Air fryer Broccoli | Malai Broccoli in Air fryer

This is a delicious cheesy or malai broccoli recipe appetizer that is perfectly browned outside and soft and tasty inside.

It has marinated broccoli in a cheesy, spicy marinade for fingerlicking taste.

This easy to make recipe is moderately spicy. It can be replicated with cauliflower. You can make the same recipe in an oven as well.

Broccoli is a vegetable that is often not liked but is extremely healthy and nutritious.

I guarantee you that this recipe will be loved by both kids and adults alike.

How to Make the Perfect Cheesy Broccoli

Fresh Broccoli: Nice fresh broccoli florets are the star of this recipe. Choose good ones.

Marinade: The marinade here is yogurt or cashew yogurt and cheese/vegan cream cheese along with spices. For healthier version, skip cheese. You can vary the spices and their quantities as per your need. This recipe uses Indian spices but feel free to substitute them.

This broccoli recipe in Indian marinade gives the broccoli a lovely cheesy flavour.

Airfrying: Air frying really makes the broccoli delectable without using any extra oil.

Can I Make a Simple Roasted Broccoli

Yes, you can. Just toss your broccoli florets in 1 tbsp. olive oil with seasonings like pepper, salt, garlic powder, oregano with some parmesan cheese and Air fry at 180 C or 360 F for just 8 minutes till crisp.

Serve hot.

Try this really simple recipe of cheesy broccoli. Don't forget to check out the video for the recipe.

Step-by-step Pictures:

Wash and clean broccoli. Dry and keep the florets aside.

Make the marinade with the ingredients mentioned. For a healthier version, skip cream cheese/vegan cream cheese and double the Greek yogurt/cashew yogurt.

You can skip garam masala or use spice of your choice like Italian seasoning, Cajun spice or fajita seasoning.

Your marinade will be thick in consistency.

Add broccoli florets to the marinade.

Mix well till all the florets are coated with the marinade.

Cover and marinate in the fridge for 1-2 hours.

To Air fry Broccoli:

Preheat Air fryer at 360 F or 180 C for 6 minutes. Spray oil on the air fryer basket.

Now arrange one layer of marinated broccoli and air fry at 360 F for about 12-14 minutes.

Your broccoli are done once nicely browned. No need to flip the broccoli midway.

Also you can use parchment paper to prevent the broccoli pieces sticking to the basket.

Your crispy broccoli in air fryer Indian style is ready to serve.

Have it hot as an appetizer, side dish or party snack. It is really tasty and reasonably filling.

Pro-Tips:

1. The cooking time will vary depending upon the size of your florets and the kind of your Air fryer
2. Always check every few minutes when Air frying.
3. Use parchment paper to prevent the broccoli florets from sticking to the basket.
4. Make sure you don’t overcrowd the basket so that broccoli gets enough place to cook properly.
5. You can eliminate the cream cheese (or vegan cream cheese) and use more yogurt (cashew yogurt) if you want the recipe to be healthier.
6. You can try the same recipe with baby corn or cauliflower.
7. The recipe is moderately spicy. Feel free to adjust as per your taste.
8. To make it vegan, use vegan or plant-based yogurt and vegan cream cheese.
9. Skip dried fenugreek if you can't find it. You can use dried oregano in its place.
10. You can skip garam masala or use spice mix of your choice like Italian seasoning, Cajun spice in its place.

Serve malai broccoli with cilantro mint chutney or with any dip of your choice.

It is pretty tasty just by itself.

FAQs

Here's the recipe card:

📖 Recipe Card

Air fryer Broccoli | Air fryer Malai Broccoli Indian Recipe

Rachna Parmar

This delicious Air fryer Brocolli is among the sought after Indian broccoli recipes It is a delicious appetizer or side dish recipe. Vegan alternatives are given.

4.87 from 30 votes

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 14 minutes mins

Marination time 1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 19 minutes mins

Course Accompaniment | Appetizer

Cuisine Indian

Servings 4

Calories 189 kcal

Equipment

• Air fryer

Ingredients

 

1x2x3x

• 1 head broccoli

Marinade

• ½ cup Greek yogurt or plant-based yogurt eg. cashew or peanut. You can use thick Indian curd too.
• ½ cup cream cheese or vegan cream cheese
• 2 tsp. ginger garlic paste or garlic powder and ginger powder
• 1 tsp. paprika or Kashmiri red chilli powder
• ½ tsp. garam masala powder or Italian seasoning or Cajun spice
• 1 tsp. chickpea flour or besan or check notes for alternatives
• 1 tsp. dry fenugreek or kasuri methi powder or ¼ tsp. dried oregano optional
• ½ tsp. pepper powder
• 1 tsp. lemon juice
• Salt to taste

For spraying or brushing Air fryer

• 1 tsp. oil

Instructions

 

• Wash and clean broccoli. Dry and keep the florets aside.
• Make the marinade with the ingredients mentioned. Your marinade will be thick in consistency.
• You can double the quantity of yogurt or cashew yogurt and skip cream cheese for healthier version.
• Add broccoli florets to the marinade. Mix well till all the florets are coated with the marinade.
• Cover and marinate in the fridge for 1-2 hours.

To Airfry:

• Preheat Airfryer at 360 F or 180 C for 5 minutes. Spray or brush oil on the airfryer basket. Now arrange one layer of marinated broccoli and airfry at 360 F for about 12-14 minutes. No need to flip midway
• You can use parchment paper to line the air fryer basket. This helps prevent broccoli from sticking to the basket.
• Once browned remove and serve with dip.
• Your cheesy or malai broccoli is ready to serve. Have it hot as an appetizer or party snack. It is really tasty and reasonably filling.

Notes

1. The cooking time will vary depending upon the size of your florets and the kind of your Air fryer 2. Always check every few minutes when Air frying. 3. Use parchment paper to prevent the broccoli florets from sticking to the basket. 4. Make sure you don’t overcrowd the basket so that broccoli gets enough place to cook properly.5. Healthier alternative: You can eliminate the cream cheese and use yogurt in its place if you want the recipe to be healthier. I used Amul cheese spread in the recipe. Use any brand of choice. 6. You can try the same recipe with baby corn or cauliflower. 7. The recipe is moderately spicy. Feel free to adjust as per your taste. 8. Skip dried fenugreek if you can't source it. You can use dried oregano in its place. 9. You can use corn starch or all-purpose flour in place of chickpea flour. 10.To make it vegan, use vegan or plant-based yogurt and vegan cream cheese. 9. You can skip garam masala or use spice mix of your choice like Italian seasoning, Cajun spice in its place.

Nutrition

Calories: 189kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 9gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 32mgSodium: 153mgPotassium: 606mgFiber: 5gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 2191IUVitamin C: 137mgCalcium: 130mgIron: 2mg

Tried this recipe?Let me know on Instagram @rachna.parmar or tag #rachnacooks

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