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Epicurious

Air Fryer Cauliflower

By Jesse Szewczyk

5.0

(2)

Fried cauliflower in a bowl with salt pepper and chopped parsley.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich

This air fryer cauliflower recipe makes the perfect accompaniment to just about anything, so it’s a great way to change up your dinnertime cauliflower game. Cauliflower’s firm texture means it typically takes a long time to cook, but the air fryer makes quick work of it, tenderizing it in a fraction of the usual time while caramelizing the exterior nicely. You wind up with crisp-tender and deeply browned florets, generously seasoned with smoked paprika and garlic powder, mimicking the flavors of long-roasted vegetables. Feel free to add any other spices your heart desires: onion powder, ground cumin, and cayenne pepper would all be welcome additions.

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What you’ll need

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    30 minutes

  • Yield

    4 servings

Ingredients

1 medium head of cauliflower (1½–1¾ lb.), cut into florets
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 tsp. Diamond Crystal or 1¼ tsp. Morton kosher salt, plus more
1 tsp. freshly ground pepper, plus more
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. smoked paprika
Chopped parsley (for serving; optional)

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Heat air fryer to 400°. Combine 1 medium head of cauliflower (1½–1¾ lb.), cut into florets, ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil, 2 tsp. Diamond Crystal or 1¼ tsp. Morton kosher salt, 1 tsp. freshly ground pepper, 1 tsp. garlic powder, and 1 tsp. smoked paprika in a large bowl and toss until cauliflower is evenly coated.

    Step 2

    Transfer cauliflower mixture to an air fryer basket, arrange in a single layer, and air-fry, shaking halfway through, until browned and crisp-tender, 15–19 minutes. (If your air fryer is too small to fit all of the cauliflower in a single layer, cook in 2 batches.)

    Step 3

    Taste cauliflower and season with more salt and pepper if needed. Transfer to a plate and top with chopped parsley if desired.

TagsEpicuriousCauliflowerVegetableGarlicRoot VegetablePaprikaHerbs & SpicesAir FryerQuickEasySideDinnerLunch

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