Benefits of making air fryer cauliflower
Using an cauliflower recipe saves a lot of time compared to roasting in a traditional oven. The hot air circulates around the florets to cook them evenly and quickly. You need very little oil to get a great texture and flavour. It is a convenient choice when the main oven is already busy with other food.
How to get air fryer cauliflower ready
Prepare the vegetable: Wash the cauliflower and remove any green leaves. Cut the head into small florets that are roughly the same size. This helps everything cook at the same speed in the basket. Pat the pieces dry with a clean towel to help them get crispy.
Season the florets: Place the cauliflower pieces into a large mixing bowl. Pour over the olive oil and add the garlic powder, paprika, salt and pepper. Toss everything together until every piece is well coated in the oil and spices. You can use your hands or a large spoon for this part.
Start the cooking: Place the seasoned florets into the basket in a single layer. Do not overcrowd the basket or the vegetables will steam instead of roasting. Set the temperature to 190C and cook for 15 minutes. Shake the basket halfway through the cooking time to ensure even browning.
Check and serve: Check if the cauliflower is tender by poking a piece with a fork. It should be soft with golden brown edges. If you want more colour, cook for another 2 or 3 minutes. Remove the florets from the basket and serve them immediately while they are hot.
Good advice for air fryer cauliflower
Try to cut the cauliflower into even pieces so they finish cooking at the same time. If some pieces are much larger than others, the small ones might burn before the large ones are soft. Always preheat your machine for a couple of minutes to get the best results for your cauliflower. Shaking the basket is an important step to make sure the hot air reaches all sides of the vegetables. Avoid putting too much in the basket at once as this stops the air from moving freely.
You can add a little parmesan cheese during the last two minutes of cooking for extra flavour. Serve the cauliflower as soon as it is ready to keep the texture nice and firm. If you have leftovers, you can reheat them in the machine for a few minutes to bring back the crispness.
You can find more inspiration in
air fryer croissants,
air fryer frozen chicken wings or
air fryer bacon-wrapped sausages.
