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Air fryer cauliflower

30 min
Air fryer cauliflower

Baked air fryer cauliflower is an incredibly tasty and easy option for anyone looking for a great light dish, side, or snack. It takes very little time to make, and the result is the perfect combination of crispy and tender. The cauliflower's naturally sweet and nutty flavour is enhanced with the intense and delicious flavour from the roasted, caramelised crust, which is softened by the addition of creamy yogurt dressing and a topping of toasted sesame seeds and fresh dill. 

Ingredients

Cauliflower

Small cauliflower
1
Garlic clove
1
Olive oil
2 tbsp
Flaky salt
1 tsp

Yogurt dressing

Greek yogurt
150 g
Lemon juice
1½ tsp
Harissa or dried chillies
1 tsp
Liquid honey
1 tsp
Coarse salt
1 tsp

To serve

Toasted sesame seeds
1 tbsp
Dill, finely chopped
½ bundle

Instructions

Cauliflower

  • Remove the leaves from the cauliflower. Save the inner leaves – optionally, place them in cold water so they become crispy.
  • Rinse the cauliflower and boil it in lightly salted water for 5 minutes. Take it out and let it drain.
  • Crush garlic and mix it with olive oil.
  • Cut the cauliflower into 4 wedges. The stem should keep the florets together.
  • Toss the wedges with garlic oil and place them on the grate in the air fryer.
  • Sprinkle with flaky salt and bake them for 10-20 minutes at 200°C – the exact baking time depends on your air fryer. Turn the pieces occasionally so they get a seared crust all around.

Yogurt dressing

  • Mix Greek yogurt with lemon juice, harissa/dried chilli, honey, and salt. Season to taste.
  • Smear the yogurt dressing onto a large plate and place the air fryer cauliflower on top.
  • Top with the inner leaves, sesame seeds, and dill – and serve.
Enjoy!

Tip

It is important to arrange the cauliflower in a single layer on the grate with a little bit of space between the bites. This ensures that it does not get too crowded. If it does, they might steam heavily as they cook, meaning they will have a harder time gaining that characteristic crispy exterior. This means that, depending on the size of your air fryer, you might need to work in batches when you are cooking a whole cauliflower this way.

Questions about air fryer cauliflower

With our straightforward recipe for air fryer cauliflower bites, making a tasty snack or side dish is incredibly easy. If you want to learn more about these crispy treats, you can have a look at our answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about them below.

How to get the perfect air fryer cauliflower?

For the perfect air fryer cauliflower, make sure the florets are dry to enhance crispiness. Uniform pieces and parboiling beforehand for approx. 5 minutes let them cook more evenly. Preheat the air fryer for optimal results, and avoid overcrowding the basket; if needed, cook in batches. Load the air fryer and cook for 10-20 minutes at 180-200°C depending on the model. It is a good idea to check around the 10-minute mark, aiming for a golden hue. Feel free to play around with seasonings, from a simple oil and spice mix to a richer batter.

How long to air fry cauliflower?

In general, it takes between 10-20 minutes at 180-200°C to air fry cauliflower. This can vary depending on the air fryer model and the size of the cauliflower pieces. It is important to check for the desired level of crispiness and tenderness during the cooking process. Smaller florets might cook faster, while larger pieces may take a bit longer. Tossing the cauliflower halfway or occasionally can also ensure even cooking and a golden-brown finish.

Can you use frozen cauliflower in an air fryer?

While it is possible to cook frozen vegetables in an air fryer, we suggest parboiling the cauliflower pieces before cooking them in the air fryer instead. The reasons are twofold. Firstly, boiling them in water for just a short period softens the florets, making them more tender. When you subsequently cook them, the outside becomes crispy without making the inside too dry. Secondly, boiling them also cuts down the overall cooking time. This is helpful as it ensures that the cauliflower bites are cooked through without their exterior becoming overly browned or burnt.

Other recipes

See more

Air fryer cauliflower – quick and easy recipe

If cauliflower is not already your go-to vegetable for savoury sides or snacks, it will be when you start air-frying it! The result is beautifully browned vegetable bites that are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. They are certain to be a hit with kids as well as adults with their savoury flavour and delicious texture.

Tender yet crisp cauliflower with creamy yogurt dressing

Cauliflower in its raw or lightly cooked form has a mild taste with a slightly nutty and sweet flavour. The taste is not overpowering, which makes it a versatile vegetable that can easily absorb the flavours of the ingredients it is cooked with.

Olive oil with garlic adds richness, and depth, and crisps it up in the air fryer. This way it gains a wonderful browned, crunchy outside while remaining tender on the inside. The exterior of the air fryer cauliflower becomes lightly caramelised, and it gets a roasted flavour that makes it even more scrumptious.

Paired with a creamy dressing, you can experience a lovely textural contrast that is sure to make your mouth water. The dressing is made from tangy Greek yogurt with warming harissa or dried chilli and sweetened with honey, and it works perfectly when the whole thing is sprinkled with nutty, toasted sesame seeds, and slightly grassy-flavoured, fresh dill.

Delicious ways to serve it

Enjoy these air fryer cauliflower bites as a standalone snack or serve them as a side with barbequed red meat, chicken, or fish, or with a side of roasted vegetables. As a light lunch, serve with a mixed greens salad, drizzling the yogurt dressing over the top for an extra layer of flavour. You can also use them as a filling for wraps or with other vegetables, meat, or the like.

Another delicious way to serve and enjoy these crispy treats is with fresh herbs, toasted seeds, and smooth dressing as part of a snack selection with delectables like air fryer broccoli fritters and air fryer puffed beans.

Experiment with the recipe

If you want crispy air fryer cauliflower bites with even more crispness in each bite, we suggest battering them. Making a crispy coating from scratch only requires a few ingredients. Just get out some bread crumbs and eggs! Dunk the cauliflower pieces in an egg wash before transferring them to the breadcrumb mixture, which you may season with different spices.

Another easy way to experiment with this recipe is to adjust the spice level of your homemade yogurt dressing. If you like hot snacks and sides, consider using both harissa and dried chilli in it or using a bit of fresh chilli for a more intense flavour.

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