Air Fryer Bang Bang Cauliflower

5 from 1 vote

One bite in and you’ll wonder how cauliflower got this fun; crunchy, saucy, and full of flavour, Bang Bang Cauliflower is the ultimate snack upgrade.

Prep Time10

Cook Time30

Total Time40

Course: Snacks & Appetisers

Cuisine: Indian Chinese

Diet: Vegetarian

Servings: people

Author: Richa

Add cauliflower florets & salt to boiling water, mix for 30 seconds and drain them immediately. Do not keep longer. Rinse them with cold water & drain again. Set aside. See note 1
4 cups cauliflower florets, 4 cups boiling water, ½ teaspoon salt

Take blanched cauliflower florets in a wide bowl or deep plate. Add all ingredients given for the flour & spice mix except water and combine well with your hands. Add water, 1 tablespoon at a time and combine well. Mix with your hands to make sure the batter coats the cauliflower well. See note 2.
2 teaspoons kashmiri chilli powder, 1 tablespoon grated garlic, ¼ cup maida, 2 tablespoons cornflour, ¼ + ⅛ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon pepper powder, 2 teaspoons cooking oil, 3 tablespoons water

Add all ingredients for the sauce to a bowl, mix well and set aside. Prepare this before frying the cauliflower.
3 tablespoons mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon sriracha or red chilli sauce, 2 tablespoons sweet chilli sauce

Heat ½ cup oil in a deep pan or kadai and once it's medium hot, drop the marinated florets into the oil & fry on medium heat for 4-5 minutes or until they turn golden and crisp. Toss them immediately in the sauce and serve.

Pre-heat airfryer at 180 C. brush the airfryer basket with oil. Place the cauliflower florets with some gap between each other and air fry at 180C for 20 minutes while flipping and brushing oil every 7 minutes. Air fry at 200 C for 2 minutes till they turn golden and crisp. Toss them immediately in the sauce and serve. see note 4.
3 tablespoons cooking oil for brushing

Cauliflower is blanched exactly for 30 seconds to make it slightly tender but do not cook or leave in the boiling water for longer than 30 seconds. Over blanched cauliflower does not work for the recipe.
Water is added 1 tablespoon at a time to make sure the coating is even. If you add all 3 tablespoons of water at one spot, it might turn out watery there & stay dry at other places. Mixing well is very crucial to make sure all the cauliflower florets get marinated well with the coating.
Prepare the bang bang sauce before frying the cauliflower as the fried cauliflower must be coated in the sauce immediately after frying. This is to ensure the
Fried cauliflowers must be tossed with bang bang sauce immediately after frying, so the sauce sticks well.