Tandoori Broccoli Tikka is a fusion appetizer recipe prepared by marinating broccoli in a spiced yogurt-based marinade and grilled in an air fryer or oven.
Check out more Tandoori Vegetable recipes like Tandoori Aloo, Tandoori Gobi, and Paneer Tikka.
I used my Instant Vortex Plus 6 Quart Air Fryer for this recipe. I love this because you can get the food in a single layer all at once, and dinner is ready in 30 minutes or less. Any air fryer brand like Cosori 5.8QT, Cuisinart Air Fryer Oven, Ninja Foodi, Instant Pot Duo Crisp works here.
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Tandoori Broccoli Recipe Ingredients
- Broccoli: I have made this recipe with fresh organic broccoli available in supermarkets. Clean and cut into bite-sized florets.
- Yogurt: Use plain full-fat hung curd or Greek yogurt for a thick creamy marinade.
- Gram Flour: also known as besan, is added to help broccoli to coat well and not stick to the air fryer basket/pan. I roast it slightly in a pan on low heat until fragrant and brown (around 2 minutes), cool, and use.
- Ginger and garlic: Mince them finely or use paste.
- Spices: I have used turmeric, Kashmiri red chili powder, cumin powder, garam masala (or tandoori masala), chat masala, and salt.
- Oil: I used olive oil for cooking.
- Kasuri Methi (Dried fenugreek leaves): Also known as Kasuri methi, give a nice flavor to the dish. If you don't have it, 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, 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 in the boiling water, let it cook for 1 minute (for firm broccoli), and then transfer it into a bowl filled with water and ice cubes. Once cooled, drain the water and pat them dry with a kitchen or paper towel. Or you may also steam the broccoli in Instant Pot.
In a large bowl, add hung curd, besan, ginger-garlic paste, turmeric powder, red chili powder, cumin powder, garam masala, chaat masala, kasuri methi, lemon juice, salt, oil, and mix everything together.
Then add the blanched/steamed broccoli florets and mix until each piece of the broccoli is coated well with the marinade. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 15-20 minutes.
Preheat the air fryer to 360°F (180°C). Add the marinated broccoli florets to the air fryer basket and spread them in a single layer (cook in batches if required). Brush or spray some oil on the top, ensuring the broccoli doesn't dry out.
Air fry at 360°F (180°C) for 8-10 minutes or until edges start browning and turn crispy. Shake the basket halfway through.
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 evenly in a single layer.
Bake at 425°F for 15-20 minutes. Then broil on high for 2-3 minutes till they turn charred and crispy on the edges. Turn halfway through cooking time.
Tandoori Broccoli Serving Suggestions
Serve tandoori broccoli tikka with
- green chutney
- onion salad or slices
- lemon wedges
- and a glass of mango lassi or a hot cup of masala chai.
Tips to make the Best Tandoori Broccoli
- 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 also add onion, bell peppers, and zucchini to this recipe.
- Keto: If you want to make keto broccoli tikka bites, then skip besan (gram flour) in this recipe.
More Broccoli Recipes
More Air Fryer Recipes
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Air Fryer Tandoori Broccoli
Ingredients
For the Marinade
- ½ cup hung curd (or greek yogurt)
- 1 tablespoon besan (gram flour or chickpea flour)
- 1 tablespoon ginger garlic paste
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon kashmiri red chilli powder
- ½ teaspoon cumin powder
- 1 teaspoon chaat masala powder
- ½ teaspoon garam masala (or tandoori masala powder)
- 1 teaspoon kasuri methi
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice (or amchur powder)
- 1 tablespoon oil
- salt to taste
Other Ingredients
- 1 large head broccoli (about 20-22 medium sized florets, around 300 grams)
Garnish
- lemon wedges to serve
- onion slices to serve
- chaat masala to sprinkle
- green chutney
Instructions
- Clean, cut the broccoli head into bite-sized florets, 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 in the boiling water and let it cook for 1 minute (for firm broccoli) and then transfer into a bowl filled with water and ice cubes. Once cooled, drain out the water and pat them dry with a kitchen or paper towel. Or you may also steam the broccoli in Instant Pot.
- In a large bowl add hung curd, besan, ginger-garlic paste, turmeric powder, red chili powder, cumin powder, garam masala, chaat masala, kasuri methi, lemon juice, salt, oil, and mix everything together.Then add the blanched/steamed broccoli florets and mix until each piece of the broccoli is coated well with the marinade. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 15-20 minutes.
- Preheat the air fryer to 360°F (180°C). Add the marinated broccoli florets to the air fryer basket and spread them in a single layer (cook in batches if required). Brush or spray some oil on the top, this ensures the broccoli doesn't dry out.
- Air fry at 360°F (180°C) for 8-10 minutes or until edges start browning and turn crispy. Shake the basket halfway through.
- Remove in a serving plate, squeeze some lime juice, sprinkle chaat masala, and serve it immediately with mint yogurt chutney.
Oven Method
- Preheat the oven to 425°F (218°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange the marinated broccoli evenly in a single layer.Bake at 425°F for 15-20 minutes. Then broil on high for 2-3 minutes till they turn charred and crispy on the edges. Turn halfway through cooking time.
Notes
Tips & Variations
- 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 helps the broccoli to coat well and not stick to the air fryer basket/pan.
- Other Veggies: You can also add onion, bell peppers, and zucchini to this recipe.
- Keto: If you want to make keto broccoli tikka bites, then skip besan (gram flour) in this recipe.
Rod says
Wow! 3 out of 3 people who tried this thought it was really delicious. Definately a keeper.
Bhavana Patil says
Hi Rod, Thats so nice to hear that everyone loved it..Thank you for sharing your feedback.
Anonymous says
Amazing recipe!perfect measurements! Loved it, thanks for sharing
Bhavana Patil says
Thank you so much, I am so happy to hear that you liked the recipe. 🙂