Description
This Bite-Sized Blooming Onions recipe offers a crispy, flavorful twist on the classic appetizer, featuring small yellow onions sliced into petal-like segments, double-coated in a seasoned flour mixture, and cooked to golden perfection. Choose to fry, bake, or air fry these crunchy delights and serve them with a zesty homemade dipping sauce made from mayonnaise, ketchup, horseradish, and smoked paprika for an irresistible snack or party treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Onions
- 6–8 small yellow onions (peeled)
Breading
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup buttermilk
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Cooking Oil
- 1–2 cups vegetable oil (for frying) or cooking spray (for baking)
Dipping Sauce
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 teaspoon horseradish
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prep the onions: Slice off the root end of each peeled small yellow onion and make 4 to 8 vertical cuts downward, stopping about ¼ inch from the base, creating petal-like segments. Place the sliced onions in ice water and soak for 30 minutes to make the petals open up and achieve a crisp texture.
- Set up breading station: Whisk together the eggs and buttermilk in one bowl. In a separate bowl, combine the all-purpose flour with paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper to create the seasoned flour mixture.
- Coat the onions: Remove onions from the ice water and pat them dry thoroughly. Dip each onion first into the egg and buttermilk mixture, ensuring it gets inside the layers, then dredge it in the seasoned flour mixture. For extra crunchiness, repeat the dipping and dredging process once more.
- Cook (choose your method):
– Fry: Heat vegetable oil in a deep fryer or heavy pot to 350°F (175°C). Fry the coated onions in batches for 2 to 3 minutes or until golden brown and crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
– Bake: Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Place the coated onions on a greased baking sheet. Lightly spray them with cooking spray for crispiness. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, flipping once halfway through the cooking time until golden and crisp.
– Air Fry: Preheat air fryer to 375°F (190°C). Arrange onions in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Cook for 15 to 18 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through until the onions are golden and crispy on the outside. - Make the sauce: In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, ketchup, horseradish, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix well until smooth. Serve the sauce alongside the blooming onions for dipping.
Notes
- Soaking the onions in ice water helps the petals open up and enhances crispiness.
- Double coating the onions with egg and flour ensures an extra crunchy texture.
- Choose the cooking method that best suits your preference or equipment availability.
- Use a thermometer to maintain accurate oil temperature when frying for best results and to reduce oil absorption.
- For a spicier dip, add a dash of hot sauce or cayenne pepper to the sauce mixture.
- This recipe can be made gluten-free by substituting the all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour blends.
