This is an excellent North Indian appetizer that is healthy and so quick with the air fryer or oven. When meat-eaters enjoy Tandoori Chicken, vegetarians can enjoy this meatless crispy Tandoori Gobi or Tandoori Mushroom. It is typically enjoyed with green chutney. Use soy yogurt to make this recipe vegan. I made this once when some friends came over; it was a super hit. One of my friends was so excited with the taste and convenience of the air fryer that he ordered it the next day. Move over buffalo cauliflower….this Tandoori Cauliflower is a great addition to the Super Bowl party!
Watch How to Make Tandoori Cauliflower
What is Tandoori Cauliflower?
Tandoori Caulifower is basically Indian-style roasted cauliflower wings in tandoori spices. It is also called Tandoori Gobi or Gobi Tikka. If you are looking for a tandoori appetizer, typically chicken tikka or paneer tikka come to mind. This Cauliflower Tikka is the healthier, low-carb version. This Indian spiced recipe might seem exotic with the list of ingredients, but it is fairly easy to make. Marinate the cauliflower and then bake it. Pair with a simple raita and salad to get a restaurant-style appetizer/snack, or enjoy it as a low-carb side dish. If you love cauliflower, you will also love my cauliflower pakora and air fryer aloo gobi recipe. And if you’re a fan of tandoori dishes, you’ll love tandoori paneer, chicken tikka kebab, and tandoori aloo tikka.
Ingredients
Cauliflower – A medium to large head of cauliflower, cut into about 1 and 1/2 inch florets. Yogurt – I use Greek yogurt or thick full-fat plain yogurt. Gram flour – This helps the marinade stick better to the cauliflower wings. This is an optional ingredient, so feel free to skip it if you don’t have it. Lime juice – Adds a tanginess to the final dish Spices – I like to use a number of aromatic Indian spices such as turmeric, cumin, garam masala, chaat masala, and red chili powder. Ginger & Garlic – Freshly grated or use ginger garlic paste Dried fenugreek leaves: Also known as Kasoori methi, gives the dish a delicious aroma. If you don’t have it, it is okay to skip it. Garnish: lime wedges, chaat masala, and onion rounds
How to Make?
I looked at many existing recipes when preparing for this one. However, I found that most recipes boil the cauliflower before air frying. But that is too much work. I like 1-step processes. so I tried to directly air fry or roast in the oven. The results were great. It is less work and the same taste.
Cut the Cauliflower
Rinse the cauliflower under tap water and wipe it dry. Cut and discard the stem. Then cut the cauliflower into 1-inch pieces. Here is my post about how to steam cauliflower, where I also detail how to easily cut a cauliflower. For this tandoori cauliflower wings recipe, you want to make sure to keep chopping the florets along with the stems. This helps for the cauliflower pieces to not get mushy and hold their shape as they are cooked.
Prepare the Marinade & Add Cauliflower
Mix all the ingredients to make the marinade in a bowl.
This marinade is super flavorful, and adding Kashmiri red chili powder gives the cauliflower starter a wonderful color.
Now add the florets to the marinade and gently coat them. You can coat it with a spoon or use your hands.
Air Fryer Method
Transfer the cauliflower florets to the air fryer basket. Arrange them in a single layer. Cook in multiple batches if needed.
Brush or spray with oil and bake at 360°F (or 180℃) for 18 mins.
Shake in between at 10 minutes. (Note: Check after 16 minutes and adjust cooking time as needed)
Crispy Cauliflower Tikka Bites from your air fryer are ready to be devoured.
Transfer to a serving platter. Sprinkle the juice of a lemon and enjoy with fresh mint cilantro chutney or yogurt dipping sauce.
Oven Method
Preheat the oven to 400°F/ 200°C. Place the cauliflower florets on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Spread them in a single layer. Brush or spray with oil. Roast the tandoori gobi for 18-20 minutes. Now set the oven to “broil” and cook for 3 more minutes. Take out and serve! Note: This recipe was created in 2017 and updated with new pictures in 2022. Below is an image from 2017.
Tandoori Cauliflower Tikka Skewers
You can also thread the marinated cauliflower into skewers and cook it on the air fryer, oven, or grill. I used bamboo skewers. To avoid burning the skewers, soak them in water for 30 minutes before putting them together. If you have a batch of stainless steel or metal skewers on hand, you can use them without soaking them. I have shown below how I cooked the skewers in the air fryer. Perfectly cooked and so delicious! Check 25 Indian Recipes you can make in the air fryer!
Pro-Tips
I used gram flour, also called besan, in this recipe. If you don’t have access to it, try with all-purpose flour or rice flour. I tried them, and they were great and crispier. It is just a tad bit healthier (and more authentic) with gram flour. If you don’t have all the spices mentioned, vary with the spices you have at hand. Also, adjust the spice level to your taste. Another great thing about this Tandoori Gobi is that you can prep the marinade with the cauliflower florets and refrigerate the day before. Perfect for entertaining! Tandoori Broccoli – This could be a great appetizer to make with broccoli too. Marinate the same way. You will need to adjust the cooking time for broccoli, as it cooks quicker than cauliflower. I typically air fry broccoli for about 6-8 minutes at 350F.
What to serve with Tandoori Cauliflower
Serve tandoori gobi with mint cilantro chutney as an appetizer. If you like a milder dip, try my yogurt dipping sauce. Add the roasted cauliflower to a Buddha bow, such as this sorghum grain bowl or roasted sweet potato quinoa buddha bowl. Add the cauliflower tikka bites to the wraps. Check out my paneer Frankie recipe for how to make the most delicious wraps or Kathi rolls. This roasted tandoori cauliflower is great to add to salads too. You can also serve them as a veggie side with meat or Indian curries.
How to Store?
This is a great dish to meal prep. You can prep the marinade, chop the cauliflower and refrigerate it. Mix them and roast them for a weeknight dinner. Cooked Tandoori cauliflower stays fresh in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Reheat in the preheated oven or air fryer for about 5 minutes.
Do you wash cauliflower before roasting?
I always like to wash cauliflower and dry it before using it. The drying helps so that the marinade does not get runny and the roasted cauliflower is crispy. I hope you enjoy this easy recipe!
