Whole cauliflower in air fryer or Tandoori Gobi with a spicy marinade is a delicious centrepiece. It works very well as vegan Thanksgiving or party main. Really tasty too.
A whole cauliflower marinated and cooked in oven was one of my favourite ways of having cauliflower in the childhood.
Tandoori cauliflower or Tandoor Gobi is a popular recipe in Indian cuisine. This is my take on it.
I have added cashew powder to add richness and thickness to the marinade. You may add vegan cheese or grated cheese too.
This is perfect as an appetizer or main.
You may also like: air fryer cabbage steaks, air fryer oyster mushrooms, Buffalo cauliflower, cauliflower steaks, Air fryer radishes, Air fryer Turnip Fries, Air fryer Parsnips, air fryer mushrooms, cheesy broccoli bites in air fryer.
Ingredients
1. Cauliflower: I have used a small cauliflower head here. I believe very large cauliflowers may not work, as they will not absorb the flavours that well.
They make also take way too long to cook.
You can keep the leaves to fry or air fry them like chips or use the leaves and stem in stock.
2. Yogurt: Plant-based yogurt especially cashew yogurt works well here.
You can use regular Greek yogurt if you consume dairy. Just make sure it is thick.
If it looks runny, hang in muslin cloth so that the whey drips down and you get thick yogurt suited for marination.
3. Cashew powder: I have powdered 1 tbsp. cashews to make a fine powder. It makes the marinade creamy.
4. Spices: I have used minced ginger garlic here.
Pepper, cayenne, turmeric, salt and tandoori masala or garam masala enhance the flavours of this dish.
5. Vegan butter or Butter: This adds to the richness or flavour of the recipe.
Variations
This is a vegan and vegetarian recipe. You can make it creamier by using some grated vegan cheese or parmesan.
To make a simpler recipe, you can just apply olive oil with seasonings like garlic powder, onion powder, pepper, salt, cayenne, dried herbs all over the cauliflower and then air fry for 40 minutes at 360F or 180C.
Sauce as marinade: You can try using BBQ sauce, hot sauce or Thai chilli sauce as a marinade and air fry cauliflower using them.
Serving suggestions
Appetizer: This whole cauliflower works as a perfect vegan or vegetarian appetiser. Serve with a dip of choice.
Main: This is a perfect vegan or vegetarian main.
Serve it as a centrepiece in place of turkey or chicken along with mashed potatoes, gravy and vegetables.
Wraps or bowls: Cut air fried whole cauliflower into florets and use as a crunchy vegetable in your wraps or bowls.
Rice or pasta: This works as a perfect side with your pasta or rice. Just cut into florets.
Side: Serve cauliflower wedges after cutting from whole cauliflower with proteins like air fried tofu, shrimp or chicken.
You can also add it to salads for a nice crunchy vegetarian element.
FAQs
Poke with a knife in the thickest part of the cauliflower. If it goes in and out easily, then the whole cauliflower is cooked through.
Frozen cauliflower may not work for this recipe as marination will be tough with frozen cauliflower. Also it may release more water during air frying. If using frozen cauliflower, thaw it, dry it and then use.
Tips
1. Making the marinade thick is the key to more flavourful whole cauliflower. Make sure that your plant-based yogurt or Greek yogurt is thick.
2. Marinating for 6-10 hours in the fridge makes the cauliflower very flavourful. At least marinate for 2 hours.
3. Parboiling the cauliflower before applying the marinade not only cuts the air frying time, but it also keeps the cauliflower more succulent. But, you can skip this step and do the cauliflower raw. It will take 10-15 minutes more of air frying time.
4. You can vary the spices as per your like. These spices are similar to those used in the iconic tandoori gobi recipe.
5. I have used a small cauliflower that is about 0.5 lb. or about 225 gm. If you are using a larger cauliflower adjust the marinade and cooking times accordingly.
6. If your whole cauliflower is getting too browned on top, you can cover the top with foil to prevent that from happening.
7. There is no need to flip the cauliflower while air frying mid way.
8. You can baste the cauliflower with some vegan butter or butter during air frying. I did not need to do it.
Instructions
Bring a pot of water to boil. Clean cauliflower and remove leaves and thick stem at the bottom.
Place whole cauliflower in boiling water. Turn off heat.
Cover for about 10 minutes till it is parboiled but not fully cooked.
It should stay crunchy. Take it out and dry it well.
Take plant-based yogurt or Greek yogurt. Beat it lightly.
