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Home » Recipes » Air Fryer

Air Fryer Tandoori Gobi / Cauliflower Tikka Bites

Published: Aug 7, 2021 · Modified: Aug 12, 2022 by Bhavana Patil ·This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Tandoori Gobi or Cauliflower Tikka Bites is a delicious, popular Indian-style tandoori snack recipe where Gobi (Cauliflower) florets are marinated in a spiced yogurt-based marinade and grilled in the air fryer, oven, stove-top pan, or grill. Gluten-free and can be made Low Carb/Keto-friendly.

air fryer tandoori gobi served on a plate with onions, green chutney and lemon wedges

Today I am sharing how to make tandoori cauliflower/gobi in an air fryer. You can also cook it in an oven, stove-top grill pan, or BBQ grill.

You can call this cauliflower snack either tandoori gobi tikka, gobi tikka, cauliflower bites, or tandoori gobi.

What is Tikka?

Tikka is a popular Indian dish made with small chunks of meat and/or vegetables which are first marinated in a spicy yogurt marinade and then roasted in a clay oven, also known as Tandoor.

Tandoori Gobi Ingredients

tandoori gobi ingredients
  • Cauliflower - also known as Gobi in Hindi. 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 paneer and veggies 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, cool, and use. If you don't have besan then use corn flour or all-purpose flour.
  • 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.
  • 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 Gobi / Cauliflower in the Air Fryer

Clean, cut the whole cauliflower into bite-sized florets, roughly the same size for even cooking.

cauliflower florets on a chopping board

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.

Then add the cauliflower florets and mix until each piece of the cauliflower is coated well with the marinade. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 15-20 minutes.

step to prepare marination and then add cauliflower and mix collage

Preheat the air fryer to 360°F (180°C). Add the marinated cauliflower 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 cauliflower doesn't dry out.

step to place marinated gobi in the air fryer basket

Air fryer them at 360°F (180°C) for 14-18 minutes or until edges start browning and crisp. Shake the basket halfway through. Mine was cooked perfectly in 16 minutes.

air fried cauliflower tikka bites in the basket

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

air fryer gobi (cauliflower tikka bites) recipe dipped in cilantro mint chutney using a fork

How to Make Cauliflower Tikka in the Oven

Preheat the oven to 380°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange the marinated cauliflower evenly in a single layer.

Bake 15-20 minutes, or till the edges turn brown and the cauliflower reaches desired crispiness. Turn halfway through cooking time.

Serving Suggestions

Serve tandoori gobi tikka with

green chutney

onion slices

lemon wedges

and a glass of mango lassi

air fryer tikka bites served in a plate with green chutney with lemon wedges and green onion on the side

Tips & Variations

  • Cut them the same size: This helps for quick and even cooking.
  • Work in batches. Make sure to spread the marinated cauliflower 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 the basket halfway through to allow the tandoori cauliflower tikka bites to be cooked evenly.
  • If you don't have gram flour (besan), use corn starch or all-purpose flour instead.
  • Let the cauliflower 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. 
  • Highly recommend adding besan (gram flour) to the marinade, this step ensures that the besan would help cauliflower to coat well and not stick to the air fryer basket/pan.
  • You can also add onion and bell peppers to this recipe.
  • If you want to make keto gobi tikka bites, then skip besan (gram flour) in this recipe.

More Cauliflower Recipes

  • Cauliflower coconut curry
  • Cauliflower Fried Rice
  • Potato Cauliflower Stir Fry
  • Cauliflower Rice
  • Instant Pot Cauliflower
  • Cauliflower Upma

More Air Fryer Recipes

  • Onion Pakoda
  • Paneer Tikka
  • Tandoori Aloo
  • Tandoori Broccoli
  • Masala Peanuts
  • Corn Fritters
  • Beetroot Cutlet
Tried this recipe?Don’t forget to give a ★ rating below
air fryer tandoori gobi served on a plate with onions, green chutney and lemon wedges

Air Fryer Tandoori Gobi

Bhavana Patil
This Tandoori Gobi is a delicious, popular Indian style tandoori snack where Gobi (Cauliflower) florets are marinated in a spiced yogurt-based marinade, and grilled in the air fryer, oven, stove-top pan or grill.
5 from 6 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Servings: 4
Calories : 96
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Indian
Diet: Vegetarian
Method: Air Fryer, Oven
Prep Time : 10 minutes
Cook Time : 10 minutes
Resting Time : 15 minutes
Total Time : 35 minutes

Equipment

  • Air Fryer
  • Mixing Bowl Set
  • Cutting Board

Ingredients
  

Measuring cup used 1 cup = 250 ml

    For the Marinade:

    • ½ cup thick or 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

    Vegetables

    • 1 medium cauliflower (about 20 florets)

    Garnish

    • lemon wedges to serve
    • onion slices to serve
    • chaat masala to sprinkle
    • green chutney

    Instructions
     

    • Clean, cut the whole cauliflower into bite-sized florets, roughly the same size for even cooking.
      cauliflower florets on a chopping board
    • 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 cauliflower florets and mix until each piece of the cauliflower is coated well with the marinade. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 15-20 minutes.
      step to prepare marination and then add cauliflower and mix collage

    Air Fryer Method:

    • Preheat the air fryer to 360°F (180°C). Add the marinated cauliflower florets to the air fryer basket and spread them in a single layer (cook in batches if required). You can brush or spray some oil on top.
      step to place marinated gobi in the air fryer basket
    • Air fryer them at 360°F (180°C) for 14-18 minutes or until edges start browning and crisp. Shake the basket halfway through. Mine was cooked perfectly in 16 minutes.
      air fried cauliflower tikka bites in the basket
    • Remove in a serving plate, squeeze some lime juice, sprinkle chaat masala and serve it immediately with mint yogurt chutney.
      air fryer tandoori gobi served on a plate with onions, green chutney and lemon wedges

    Oven Method:

    • Preheat the oven to 380°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange the marinated cauliflower evenly in a single layer.
      Bake 15-20 minutes, or till the edges turn brown and cauliflower reaches desired crispiness. Turn halfway through cooking time.

    Video

    Notes

    Tips & Variations

    • Cut them the same size: This helps for quick and even cooking.
    • Work in batches. Make sure to spread the marinated cauliflower 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 the basket halfway through to allow the tandoori cauliflower tikka bites to be cooked evenly.
    • If you don't have gram flour (besan) then use corn starch or all-purpose flour instead.
    • Let the cauliflower 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. 
    • Highly recommend adding besan (gram flour) to the marinade, this step ensures that the besan would help cauliflower to coat well and not stick to the air fryer basket/pan.
    • You can also add onion and bell peppers to this recipe.
     
    Note: Nutrition values are my best estimates. If you rely on them for your diet, use your preferred nutrition calculator.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 96kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 6gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 63mgPotassium: 500mgFiber: 3gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 153IUVitamin C: 70mgCalcium: 64mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword air fryer tandoori cauliflower, air fryer tandoori gobi
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