Air fryer Whole Cauliflower
This air fryer whole cauliflower or Tandoori gobi is a delicious cauliflower main. It is a centerpiece dish and a perfect vegan or vegetarian main.
Servings 4
Calories 111kcal
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
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.
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
Calories: 111kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 9mg | Sodium: 80mg | Potassium: 553mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 606IU | Vitamin C: 71mg | Calcium: 73mg | Iron: 1mg