These easy Blooming Onions are double coated with a slightly spicy breading and deep fried to golden perfection. They are better than Outbacks and super simple to make. Don’t forget the dipping sauce or for a change of pace try them with Yum Yum Sauce (Japanese Hibachi Style) or Southern Comeback Sauce.
Now you can make your own Blooming Onion right in the confines of your own kitchen at your convenience. If you like onion rings or onion straws than you are sure to love these crispy onions. Are you always in a hurry? No problem make the dipping sauce up to two days in advance and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Not into deep frying? They are delicious cooked in an air fryer. Simply preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees. Prepare the onion per the recipe instructions however cook it in the air fryer basket for about 10 minutes or until crispy and golden brown.
How do you make a Blooming Onion?
Mixing the sauce
Combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, horseradish, ketchup, paprika, garlic powder and cayenne pepper. Chill this while you prepare the onions.
Preparing the onion
Start by cutting the onions. Cut a small flat spot on the none root end of the onion. Now remove any dried or damaged peels. Place the onion flat side down on a cutting board (root side up). Now using a sharp knife starting about 1/2 inch from the root make a clean slice downward. Next turn the onion one quarter turn and make another clean slice downward. Follow that with two more quarter turns and two more clean slices downward.
Now you should have four clean slices down on the onion equally spaced apart. Now cut three to four equal spaced cuts downward in each of those four sections. Then turn the onion root side down and gently fan out those sections.
Breading the onion
First in a large bowl big enough to hold the onion whisk together the milk and eggs. Then in another large bowl combine the flour, paprika, cumin, oregano, thyme, salt, cayenne pepper, black pepper and garlic powder. Now put one of the cut onions in the flour mixture. Using your hands coat the onion with the flour mixture spreading and separating the onion to make sure that it all gets breaded. Now dunk the onion into the egg mixture. Then back into the flour mixture using your hands to coat the onion.
Deep frying the onion
Use a heavy pan like a dutch oven and heat the oil to 375 degrees. Using a skimmer ladle or tongs carefully place the onion root side up in the hot oil. Fry for about 6 minutes or until a deep golden brown. Next remove the onion to paper towels to drain. For best results serve promptly with the homemade dipping sauce.
Tips for making a Blooming Onion
- If available use sweet Vidalia Onions
- Try to maintain a consistent fry temperature of 375 degrees. Use a candy or deep fry thermometer. Dutch ovens are good heavy pans to fry in. Because of their thickness they maintain and hold heat well.
- If you have a deep fryer that is big enough use it.
- For best results do not crowd the frying pan. Instead fry in batches.
- Stay real close when frying the onions. They will take anywhere from 5-7 minutes to reach a deep golden brown.
- The sauce can be made up to two days in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- These fried onions are best served promptly while they are warm and crisp.
- Not into deep frying? Preheat an air fryer to 400 degrees. Load onion into air fryer root side down and cook 9-10 minutes.
Other appetizers you will love!!
This post was published July 17, 2015 and was republished April 27, 2020 with new content.
PrintBlooming Onion
An easy recipe for crispy Blooming Onions that is just as tasty if not better than any Outback restaurant. Make some for your family today and don’t forget the tasty dipping sauce.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Total Time: 38 minutes
- Yield: 3 blooming onions 1x
- Category: appetizer
- Method: deep fry
- Cuisine: Southern
Ingredients
Dipping Sauce
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 1/2 tablespoons creamy horseradish
- 1 1/2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
Fried Blooming Onions
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 2 cup flour
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 3 medium sweet onions
- Vegetable oil
Instructions
- Combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, horseradish, ketchup, paprika, garlic powder and cayenne pepper.
- Whisk egg and milk in bowl wide and deep enough to dunk the onion.
- Mix flour, paprika, cumin, dried oregano, thyme, salt, cayenne pepper, black pepper and garlic powder in bowl wide enough to fit the onion.
- Cut a small flat spot on the none root end of the onion. Remove any dried or damaged peels. Place the onion flat side down on a cutting board (root side up). Using a sharp knife starting about 1/2 inch from the root make a clean slice downward. Turn the onion one quarter turn and make another clean slice downward. Follow that with two more quarter turns and two more clean slices downward. Cut three to four equal spaced cuts downward in each of those four sections. Then turn the onion root side down and gently fan out the sections.
- Put the onion in the bowl with the flour mixture. Using your hands coat the onion with the flour mixture spreading and separating the onion to make sure that it all gets breaded. Now dunk the onion into the egg mixture. Then back into the flour mixture using your hands to coat the onion.
- Heat oil in a heavy pan to 375 degrees. You will need just enough oil to cover the onion. Fry the onions root side up for 5-7 minutes. Drain on paper towels.
- Serve promptly with the dipping sauce.
Keywords: air fryer blooming onion, blooming onion batter, how to make a blooming onion, how to cut a blooming onion
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