This air fryer cauliflower recipe will leave you with crispy and crunchy cauliflower florets, but they require no oil. With just a few staple ingredients, they’re easy to make and delicious.
Air Fried Cauliflower with Yoghurt Sauce is a good starter for family dinners. With its smooth and crispy texture, it is good appetizing for starting delicious meal!
If you’re looking for an easy side to pair with your air fryer whole chicken, or baked lamb chops, these air fryer cauliflower fries are just the thing for you!
When it comes to keeping things light during the midweek, we’re all about our favorite garden salads, or Caesar salads, but sometimes adding something different to the table is not a bad thing.
These Air Fried Cauliflower with Yoghurt Sauce can be served with light salads or alongside your favorite Haitian Black Rice.
Cauliflower – Quick Background
Cauliflower is originated from East Mediterranean, especially in Arabic Peninsula or Cyprus Island. It has long history, from the 12th Century.
Cauliflower came to the Continental Europe in early 16th Century, from Genoa to France. In time of Louis XIV, Cauliflower started to appear on grand table of the King.
By the 19th Century, British Empire’s merchants started to sell and grow Cauliflower in all over India.
Yoghurt Sauce – Quick Background
With amazing smooth texture and with taste of garlic powder and lemon juice, the sauce will be amazing garnish for this Air Fryer Cauliflower.
Yoghurt is originally from Asia; from old Turks to be more specific. In modern times, it started to produce by food industry. It can be found in two types – The Turkish Style and the Greek Style version. The Turkish style yogurt is thicker and has more fat. Also, has more salt than Greek the version.
The Greek version has less fat, but more sugar. The Greek version’s texture smoother than Turkish version. Although we recommend using the tykish style yogurt, if you can’t find it, then fill free to use the Greek yogurt.
Ingredient Variations & Substitution
If you are vegan, we recommend using only olive oil, peanut oil, or grape-seed oil. For the yogurt, you can use cashew yogurt, however, it will alter the taste of this recipe.
For this recipe you’ll need the following ingredients:
- Cauliflower – This is your main ingredient. Clean the cauliflower thoroughly. Break the florets into small to medium-sized pieces.
- Spices. Keep the spices as basic as possible. We used garlic powder, paprika, white ground pepper (or black pepper will also work), and kosher salt (you may also use sea salt).
- Panko bread crumbs. The breadcrumbs will create a crispy outer layer.
- Milk and Egg – The milk and eggs will be combined and be used as a binding agent. This combination will help the seasoning stick to the cauliflower and will to provide a golden crispy texture.
The full recipe with the exact ingredient measurements is listed below in the recipe card.
How To Make Air Fried Cauliflower
To make this cauliflower in the air fryer is very easy. Here’s a quick step by step guide on how to make this recipe perfectly every single time.
As you prepare yourself to make this side dish, here are your steps:
First, clean your cauliflower. Clean your cauliflower then pat them dry. Cut the florets into small to medium sized pieces. Set the cauliflower florets aside.
Milk and Eggs Mixture. Mix the milk and the eggs together in a large bowl. Whisk well to combine.
Prepare the seasoning base. In a separate bowl (large), combine the bread crumbs, salt, ground pepper, paprika, and garlic powder together. Mix well and set aside.
Blanch the Cauliflower. In medium size saucepan, bring about 2 cups of water to boil. Then add the cauliflower once the water starts to boil. Blanch for about 3-5 minutes. Fill free to work in batches if necessary.
Remove the cauliflower from the water and set aside on a paper towel plate until cool enough to touch.
Start the coating process. Once your cauliflower is cooled enough to touch, start the by transferring the cauliflower to the milk and eggs mixture.
Next transfer the cauliflower to the breadcrumb mixture. Use a slotted spoon to help drain the milk.
Coat the cauliflower with the bread crumbs mixture on all sides. Then transfer the eggs to the air fryer basket. Work in batches if necessary.
Air fry the cauliflower for 10 minutes but no more than 12 minutes at 370 degrees.
Serve with yogurt sauce and enjoy.
For the yogurt sauce. Combine the yogurt, garlic powder, salt, and lemon juice together. Whisk well. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Storing & Reheating
Making cauliflower in the air fryer is very easy. This side dish is beast consumed on the day it was prepared. However, if you have any leftovers, place the leftover cauliflower in an airtight container and refrigerate.
To reheat, you can microwave your air fryer cauliflower; however, it will not be as crispy. If you must reheat the side dish, we recommend popping them in the oven and reheat at 350 degrees until heated through.
