
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.
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.

Steam cauliflower.

Marinade using yogurt and spices.
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.

Marinate the cauliflower.

Roasted cauliflower is ready.
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.
Top tip
It is best to allow the cauliflower to marinate for at least 15 minutes to allow the marinade to seep inside.
Depending on the size of the cauliflower, the steaming and cooking time may vary.
- For a cauliflower head up to 1 lb, steam for 3 minutes in the instant pot.
- For a cauliflower head up to 2 lb, steam it for 5 minutes in the instant pot.

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
Don't forget to rate the recipe by clicking the stars. Also, pin the recipe by clicking the "Pin" button, for your future reference.
📖 Recipe

Whole Cauliflower In Air Fryer
Equipment
- Instant Pot 6 qt (or a pot to steam cauliflower)
Ingredients
Steam cauliflower
- 1 head Cauliflower (whole, small to medium size)
- 1 cup Water
Oil, whole spices, and herbs
- ½ tablespoon Garlic (minced or paste)
- ½ tablespoon Ginger (minced or paste)
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 tablespoon Oil
- ¼ cup Yogurt (almond yogurt for vegan)
- 5 Cloves
- 5 Peppercorn
- 1 Cinnamon stick (2 inches)
- 2 Cardamom (preferably large ones)
Spice powder
- ½ teaspoon Turmeric
- ½ teaspoon Red chili powder
- 1 tablespoon Coriander powder
- 1 teaspoon Cumin powder
- ½ teaspoon Garam masala powder
Instructions
Steam cauliflower
- Pour 1 cup of water into the instant pot liner.
- Discard all the leaves and cut the stem of the cauliflower and rinse it with water.
- Place the cauliflower into the steamer basket and place it inside the instant pot (use a trivet if needed).
- Close and lock the lid with the pressure knob in the sealing position. Turn the "keep warm" setting on.
- Pressure cook on high-pressure mode for 5 minutes, then allow the pressure to release naturally for 5 minutes.
- Manually release the remaining pressure by moving the knob to the venting position.
Marinate cauliflower
- In a bowl add all the ingredients from the list - "Oil, whole spices, and herbs" and "Spice powder".
- Mix everything well with a spoon or a whisk.
- Place the cauliflower on parchment paper.
- Apply the marinade well to the inside of the cauliflower by inverting it.
- Then place the cauliflower head upwards and apply the marinade to the top surface and coat it well with a basting brush.
- Optionally, rest the cauliflower to marinate for 15 - 30 minutes.
Cook whole cauliflower in air fryer
- Preheat the air fryer for 2-3 minutes on 390°F.
- Place the marinated cauliflower along with the parchment paper in the air fryer basket and cook for 8 minutes on 390°F.
- The top surface will turn golden brown.
- Lower the temperature to 370°F and cook for another 12 minutes.
- Finally, check for doneness with the help of a fork. Cauliflower should feel a little crunchy instead of mushy.
- If needed, air fry for another 5 minutes on 370°F until well done.
- Take the cauliflower out carefully.
Watch Video
Notes
- 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 the Greek yogurt if you do not have plain yogurt.
- 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.
Leave a Reply