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–+ servings

Air Fryer Blooming Onion

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A healthier take on a classic appetizer, this Air Fryer Blooming Onion is a fun and crispy dish perfect for gatherings or family dinners.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 150
Ingredients Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

For the blooming onion
  • 1 large sweet onion (Vidalia works best) Cut top and peel outer skin.
  • 2 large eggs, beaten For coating.
  • 1/4 cup milk For coating.
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour For coating.
  • 1 tablespoon paprika For seasoning.
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder For seasoning.
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder For seasoning.
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper Adjust to taste.
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 spray olive oil spray For air frying.
  • Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
For the dipping sauce
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise Can substitute with Greek yogurt.
  • 2 tablespoons ketchup
  • 2 teaspoons horseradish sauce
  • 1/4 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Cut off about 1/4 inch from the top of the onion, ensuring you don't cut through the root end. Peel the outer skin away from the onion.
  2. Place the onion cut-side down on your cutting board. Carefully make cuts down through to the board, spacing about 1/4 inch apart (aim for 12-16 cuts).
  3. Flip the onion right-side up and very gently spread apart the layers to create the 'petals'.
Coating
  1. In one bowl, whisk together the eggs and milk. In another bowl, combine the flour, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, salt, and black pepper.
  2. Sprinkle a generous amount of the flour mixture over the onion, ensuring it gets between each petal. Shake off any excess flour.
  3. Dip the onion into the egg mixture, ensuring it gets between all the petals. Coat again with the flour mixture and shake off the excess.
Cooking
  1. Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C) and spray the basket lightly with olive oil.
  2. Place the onion root-side down in the air fryer basket and spray lightly with olive oil. Cook for 12-15 minutes until golden brown and crispy.
  3. If it’s browning too quickly, cover the top with foil.
Serving
  1. While the onion cooks, combine all the dipping sauce ingredients in a small bowl.
  2. Once cooked, transfer the blooming onion to a serving plate, garnish with parsley if desired, and serve hot alongside the dipping sauce.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 150kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 3gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 200mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1g

Notes

If the onion doesn’t separate easily, a quick soak in ice water for a few minutes can help. Consider a second dip in the egg wash before the final flour coating for extra crispiness.
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