Whole Cauliflower In Air Fryer

Whole roasted cauliflower is a pleasant low-carb appetizer for special occasions like parties, potlucks, family gatherings, Thanksgiving, or game days.

It is very easy to roast the whole cauliflower head in the air fryer and marinate it with Indian spices. This Indian-style roasted whole cauliflower is a pleasant dish to serve to your friends, family, and guests.

The aromatic and flavorful spices are what make this recipe delicious and tantalizing. It is a true crowd-pleaser recipe and takes very little effort to make it.

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• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Substitutions
• Variations
• Equipment
• Storage
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• 📖 Recipe

Ingredients

You will need a fresh head of cauliflower with all the leaves removed and the stem trimmed. You need to ensure that the cauliflower will fit in your air fryer. A small to medium size cauliflower or 1-2 lb in weight will work best for this recipe.

The marinade is made with Indian whole and powdered spices mixed in plain yogurt. Whole spices like peppercorn, cloves, cinnamon sticks, and whole cardamom add a lot of flavor along with powder spices like turmeric powder, red chili powder, coriander powder, cumin powder, and garam masala powder.

Plain yogurt or Greek yogurt will work well. A little oil helps in getting a nice golden color once the cauliflower bakes.

Any Indian recipe would not be complete without ginger and garlic which are very much essential in enhancing the flavor of this air fryer roasted cauliflower.

Instructions

First, cut off all the stems and the leaves of the cauliflower and rinse the cauliflower well with water. The next step is to steam it. You can either steam it in the pressure cooker or in a steamer on the stovetop.

Steaming the cauliflower will make it a little tender and allow the marinade to seep in well.

Pour a cup of water into the 6 qt. instant pot and place the cauliflower inside it in a steamer basket. If needed, you can use a trivet to place the steamer basket on it.

Pressure cook the cauliflower for 5 minutes and then let the pressure release naturally for 5 minutes. Release the remaining pressure manually by moving the pressure release knob to the venting position.

In the meantime, mix all the spices, oil, ginger, and garlic in yogurt in a small bowl to make the marinade. Allow the cauliflower to cool down before you marinate it.

Place the cauliflower with head down on parchment paper or aluminum foil. Using a spoon and basting brush, apply the marinade on the insides of the cauliflower.

Then invert the cauliflower to make its head up. Apply the marinade on the surface and coat it well and evenly with the basting brush.

Let the cauliflower rest for about 15 minutes and then preheat the air fryer to 390°F. Air fry the whole cauliflower for about 8 minutes. This will help the cauliflower to cook from the inside as well.

Then air fry it for another 12 minutes at 370°F. Check if the cauliflower is nicely golden brown from the top and is fork tender. If not, air fry for another 5 minutes at 370°F.

Remove the cauliflower from the air fryer carefully. Cut the florets with a sharp knife and serve them with some green cilantro chutney. You can also sprinkle some chaat masala on it while serving.

Substitutions

There are a few substitutions you can make this delicious roasted cauliflower.

• Vegan - to make it vegan, you can use plant-based yogurt like almond yogurt.
• Spices - you can use garlic powder and ginger powder instead of fresh ones.
• Yogurt - you can use Greek yogurt if you do not have plain yogurt.

Variations

This roasted whole head of cauliflower made with Indian spices is delicious and great for many occasions like parties, potlucks, Thanksgiving, game days, and more. You can also make some variations for your family and guests.

• Spicy - add some minced serrano pepper or green chili paste to the marinade to add more spiciness. You can also increase the amount of red chili powder and garam masala as well.

Equipment

The whole head of cauliflower is first steamed in an instant pot or a steamer. I have used the 6 qt. instant pot and a steamer basket.

After that, the whole cauliflower is roasted in the Instant Vortex Plus air fryer. It can be made in any type of air fryer, be it basket style or tray style, or any size.

Depending on your air fryer and the size of the cauliflower, the cooking time may vary by a few minutes. Before making this recipe, just ensure that the cauliflower fits in the air fryer.

I have also used parchment paper, an aluminum foil will work well too. It helps in placing the marinated cauliflower inside the air fryer basket and does not mess up the basket either.

Storage

Any leftovers can be stored in the fridge for 2-3 days in an airtight container. When you are ready to eat, simply reheat it in the air fryer at 350°F for 2-3 minutes or depending on the quantity.

If you enjoyed this recipe, you may also like

• Grilled paneer tikka
• Roasted baby potatoes
• Roasted sweet potatoes
• Roasted eggplant mash
• Dal bati
• Eggplant slices
• Cauliflower bites
• Indian style okra fry

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