Description
This easy blooming onion recipe brings the crispy, flavorful, and crispy goodness of a restaurant-style appetizer right to your home. Perfectly seasoned and fried until golden, this onion is served with a delicious dipping sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 large sweet onion (such as Vidalia)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup breadcrumbs (Panko works best)
- Vegetable oil (for frying)
For Dipping Sauce:
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Prepare the Onion: Peel the onion and slice off the top, keeping the root intact. Place the onion cut side down and carefully cut into 12-16 wedges, making sure not to cut through the root so that the onion stays in one piece.
- Separate the Petals: Gently pull apart the onion petals to form a “bloom.”
- Prepare the Breading: In a bowl, combine the flour, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, salt, and pepper. In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg and buttermilk. Place the breadcrumbs in a third bowl.
- Coat the Onion: Dip the onion in the flour mixture, coating it well. Then dip it in the egg mixture, followed by the breadcrumbs. Make sure the onion is fully coated and the petals are separated as much as possible to get a crispy exterior.
- Fry the Onion: Heat vegetable oil in a large pot or deep fryer to 375°F (190°C). Fry the onion for 3-5 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy. You may need to fry in batches if your pot is small.
- Prepare the Sauce: While the onion fries, mix together all the dipping sauce ingredients in a small bowl.
- Serve: Once the onion is fried, drain it on paper towels. Serve with the dipping sauce on the side.
Notes
- Make Ahead: You can prep the onion ahead of time, bread it, and store it in the fridge until ready to fry.
- Air Fryer Option: If you prefer a healthier version, you can use an air fryer to cook the blooming onion at 375°F for about 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Spicy: Adjust the cayenne pepper and add hot sauce to the dipping sauce if you like extra heat.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5-6 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 40mg