Add cashew powder, pepper, salt, cayenne and turmeric powder. Minced ginger garlic or paste is next.
Add vegan butter or butter with chopped cilantro.
Mix everything well to form a thick marinade.
Taste it and check for seasoning.
Take whole cauliflower, using a spoon or your hands, apply the marinade all over the cauliflower.
Make sure that you put the marinade in between the florets as well.
The more it goes into the cauliflower, the more flavourful your cauliflower will be.
Now place the cauliflower in the fridge to marinate for 4-8 hours. I sometimes leave it overnight. It gets more flavourful in this manner.
If you are in a rush, a couple of hours of marination time will do fine.
Preheat air fryer at 360F or 180C for 5 minutes.
I use parchment paper to line the air fryer basket.
Now lay the marinated cauliflower and close the air fryer basket.
Air fry at 360F or 180C for 25-30 minutes until the cauliflower gets cooked. It should not be mushy and becomes brown in colour.
Baste the cauliflower during air frying with vegan butter or butter to keep it moist. I did not need to do it.
In case, you have skipped the parboiling step, you can air fry at 360F or 180C for about 40 minutes.
Serve hot as a centrepiece. It is really delicious. Goes well with salad and is a lovely low carb vegan or vegetarian main.
Enjoy your whole cauliflower. Cut this tandoori gobi into florets and serve with onion and lemon wedges.
Here's the recipe card:
📖 Recipe Card
Air fryer Whole Cauliflower
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cauliflower small about 225 gm. or 0.5 lb.
- 1 tsp. ginger and garlic minced
- ½ cup plant-based yogurt or Greek yogurt
- 1 tbsp. cashews made into powder
- 1 tsp. Pepper
- ½ tsp. Cayenne or paprika
- ¼ tsp. Turmeric powder
- 1 tbsp. vegan butter or butter
- 1 tbsp. cilantro chopped
- 1 tsp. Garam masala or tandoori masala powder optional
- Vegan butter or butter for basting
Instructions
- Bring a pot of water to boil. Clean cauliflower and remove leaves and thick stem at the bottom. Place whole cauliflower in boiling water. Turn off gas.
- Cover for about 10 minutes till it is parboiled but not fully cooked. It should stay crunchy. Take it out and dry it well.
- Take plant-based yogurt or Greek yogurt. Beat it lightly.
- Add cashew powder, pepper, salt, cayenne and turmeric powder.
- Add vegan butter or butter with chopped cilantro. Mix everything well to form a thick marinade.
- Taste it and check for seasoning.
- Take whole cauliflower, using a spoon or your hands, apply the marinade all over the cauliflower. Make sure that you put the marinade in between the florets as well.
- The more it goes into the cauliflower, the more flavourful your cauliflower will be.
- Now place the cauliflower to marinate for 4-8 hours. I sometimes leave it overnight. It gets more flavourful in this manner.
- If you are in a rush, a couple of hours of marination time will do fine.
- Preheat air fryer at 360F or 180C for 5 minutes.
- I use parchment paper to line the air fryer basket.
- Now lay the marinated cauliflower and close the air fryer basket.
- Air fry at 360F or 180C for 25-30 minutes till the cauliflower gets cooked but not mushy and becomes brown in colour.
- Baste the cauliflower during air frying with vegan butter or butter to keep it moist. I did not need to do it.
- In case, you have skipped the parboiling step, you can air fry at 360F or 180C for about 40 minutes.
- Serve hot as a centrepiece. It is really delicious. Goes well with salad and is a lovely low carb vegan or vegetarian main.
- Enjoy your whole cauliflower. Cut into florets and serve.
Video
Notes
2. Marinating for 6-10 hours in the fridge makes the cauliflower very flavourful. At least marinate for 2 hours.
3. Parboiling the cauliflower before applying the marinade not only cuts the air frying time, but it also keeps the cauliflower more succulent. But, you can skip this step and do the cauliflower raw. It will take 10-15 minutes more of air frying time.
4. You can vary the spices as per your like. These spices are similar to those used in the iconic tandoori gobi recipe.
5. I have used a small cauliflower that is about 0.5 lb. or about 225 gm. If you are using a larger cauliflower adjust the marinade and cooking times accordingly.
6. If your whole cauliflower is getting too browned on top, you can cover the top with foil to prevent that from happening.
7. There is no need to flip the cauliflower while air frying mid way.
8. You can baste the cauliflower with some vegan butter or butter during air frying. I did not need to do it.
Nutrition
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