Tips To Make The Best Cauliflower In The Air Fryer
- Best to work in batches. It’s essential that you work in batches. Spread the cauliflower florets in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving a little space between each one. If they’re too crowded, the florets may steam inside the air fryer, and they won’t get crispy. Work in batches if necessary.
- Do NOT skip the blanching process. Blanching the cauliflower will ensure that it stays soft on the inside while crispy on the outside.
- Keep cooking if not crispy yet. Every air fryer is different. We used our Crux air fryer for this recipe. The exact timing will vary based on your particular air fryer. We recommend checking your first batch around the 10 minute mark and adjusting your timing based on how they look at that stage. For our air fryer, 10 minutes was sufficient.
Serving Suggestions
On their own, these air fryer cauliflower fries make an addictive snack or appetizer. Fill free to serve them as part of a meal. They are great with burgers, like this salmon burger.
If you are having them as snacks, fill free to pair them with our spinach dip, or with our chimichurri sauce, and even our Tzatziki Sauce.
Of course, this air fried cauliflower are also great as part of a complete meal. Pair them with any of these recipes for a fun, delicious meal:
More Air Fryer Recipes You’ll Love
This air fryer cauliflower recipe is fantastic, we promise you’ll love it. You can vary it so easily or follow this recipe exactly. Either way, it’ll become a staple in your house. Enjoy!
Here are a few more air fryer recipes to enjoy.
Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Wings
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How To Make The Best Air Fryer Cauliflower
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 ½ Cups Cauliflower Florets Cleaned and washed
- 1 Cup Panko Bread Crumbs Plain
- 2 Large Eggs
- 1 Cup Milk
- 1 Tsp. Kosher Salt Or to taste
- ¼ Tsp. White Ground Pepper Or black pepper
- 1 Tsp. Garlic Powder
- 2 Tsp. Paprika
For The Yogurt Sauce
- ½ Cup Plain Yogurt
- ½ Tsp. Garlic Powder
- ¼ Tsp. Salt
- Juice From ½ Lemon
Instructions
- Clean and wash the cauliflower then pat it dry. Cut the florets into small to medium sized pieces. Set the cauliflower florets aside.Milk and Eggs Mixture. Mix the milk and the eggs together in a large bowl. Whisk well to combine.Prepare the seasoning base. In a separate bowl (large), combine the bread crumbs, salt, ground pepper, paprika, and garlic powder together. Mix well and set aside.Blanch the Cauliflower. In medium size saucepan, bring about 2 cups of water to boil. Then add the cauliflower once the water starts to boil. Blanch for about 3-5 minutes. Fill free to work in batches if necessary.Remove the cauliflower from the water and set aside on a paper towel plate until cool enough to touch.
- Start the coating process. Once your cauliflower is cooled enough to touch, start the by transferring the cauliflower to the milk and eggs mixture.Next transfer the cauliflower to the breadcrumb mixture. Use a slotted spoon to help drain the milk.Coat the cauliflower with the bread crumbs mixture on all sides. Then transfer the eggs to the air fryer basket. Work in batches if necessary.Air fry the cauliflower for 10 minutes but no more than 12 minutes at 370 degrees.Serve with yogurt sauce and enjoy.
- For the yogurt sauce. Combine the yogurt, garlic powder, salt, and lemon juice together. Whisk well. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Video
Notes
- Best to work in batches. It’s essential that you work in batches. Spread the cauliflower florets in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving a little space between each one. If they’re too crowded, the florets may steam inside the air fryer, and they won’t get crispy. Work in batches if necessary.
- Do NOT skip the blanching process. Blanching the cauliflower will ensure that it stays soft on the inside while crispy on the outside.
- Keep cooking if not crispy yet. Every air fryer is different. We used our Crux air fryer for this recipe. The exact timing will vary based on your particular air fryer. We recommend checking your first batch around the 10 minute mark and adjusting your timing based on how they look at that stage. For our air fryer, 10 minutes was sufficient.
Tara
The cauliflower looks amazing, especially paired with the yogurt sauce! I love that it comes together without oil thanks to the air fryer. Such a great texture!
Mirlene
Thank you so much, Tara!!!!
Gina
Love this crunchy coating! Best way to eat cauliflower!
Mirlene
It’s the best. Hope you get a chance to try it.
Amanda Dixon
This is such a great way to cook cauliflower! They turned out perfectly crispy, and that yogurt sauce was absolutely delicious.
Mirlene
Thank you so much, Amanda
Lauren Michael Harris
I could eat cauliflower every single day so I am always happy to find new recipes for it. This air fryer version is healthier and so easy!!
Mirlene
Thank you Lauren
Roxana
I love air fryer recipes and have been looking for some more. This is perfect and all the tips are so useful.
Mirlene
Thank you very much, Roxana.