This is a delicious cheesy or malai broccoli recipe in air fryer, an 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 Tandoori Broccoli in Air fryer
1. Fresh Broccoli: Nice fresh broccoli florets are the star of this recipe. Choose good ones.
2. 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 style done in air fryer yields a delectable taste.
3 Air frying: 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.
While this is not broccoli pakora, it is a really tasty appetizer nonetheless and one of my favorite broccoli recipes in air fryer.
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.
11. Serve malai broccoli with cilantro mint chutney or with any dip of your choice.
It is pretty tasty just by itself.
FAQs
You can use vegan cream cheese and vegan yogurt in the recipe.
You surely can. I have only used oil for brushing the basket. You can use a parchment paper and cut it to the shape of the basket. Use it to line your basket and put broccoli on top. This way you can avoid the use of any oil.
You can double the quantity of Greek yogurt in the recipe and skip cheese.
Yes you can. You can hang the curd in a muslin cloth and drain off the whey and then use.
You can use all purpose flour or corn starch
This recipe works well with cauliflower and baby corn.
This is a great appetizer that is wonderful on its own. You can also pair it with a chicken, seafood or tofu side along with some rice or salad for a complete meal.
Frozen broccoli may not work very well in this recipe. Fresh broccoli is better.
This recipe tastes crispy and best when had fresh.
Here's the recipe card:
📖 Recipe Card
Air fryer Broccoli | Air fryer Malai Broccoli Indian Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 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
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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
Nutrition
If you liked this crispy broccoli recipe made in Air fryer, I request you to leave a star * rating either on the recipe card or in the comments.
You May Also Like these other healthy Air fryer Recipes:
Kurkuri Bhindi | Crispy Okra in Airfryer
Piri piri Airfryer French Fries
Damyanti says
This will help me to get some people eat broccoli finally!
Gurdev Parmar says
Glad to help 🙂
Shantala says
The only way I can get broccoli in my system!! 😀
Gurdev Parmar says
hehe That's kinda cute.
Nart at Cooking with Nart says
This looks like it could be a good snack. I love broccoli and can't wait to try this!
Rachna says
Thanks Nart. Yes, it's a wonderful snack.
Sarah James says
I love broccoli and your spicy coated broccoli looks delicious. Looking forward to trying your recipe, thanks for sharing.
Rachna says
Thanks Sarah
Shadi Hasanzadenemati says
This is such a delicious recipe! Can’t wait to try it!
Rachna says
Hope you like it.
Erika says
I love my air fryer and making a healthy side dish like this broccoli is perfect! So delicious!
Rachna says
Thanks Erica
Dev says
*****loved the recipe..will definitely try it
Rachna says
Thank you Dev!
Shamla says
Thank you Rachna my family enjoyed this Broccoli. It was Devine
Rachna says
You are very welcome! So glad your family loved it, Shamla.
Surya says
Hi, can i bake it instead of using of an airfryer.
Rachna says
Yes you can. You can double the time at the same temp. Do keep checking.
Mamatha says
I tried this today and it turned out excellent. So aromatic tandoori flavored and easy peasy. Tha k you!
Rachna says
Thank you so much, Mamatha. So happy to hear this.
Marlene huysamer says
This is definitely my next AF attempt. I love your recipes. Thank you.
Rachna says
Thank you so much, Marlene.
Rachna says
Thanks so much
Andrew says
I had extra broccoli and found this recipe when searching for ways to use it. I made a double batch of the marinade - used half to make broccoli, and the other half for soya chunks. (I noticed this recipe was similar to the recipe suggestion on the back of the box of soya) We loved it SO much more than the box recipe! We only added a bit extra mirchi and methi for our taste. This is now a staple in our house! I am excited to try more of your recipes!
Rachna says
So happy to hear that, Andrew. I am glad that you like more mirchi. I am curious about the recipe at the back of the box of soya now. 🙂