Ingredients
Blooming Onion
- 1 large sweet onion
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup milk
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Oil spray for cooking (vegetable or olive oil)
Sauce
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 2 teaspoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon horseradish
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon dried oregano
- Black pepper to taste
- Cayenne pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Sauce: In a bowl, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, ketchup, horseradish, paprika, salt, garlic powder, dried oregano, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Mix thoroughly, cover, and refrigerate to let the flavors meld.
- Slice the Onion: Cut off ½ inch from the top of the onion and peel off the outer skin. Place onion cut-side down and make four evenly spaced vertical cuts about ½ inch from the root, slicing all the way through to create flower petals.
- Separate Petals: Turn onion cut-side up and allow it to rest for 5 minutes so the petals can relax. Gently separate the outer petals using your fingers.
- Complete Cuts: Make three additional cuts between each initial petal to have a total of 16 evenly spaced petals.
- Prepare Flour Mixture: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, paprika, cayenne pepper, cumin, thyme, and oregano.
- Prepare Egg Wash: In a separate medium deep bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, and 1 cup water.
- Coat Onion with Flour: Place the onion cut-side up in the flour mixture bowl. Spoon the flour mixture over the onion, making sure to coat between petals thoroughly. Turn onion over and gently pat off excess flour. Reserve this flour mixture.
- Dip in Egg Wash: Transfer the onion to the egg mixture, coating evenly. Let excess drip off.
- Flour Coating Again: Return the onion to the reserved flour mixture and coat thoroughly again for a double layer.
- Chill the Onion: Place the coated onion in the refrigerator to set while preheating the air fryer.
- Preheat Air Fryer: Preheat the air fryer at 350ºF (175ºC) for 10 minutes.
- Prepare for Cooking: Remove the blooming onion from the refrigerator and generously spray it with cooking oil.
- Create Foil Sling: Make a sling using a sheet of aluminum foil to lift the onion in and out of the air fryer basket easily.
- Air Fry the Onion: Place the onion cut-side up in the air fryer basket on the foil sling. Cook at 350ºF for 25 minutes, spraying the onion with oil 2 to 3 times during cooking to help it crisp evenly.
- Finish and Serve: Carefully remove the onion using the foil sling. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm with the prepared dipping sauce and enjoy your crispy, flavorful blooming onion appetizer!
Notes
- Be gentle when separating the onion petals to avoid breaking the bloom.
- Spraying oil multiple times during air frying helps achieve a crispy, golden texture similar to deep frying.
- Use a large sweet onion for the best size and flavor.
- This appetizer can be prepared ahead by making the sauce and coating the onion, then refrigerating before cooking.
- If you do not have an air fryer, this recipe can be adapted for oven baking or deep frying, but cooking times and oil use will differ.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
