½ tbsp besan flour; 2 tbsp rice flour; ¼ tsp turmeric powder; ¼ tsp garlic powder or 1 garlic cloves chopped; ¼ tsp black pepper powder; ½ tsp Garam Masala Powder; 2 tbsp olive oil; salt to tatse; ¾ cup chopped onions; 2 garlic cloves chopped; 2 green chilies (sliced); ½ tsp Kashmiri red chili powder (optional); ½ tsp mustard seeds; 1 tsp grated ginger; 1 tbsp water; 2 tbsp lemon juice; 1 tsp chopped cilantro

Craving that iconic spicy cauliflower appetizer but hesitant about deep-frying or excess oil?

This Cauliflower 65 Air Fryer recipe delivers all the bold, restaurant-style flavor of classic Gobi 65 with a fraction of the oil crispy, vibrant, and completely vegan.

With simple pantry spices and an air fryer, you get a healthier version that's high in fiber, low in calories, and impossible not to share with friends and family. If you want a snack that's as satisfying as it is wholesome, this recipe is your answer.

Close up of plate with cauliflower 65 and fork by the side.

For crisper, plant-forward snacks, try my air fryer Vegan buffalo tofu recipe that bring big flavor with minimal oil. If you're in the mood for something with a different spice profile, my air fryer vegan tandoori gobi recipe puts a smoky twist on this versatile vegetable, and if you like curry recipes with cauliflower try my vegan gobi tikka masala perfect for parties.

These easy, healthy vegan appetizers are crowd-pleasers whether you're feeding family or friends.

All my family members are big fans of cauliflower. So I often make cauliflower recipes like cauliflower sabji, buffalo cauliflower, vegan gobi paratha, vegan Gobi Manchurian and cauliflower curry recipes.

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This
Key Ingredients
Variations
How to Make Cauliflower 65 in Air Fryer
Serving suggestions
Storage
Equipment That I Used
Uma's Tips
Air Fryer Cauliflower 65 Recipe FAQ
Vegan Drinks Recipes
📖 Recipe
Comments

Why You'll Love This

Cauliflower 65 is a widely popular cauliflower appetizer featured in many Indian restaurants.
It is a fried cauliflower recipe that has different spice levels.
It's one of the easiest air fryer recipes you can find for cauliflower that can rival any restaurant entree.
You can make this air fryer gobi 65 as spicy or mild as you want it to be.
An air fryer is a healthier option for frying cauliflower in oil.
You can also bake the gobi 65 recipe in an oven, but I prefer using an air fryer as it uses less oil, and the cauliflower comes out crispier.

Key Ingredients

A surface is with cauliflower 65 recipe ingredients.

Cauliflower: Use fresh cauliflowers for this recipe. Do not use frozen cauliflower as it will make the gobi 65 soggy.
Spices: I like combining Kashmiri red chili powder, turmeric powder, black pepper powder, garlic powder, and garam masala powder to prepare the seasoning mix. You can adjust the spice level to your taste.
Onion: This recipe will need one medium-sized red or yellow onion. You can also use shallots instead of onions.
Ginger-Garlic: I used fresh chopped ginger and garlic.
Green chilies: This is optional, but the options are wide open. Serraño, jalapeño, or Thai chilies are all good fits for this recipe.
Lemon juice: I like to add fresh lemon juice at the end of cooking gobi 65. You can also use lime juice.
Rice flour: Add this for a crispy texture.
Besan flour: This is also known as chickpea flour or gram flour.

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.

Variations

Spices -Coriander powder is another spice you could add, but that's optional.
Flour - You can use all-purpose flour or corn flour instead of rice flour.
Kid-friendly - Add fewer green chilies or omit this for kids

How to Make Cauliflower 65 in Air Fryer

A pot is with hot water and cauliflower florets.

Cut the cauliflower into small bite-sized florets. Blanch it in hot water for two minutes. Drain the water and set the cauliflower aside. Pat them with a paper or kitchen towel to remove excess moisture.

A bowl is with drained cauliflower florets and spices.

Add the cauliflower florets, olive oil, and spices to a mixing bowl. And coat them well by giving them a good toss.

A bowl is with cauliflower florets and flour.

After 10 minutes, add rice flour and besan flour and coat them well.

The air fryer basket is coated with coated cauliflower 65 bites.

Preheat the air fryer to 400 F for 3 -4 minutes. Then transfer the coated cauliflower florets from the large bowl to the air fryer basket in a single layer.

The air fryer basket is with fried gobi 65.

And cook them for 14 minutes until they are crispy and golden brown in color.
In between, shake them. If required, spray some oil.
Once they are done, remove them from the air fryer and set them aside on a baking tray. Do repeat this for the second batch as well.

A pot is with oil, and ginger and garlic over the heat.

In a pan, heat some oil and add mustard seeds. Let them splutter for a few seconds.

A pan is with spices and chopped onions and chilies over the stove top.

Then add chopped ginger, garlic, green chilies, onions, and fry until they are light brown.
Add ½ teaspoon of Kashmiri red chili powder, salt, and 1-2 tablespoon of water and mix well.

A pot is with an air fryer cauliflower 65 and masala.

Toss the air-fried cauliflower into the pan once the water starts bubbling.
Add lemon juice and chopped cilantro and mix well.

Serving suggestions

This Air fryer cauliflower 65 is not only vegan but also gluten-free. You can serve this as an appetizer or a side dish with your main meal.

It goes well with plain rice, vegan Indian cumin rice, Instant Pot vegan biryani, and with Indian vegan phulka roti or quinoa chapati.
And I like to serve it with mint chutney or sweet chili sauce.
Pair with vegan masala chai or vegan mango lassi recipe.

Storage

If you're wondering how long cauliflower lasts before cooking, fresh cauliflower can stay good in the refrigerator for several days when stored properly. You can also read my full guide on how to store fresh cauliflower to keep it crisp and ready for recipes like this one.

Once cooked, Cauliflower 65 tastes best fresh, but leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated in the air fryer for a few minutes to bring back that crispy texture.

Equipment That I Used

I use the Cosori air fryer for all my air fryer recipes. I have been using it for 6 months. I am in love with this Air fryer. So easy to make and clean.

Uma's Tips

Always do a taste test on the fried cauliflower and make any necessary adjustments to the seasoning.
The gobi 65 will taste best when it is served hot. If you want to make this recipe ahead of time, then fry the cauliflower and temper it.
You can also replace the ginger and garlic powders with a tsp of ginger garlic paste.
To make it crispy gobi, add one tablespoon of corn flour.
I used olive oil while marinating the cauliflower. You can use any oil like vegetable oil, corn oil, etc.
Instead of water, you can use tomato ketchup or yogurt to make the gobi 65 sauce.
While sautéing the chili peppers, add curry leaves if available; I skipped it since there weren't any in stock.
For the spicy version, add red chili powder as you saute the cauliflower.

Air Fryer Cauliflower 65 Recipe FAQ

What is a Gobhi 65 or Cauliflower 65?

Gobi 65 is a cauliflower dish that originates from India. It is a spicy, deep-fried appetizer often served as a starter in Indian restaurants.

Why is it called Gobi 65?

The name gobi 65 came from the fact that it is a vegetarian version of chicken 65. "The Gobi" means cauliflower in Hindi, and "65" stands for the year it was created, which is 1965.

Can I bake this cauliflower 65 Instead of air fry it?

Yes, you can bake it at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 20-25 minutes.