Curried Air Fryer Cauliflower

This tasty Curried Air Fryer Cauliflower recipe transforms ordinary cauliflower florets into crispy, golden bites of goodness. Air frying results in a crispy texture while aromatic spices add vivid flavour and colour to this bold brassica. Enjoy this vibrant air fryer cauliflower as a side dish, afternoon nibble, or vegan party appetizer.

I get it. Not everyone loves cauliflower, including me for most of my life. However, once I learned how to cook it, I never went back to the mushy overboiled cauliflower of my childhood. I love it roasted whole with a side of Romesco dipping sauce. Additionally, cauliflower makes a wonderful winter salad combined with spinach, fresh vegetables, and herbs.

Curried Air Fryer Cauliflower

Today, I am THRILLED to share yet another of my favourite air fryer recipes with you. If you love curry, then you will also love this quick roasted Curried Cauliflower. In this case, ‘curried’ means spiced with curry seasonings, not bobbing along in a creamy coconut sauce (although that would be delicious too!).

The flavour is amazing, but the texture of this roasted cauliflower is second to none. The air fryer crisps each floret perfectly, while cooking the cauliflower stalk to tender perfection. The air fried cauliflower is very similar to air fryer buffalo cauliflower ‘wings’ but with an Indian flavour twist. 

You’ll find this air fryer roasted cauliflower incredibly addictive. I highly suggest buying two heads of cauliflower and doubling the recipe if you are serving this as an appetizer or snack for more than two people. My husband and I can eat a whole cauliflower between the two of us!

Oh! I almost forgot about the creamy yogurt sauce. While the cauliflower is not incredibly spicy, the zesty yogurt dip does help cool your tongue and keep the heat to a minimum. It’s a refreshing, yet simple combination of Greek yogurt with lemon juice, garlic, and cilantro.

For an entirely dairy-free vegan option, crispy air fryer roasted cauliflower is equally delicious with hummus.

Recipe Inspiration

Two very popular ‘dry’ Indian curries, Gobi Ki Sabzi and Aloo Gobi (potatoes and cauliflower) were the primary inspiration for this air fryer cauliflower recipe. Authentic recipes for Gobi Ki Sabzi and Aloo Gobi consist of many aromatic ingredients and sometimes extra vegetables. They are both pan-fried and sometimes steamed.

I’ve replaced the long list of aromatics with curry powder, garlic powder, and smoked paprika, resulting in a much simpler but still incredibly tasty cauliflower dish. Additionally, this simple spice mixture is great on other air fryer veggies like air fryer zucchini, air fryer broccoli, air fryer brussels sprouts, or on proteins like air fryer chicken or salmon.

Ingredients for Curried Air Fryer Cauliflower

For this recipe, you’ll need:

• Cauliflower
• Avocado Oil
• Curry Powder
• Garlic Powder
• Salt
• Black Pepper
• Smoked Paprika
• Lime
• Cilantro
• Greek Yogurt
• Lemon
• Garlic

With produce prices soaring, it is even more important to select the best head of cauliflower. Choose cauliflower with a bright white colour and little to no scent. It should have firm, tightly packed florets and be heavy for its size.

Feel free to use any light tasting vegetable cooking oil with a relatively high smoke point. Avocado oil and olive oil are perfect for this recipe.

Curry powder is a spice mix from British India designed to mimic the flavours of a ‘typical’ Indian sauce. The most common ingredients of this ‘ready-made’ garam masala are turmeric, coriander, fenugreek, cinnamon, cumin, black pepper, ginger, and cardamom.

While you can often use fresh garlic and garlic powder interchangeably, I highly recommend using garlic powder in the spice mix and fresh minced garlic in the yogurt dip for best flavour results.

Likewise, use freshly ground black pepper, fresh lemon juice, and chopped fresh cilantro and Italian parsley (if using) in this recipe only.

How to Make Air Fryer Cauliflower

This tasty recipe takes almost no time at all in an air fryer. In fact, it’s ready in under ten minutes or 15 minutes total, including prep time and cook time.

To begin, place cauliflower florets in a large bowl, drizzle them with oil and toss well to coat. Next, combine the curry powder, garlic powder, salt, paprika, and pepper together in a small bowl. PRO TIP: Feel free to add other vegetables like diced bell pepper, diced onion, asparagus, or broccoli that have a similar cooking time.

Sprinkle the curry spice mixture over the cauliflower, toss to distribute, then place the cauliflower in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Make sure there is space in between each floret to allow hot air to circulate. You may need to cook the cauliflower in batches, so the basket is not overcrowded.

Set the air fryer to cook at 375° F for 7 to 10 minutes, stopping to turn the florets over halfway through the cooking time. NOTE: Every brand of air fryer cooks slightly differently, so cooking time may vary.

Make the Yogurt Sauce

Make the cooling yogurt sauce by combining yogurt with salt, fresh lemon juice, chopped cilantro, and minced garlic together in a small bowl. Serve the cauliflower warm with the creamy yogurt sauce (or hummus) for dipping.

If you have a double air fryer or extra air fryer basket, pair this easy side dish with air fryer asparagus or air fryer chicken breast for a healthy, yet delicious meal.

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat in an air fryer, frying pan, or microwave.

Hi! I’m Bernice Hill and I’ve been the sole recipe developer, photographer, and writer at Dish ‘n’ the Kitchen for the past eleven years. It is my pleasure to share easy to follow recipes that are delicious, nutritious, and approachable for the whole family.

If you make this Curried Air Fryer Cauliflower recipe, I’d love to hear about it in the comments section or in a recipe rating. Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Pinterest for my latest recipes. Also, if you do make this recipe, please share your photos and tag me on Instagram. I hope you like this recipe!