Newsletter
family dinner

My Kids Can’t Get Enough of this Curry-Spiced Cauliflower Dish (Really!)

Liz Bertrand
Liz Bertrand
Liz Rothaus Bertrand is an award-winning writer based in Charlotte, NC. She writes frequently about food, the arts, travel, education and social justice. Her work has appeared in The Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Parent magazine, and CharlotteFive. She lives with her French husband and their two bilingual kids. If she's not at her desk, check the garden or the kitchen, where she's busy mastering the art of French cuisine. Find more of her work at lizbertrand.com or follow her on Instagram and Twitter, @tournesol74.
Follow
published Sep 20, 2021
Eat

Serves4

Prep15 minutes

Cook30 minutes to 40 minutes

Jump to Recipe
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Post Image
Credit: Liz Bertrand

This piece was created for Cubby, our weekly newsletter for families at home. Want more? Sign up here for a weekly splash of fun and good ideas for families with kids. Join us over on Instagram for more!

Cubby. Real solutions for unreal times.

Join us for a weekly dose of fresh, modern ideas for life at home with your kids.

Terms of UsePrivacy Policy

This side dish goes great with burger patties or Italian sausage, and the best part is that it only requires a few ingredients and not much hands-on time. We love how flavorful and interesting it is, without being overwhelming for little palates. You could even make it the star of the show with a fried egg on top, or some tortillas for a wrap.

Credit: Liz Bertrand

Tips for success:

  1. Pre-cooking the cauliflower in a little water helps make the interior soft while the exterior still gets crunchy in the air fryer.
  2. Cauliflower reduces by about 75% in this recipe so you may want to double quantities for a family of four or triple for six. Because space is limited in the microwave and air fryer, I prepare this recipe in batches.

Curry Spiced Cauliflower

Prep time 15 minutes

Cook time 30 minutes to 40 minutes

Serves 4

Nutritional Info

Ingredients

  • 1

    medium head cauliflower (about 2 1/2 pounds)

  • 1 cup

    cold water

  • 2 tablespoons

    olive oil

  • 1 teaspoon

    kosher salt

  • 1 teaspoon

    curry powder

  • 1 teaspoon

    paprika

  • 1 teaspoon

    garlic powder

  • Pinch

    freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Trim the stem from 1 medium head cauliflower and discard or set aside for another use. Cut the cauliflower into 1 1/2-inch florets.

  2. Place the florets and 1 cup cold water in a large microwave-safe bowl or baking dish. Cover with a microwave-safe plate or plastic wrap with one corner left open so that steam can escape. Microwave until tender and easily pierced with a fork but not falling apart, 10 to 14 minutes. If your microwave does not have a turntable, stir the cauliflower every few minutes. Meanwhile, heat an air fryer to 390ºF.

  3. Drain the cauliflower through a colander. Pat the cauliflower dry with paper or kitchen towels.

  4. Place 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 teaspoon curry powder, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, and a pinch of black pepper in a large bowl and stir to combine (if you used a bowl to microwave, you can use the same bowl, just wipe it dry first). Add the cauliflower and toss until evenly coated.

  5. Transfer the cauliflower to the air fryer basket in an even layer. Air fry, shaking or tossing the cauliflower every 3 to 4 minutes, until browned and crisp, 20 to 25 minutes total.

Recipe Notes

Make ahead: The cauliflower can be cut and refrigerated in an airtight container up to 2 days ahead.

Storage: Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days.