Tandoori Broccoli - Air Fryer

Tandoori Broccoli Tikka is a delicious fusion appetizer where broccoli florets are marinated in a spiced yogurt-based mixture and then grilled to perfection in an air fryer or oven.

During my last visit to India, I enjoyed a delicious Indian vegetarian snack called tandoori broccoli at a restaurant, which was similar to tandoori gobi. Inspired by that, I decided to try making it at home using an air fryer, without the need of a traditional tandoor or an electric tandoor.

Broccoli is steamed, marinated in yogurt along with spices and then air-fried. It can be made in 30 minutes. If you don't have air fryer, you can also bake it. This appetizer is perfect for snacking or enjoy in wraps. Check out more Tandoori Vegetable recipes like tandoori aloo, tandoori gobi, and paneer tikka.

If you are looking for more Indian broccoli recipes, then check out

• Paneer Broccoli Paratha
• Broccoli Potato Stir Fry
• Broccoli Raita
• Broccoli Paneer Bhurji

Jump to:

• Ingredients
• How to Make Tandoori Broccoli in the Air Fryer
• How to Make Broccoli Tikka in the Oven
• Serving Suggestions
• Expert Tips
• Variations
• More Indian Air Fryer Recipes
• Air Fryer Tandoori Broccoli

Ingredients

• Broccoli: I used fresh organic broccoli, cleaned it thoroughly, and cut it into bite-sized florets.
• Yogurt: Use plain, full-fat hung curd or Greek yogurt for a thick, creamy marinade. Check out the detailed recipe on how to make hung curd at home.
• Besan (Gram Flour): It helps the broccoli coat well and prevents it from sticking to the air fryer basket or pan. I roast it slightly in a pan on low heat until fragrant, then cool it before using it.
• Ginger and garlic: use ginger and garlic that is freshly minced or in the form of paste.
• Spices: I have used turmeric, Kashmiri red chili powder, cumin powder, garam masala (or tandoori masala), chaat masala, and salt.
• Oil: I use olive oil for cooking.
• Kasuri Methi (Dried fenugreek leaves): Also known as Kasuri methi, it adds a nice flavor to the dish. If you don't have it, you can simply skip it.
• Lime juice: use freshly squeezed lime juice for the best flavor.

How to Make Tandoori Broccoli in the Air Fryer

Clean and cut the broccoli head into bite-sized florets, ensuring they are roughly the same size for even cooking.

The next step is to blanch the broccoli. Bring a medium-sized pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Drop the broccoli into the boiling water and let it cook for 1 minute (for firm broccoli). Then, transfer it into a bowl filled with ice water.

Once cooled, drain the water and pat the broccoli dry with a kitchen or paper towel. Alternatively, you can steam the broccoli in Instant Pot.

In a large bowl, combine hung curd, besan, ginger-garlic paste, turmeric powder, red chili powder, cumin powder, garam masala, chaat masala, kasuri methi, lemon juice, salt, and oil. Mix everything together until well combined.

Next, add the blanched or steamed broccoli florets to the bowl and gently mix until each piece is evenly coated with the marinade. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 15-20 minutes to allow the flavors to combine.

Preheat the air fryer to 360°F (180°C). Place the marinated broccoli florets in the air fryer basket in a single layer, (cook in batches if necessary). Lightly brush or spray the tops with oil to keep the broccoli from drying out.

Air fry at 360°F (180°C) for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges begin to brown and the broccoli turns crispy. Shake the basket halfway through the cooking time.

Remove in a serving plate, squeeze some lime juice, sprinkle chaat masala, and immediately serve with mint yogurt chutney.

How to Make Broccoli Tikka in the Oven

Preheat the oven to 425°F (218°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange the marinated broccoli in an even, single layer on the baking sheet.

Bake at 425°F (218°C) for 15-20 minutes, then broil on high for 2-3 minutes until the edges are charred and crispy. Turn the broccoli halfway through the cooking time for even browning.

Expert Tips

• Cut them the same size: This helps for quick and even cooking.
• Work in batches. Make sure to spread the marinated broccoli in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving some space between each other. Cook in batches if needed.
• Shake the basket halfway: It's important to shake it halfway through to allow the tandoori broccoli tikka bites to be cooked evenly.
• Marination: Let the broccoli florets marinate for at least 15-20 minutes. If you have some extra time, then let them sit for longer that way, they absorb more flavors from the marinade. 
• Besan (gram flour): I highly recommend adding besan (gram flour) to the marinade, this step ensures that the besan would help the broccoli to coat well and not stick to the air fryer basket/pan.

Variations

• Other Veggies: You can add onions, bell peppers, and zucchini.
• Keto: If you want to make keto broccoli tikka bites, then skip besan (gram flour) in this recipe.

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