Cauliflower fry or gobi fry is a delicious south Indian street style snack with cauliflower florets. These are super crispy, fiery hot and delicious snack often made to order and served piping hot.
In this post I am sharing a very easy recipe to make fried cauliflower florets made without any colorants. The post also includes instructions for making this dish in oven or air fryer.
You can serve these as such with tomato ketchup or add some chopped coriander leaves, finely chopped raw onions and serve with lemon wedges. Vegan recipe.
Cauliflower recipes commonly known as gobi are super popular street food in in south India. Gobi manchurian, gobi 65, cauliflower pakora, this crispy cauliflower fry are variations of gobi recipes.
While the cauliflower fry from street shops are very delicious, they are mostly made of loads of colorants, taste enhancers like ajinomoto but we can make the same dish at home with clean ingredients. Read on to know more 🙂
About Gobi Fry Recipe
Cauliflower fry or gobi fry is a popular and tasty south Indian street food. To make this dish blanched cauliflower florets are coated in spice powders, tossed in flours and deep fried until crispy and golden.
For such a simple recipe, this dish tastes super addictive, delicious and very hearty. You can flavor this dish in so many ways.
I have never eaten cauliflower fry from those shops but they are very tempting for sure. So I make crispy cauliflower fry at home when fresh cauliflowers are in season.
I do not add sauce or colors to my gobi fry recipe. Just a dash of kashmiri red chili powder gives the vibrant color to these fries.
Making cauliflower fry is easy and quick. We need very few ingredients that are easily available. If you wish you can add some tomato sauce in this recipe to make street style gobi fry. I have added rice flour in this recipe for crispness. You can even add corn flour but adding rice flour yields in crispier gobi fry.
Serve cauliflower fry as snack or side dish with fried rice. Making cauliflower fry is easy and quick. We need very few ingredients that are easily available. If you wish you can add some tomato sauce in this recipe to make street style gobi fry. I have added rice flour in this recipe for crispness. You can even add corn flour but adding rice flour yields in crispier gobi fry.
Serve cauliflower fry as snack or side dish with fried rice. If you are looking for more such snack recipes do check crispy baby corn, baby corn roast, vendakai varuval, aloo 65 recipes.
Ingredients & Substitutes
Cauliflower Florets
Use fresh and tender cauliflower head for best taste. Separate it into bite sized florets so that they atre easy to deep fry or bake.
I usually blanch the cauliflower briefly before using it in any recipe. This step is to remove any worms present in it.
Sub- Instead of cauliflower you can use broccoli, chopped mushrooms or paneer.
Plain Flour & Rice Flour
Along with plain flour, I like to use a bit of rice flour. Adding rice flour makes the fried cauliflower super crispy and also this cauliflower fry stays crispy for some time.
Instead of rice flour you can also add corn flour. I have never tried using wheat flour instead of plain flour for this fried gobi recipe.
Spice Powders
For this cauliflower fry recipe you will need turmeric powder, red chilli powder, a pinch of garam masala powder. Use Kashmiri red chili powder for a vibrant color with mild heat.
For a different flavor you can also try adding tandoori masala or any of favorite spice rub.
Other Ingredients
Ginger garlic paste, curry leaves, salt, pepper powder, oil for deep frying, lemon juice, coriander leaves.
How To Make Cauliflower Fry Recipe
Preparation
Pick a fresh and tender head of cauliflower and separate it to bite sized florets.
Bring a large pot of water to rolling boil. Add the florets and a big pinch of salt and a small pinch of turmeric powder. Switch off the heat and let the florets sit for 2-3 minutes.
Drain the gobi florets in a colander and rinse in cold water.

2. Add cauliflower florets to a mixing bowl. Add turmeric powder, salt, chili powder, garam masala powder, chaat masala powder, chopped curry leaves, ginger garlic paste and mix well so that the spices coat all the florets.

3. Sprinkle rice flour, plain water and toss well. Add few tablespoons water and mix well.

Deep Fry The Florets
Heat oil for deep frying. Take each floret separately and gently drop in the hot oil.
Deep fry until the gobi turns crispy and golden brown in medium flame.

Drain excess oil from crispy gobi on a kitchen towel. Serve absolutely delicious cauliflower fry as evening snack. You can add some chopped coriander leaves, finely chopped raw onions and few drops of lemon juice or lemon wedges while serving for restaurant style gobi fry.
Baked Crispy Gobi
Instead of deep frying you can bake or use an air fryer to make this recipe. Prepare the cauliflower mixture as mentioned.
Preheat oven at 200 C or 400 F. Arrange the prepared cauliflower mixture on a greased baking sheet as single layer. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the florets turn crispy and golden brown. You can alsi use an air fryer.
Expert Tips
Blanching cauliflower helps in removing any worms but make sure not to overdo it. If you blanch for long time the cauliflower will soak up oil while frying and turn very mushy.
Vary the quantity of spice powders as per taste. You can even more few spices like coriander powder, roasted cumin powder or crushed cumin seeds for more flavor.
For a vibrant color and flavor you can add 1 tablespoon tomato ketchup.
Instead of rice flour you can add corn flour too.
For a mild tangy taste, you can add 1 tablespoon yogurt to the cauliflower mixture.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, this recipe contains plain flour. To make vegan gobi fry use rice flour and chickpea flour.
Yes, as I have not used yogurt in this recipe.
More Cauliflower Recipes
Are you making this recipe? I would love to see a snap of your creation too. Do snap a pic and share on Instagram with hashtag #cookclickndevou and please give a star rating ★ in the recipe card above. Follow us on Pinterest , Instagram, Facebook for more recipes and ideas.
Recipe

Cauliflower Fry Recipe – Gobi Fry
1 CUP = 250 ml
Ingredients
- 2 cups cauliflower florets from 1 medium head gobi
- 2 tablespoons rice flour
- 2 tablespoons plain flour
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1/2 teaspoon garam masala powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon ginger garlic paste
- 6 curry leaves
- Salt to taste
- Oil to deep fry
- Water for blanching cauliflower
Instructions
- Blanch cauliflower florets in salted hot water for 5 minutes. rinse under cold water and spread on a plate as single layer.
- Add cauliflower florets to a mixing bowl. Add turmeric powder, salt, chili powder, garam masala powder, chaat masala powder, chopped curry leaves, ginger garlic paste and mix well so that the spices coat all the florets.
- Add rice flour and toss well.
- heat oil for deep frying. Take each floret separately and gently drop in the hot oil.
- Deep fry until the gobi turns crispy and golden. Drain excess oil and serve cauliflower fry as snack.
pavitra says
Street style gobi fry looks so crispy and tempting!
Edmund says
Excellent recipe. I made it with broccoli and absolutely loved it. I used sumac spice rub.
Vasanta Ranganathan says
If you can you please publish some dyalisis patient friendly vegetarian recipes for a 90 year old person, I shall be obliged.
Ramesh Niyyogi says
I’m looking forward for different recipies with cabbage
viki says
these foods looks so good you want to try all.
Shirley says
Have you made these in an Airfryer? I avoid deep frying, but would like to try this recipe.