Description
This Air Fryer Blooming Onion recipe transforms a classic fried appetizer into a healthier, crispy delight using an air fryer. The large sweet onion is carefully cut into a blooming flower shape, coated in a seasoned flour and egg batter, then air fried to golden perfection. Perfect as a crowd-pleaser or snack, this blooming onion is crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and served hot with your favorite dipping sauces.
Ingredients
Scale
Onion
- 1 large sweet onion
Batter and Coating
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup milk
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Oil in a spray bottle (for coating)
Instructions
- Prepare the onion: Cut off the top of the onion and peel it. Make several evenly spaced vertical cuts from the top downward, stopping before you reach the root end, to create petal-like sections that will bloom when cooked.
- Mix dry ingredients: In one bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper until combined.
- Mix wet ingredients: In a separate bowl, beat together the eggs and milk until smooth.
- Coat the onion: Dip the onion first into the flour mixture, ensuring all petals are coated. Then dip it into the egg mixture, making sure it’s well covered, followed by another thorough coating in the flour mixture. This double dredging creates the crispy texture.
- Preheat the air fryer: Set your air fryer to 350°F (175°C) and let it preheat for a few minutes.
- Oil the onion: Spray the coated onion thoroughly with oil using the spray bottle, especially between the petals, to promote crispiness and even browning.
- Air fry: Place the onion carefully in the air fryer basket. Cook for approximately 25 minutes, spraying more oil as needed halfway through to maintain a crispy texture. Cook until the onion is golden brown and crisp on the edges.
- Serve: Gently remove the blooming onion from the air fryer and serve hot with your favorite dipping sauces.
Notes
- Make sure not to cut all the way through the onion at the bottom to keep the petals attached.
- Use a sweet onion for the best flavor and tenderness.
- You can adjust the cayenne pepper quantity to control the heat level.
- Spraying oil during cooking helps achieve a fried texture without deep frying.
- Serve immediately for best crispiness.
