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    Home » Recipes

    Air Fried Cauliflower in Five Spice

    July 20, 2023 by Kankana Saxena

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    Air fried cauliflower in five spice is a simple side dish that comes together in less than 20 minutes. You can use the air fried cauliflower in wraps, add in your bowl meal or enjoy with rice and daal.

    Air Fried Cauliflower with five spice

    What is Five Spice

    Five spice here is referred to Bengali five spice, which is a mix of 5 whole spices. We call it Panch Phoron, and it is one of the most popular Bengali spice mix used very frequently in daily cooking.

    The spice is used in the beginning of cooking to add as the initial base flavor of the dish. As the spic splatter in hot oil, it releases a very earthy aroma.

    Several simple stir fried dishes calls for only this panch phoron and turmeric for color.

    The Air fried cauliflower with five spice also doesn't need any other spices. It is very simple and can even be stir fried in a pan if you don't have an air fryer.

    Air Fried Cauliflower with five spice

    Ingredients you need for Air Fried Cauliflower in Five Spice

    Cauliflower florets - I used the regular white cauliflower, but you can definitely try with any other variety you have.

    Bengali Five Spice - It's a mix of five spices - cumin seeds, fenugreek seeds, fennel seeds, nigella seeds, mustard seeds. Just mix equal portion of these and you will have Bengali five spice.

    Turmeric and salt - Turmeric is mainly for color, so you can skip if you don't want to add.

    Oil - If I make this in stove top, I use mustard oil. But since I prefer the quick air fry version, I used the regular vegetable or canola oil.

    You can definitely use any other variety of spices too as per your liking.

    Steps to prepare Air Fried Cauliflower in Five Spice

    Steps to prepare

    1- Slice the cauliflower florets into bite size florets.

    2- Soak the cauliflower florets in a bowl with some salt and cover the bowl. Let the cauliflower florets soak and soften down for a while.

    Steps to prepare

    3- Drain the cauliflower from the water and place in a separate bowl. Pour little oil and sprinkle turmeric. You can skip this step if you don't have turmeric.

    4- If you have prepared panch phoron, add that to the cauliflower. If not, prepare panch phoron by mixing equal portion of the whole spices required for panch phoron/Bengali five spice.

    Steps to prepare

    5- Add the five spice and mix it around.

    6- Preheat the air fryer and cook for 14 minutes, shake once in between.

    Enjoy the air fried cauliflower with Peyaj Mushuri Dal or Lau Diye Bhaja Munger Dal  It pairs so comforting with rice and dal.

    Air fried cauliflower with five spice

    FAQs

    Can I make this dish with broccoli?

    I don't see why not! I would add just a tad bit of sugar if I use broccoli instead of cauliflower.

    Why did you soak cauliflower before air frying ?

    It softened the cauliflower, which helps to soak the flavor of the spices. It also helps to remove dirt, residue and bugs.

    How about adding some potatoes along with cauliflower?

    If you want to add potatoes, just cook the potatoes for a while before adding the cauliflower, as the potatoes will take a bit more time than the cauliflower. Or slice the potato in small bites.

    Try these easy Air Fried Dishes

    Aloo Peyajkoli Bhaja 

    Air Fried Tofu

    Air Fried Paneer Curry

    Air fried Green Beans crusted with almond and coconut 

    Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings 

    Air Fried Cauliflower with five spice

    Air Fried Cauliflower With Five Spice

    Kankana Saxena
    Air fried cauliflower in five spice is a simple side dish that comes together in less than 20 minutes. You can use the air fried cauliflower in wraps, add in your bowl meal or enjoy with rice and daal.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Soaking the cauliflower 10 minutes mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine Indian
    Servings 3 people
    Calories 85 kcal

    Ingredients
     

    • 1 Cauliflower head
    • 2 tbs panch phoron
    • 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
    • Salt to taste
    • 2 tablespoon oil

    Instructions
     

    • Slice the florets into bite size, then soak in hot water with a little salt. Let the florets soak for 10 minutes.
    • After 10 minutes, drain the florets off the water and place in a bowl. Drizzle oil, sprinkle turmeric and panch phoron. Mix it around.
    • Preheat the oven to 400F and layer on the air fryer. Air fry for 15 minutes, shake once in between.
    • Enjoy the flavorful crunchy cauliflower warm.

    Video

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1ServingsCalories: 85kcalCarbohydrates: 0.4gProtein: 0.1gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0.04gSodium: 0.3mgPotassium: 17mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 0.02gVitamin C: 0.2mgCalcium: 1mgIron: 0.3mg
    Keyword air fried recipe, cauliflower side dish, easy recipe, Weeknight Dinner

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      Kurkuri Bhindi
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      Dhonepata Murgi
    • Katla Macher kalia
      Katla Macher Kalia
    • Chenna
      How to Make Chenna

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. shanthi

      April 01, 2011 at 3:33 am

      This is my favourite and with panchphoran sure would have tasted good

    2. April @ The 21st Century Housewife

      March 30, 2011 at 5:08 am

      This sounds lovely - I can just smell those wonderful spices cooking! Thank you for explaining about your five spice mix, which sounds delicious. Also, thank you for linking it to Let's Do Brunch and I hope you will come along and link up again today 🙂

    3. daksha

      March 28, 2011 at 11:31 pm

      This is so flavorful,quick and easy .....i can't wait... i'll try today:)

    4. tasteofbeirut

      March 28, 2011 at 2:55 pm

      I have always cooked cauliflower the lebanese way, first because I like it, then because I did not know what else to do with it; this recipe is going to expand my horizons and I am looking forward to trying it real soon, thanks a bunch!

    5. CHeryl and Adam @ pictureperfectmeals.com

      March 28, 2011 at 9:28 am

      I'm sure you kitchen smells amazing all the time! This would be no exception. Adam get enough of cauliflower so I'm looking forward to filling my own kitchen with these wonderful aromas!

    6. deepika@everydaydelightful

      March 28, 2011 at 8:01 am

      Oh man...I make Cauliflower with panchphoron all the time. It is amazing how few spices make everything taste so good. very nice photos! I am glad i stumbled on ur blog via seriouseats.

    7. spiciefoodie

      March 25, 2011 at 8:36 am

      Both of these dishes are making my mouth water. Thanks for sharing and your photos are great.

    8. tigerfish

      March 24, 2011 at 1:47 pm

      I love cauliflower and some of the spices you are using here are new to me. I usually use cumin and fennel seeds and red pepper, turmeric, curry powder to cook cauliflower. I know I am going to like your cauliflower dish.

    9. Meagan @ Scarletta Bakes

      March 24, 2011 at 11:12 am

      Gosh do I love this.

      And you and I must both have cauliflower on the brain!

      Thank you so much for the amazing post. By the way, your photography is absolutely gorgeous!!

    10. Treat and Trick

      March 24, 2011 at 9:25 am

      Never tried this spice but the way you've presented those dishes look mouthwatering .....

    11. Sandra's Easy Cooking

      March 24, 2011 at 7:40 am

      Oh this looks so beautiful and really delicious! Love your photos, and thanks for sharing good info about 5 spices!

    12. Corina

      March 24, 2011 at 5:12 am

      I love discovering new spice mixes. I've never heard of Radhuni though. Would I be able to substitute another spice if I cannot find it?

      • Kankana Saxena

        March 24, 2011 at 9:19 am

        I emailed you 🙂

    13. Heather @girlichef

      March 24, 2011 at 3:59 am

      Oh my gosh, this looks so good. Such deep, rich color and flavors throughout. Plus, I just love cauliflower 😀

    « Older Comments

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