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Ultimate Crispy Air Fryer Blooming Onion with Zesty Dipping Sauce

A perfectly cooked, golden-brown Air Fryer Blooming Onions served on a white plate next to a small ramekin of dipping sauce.
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Make a restaurant-style blooming onion crispy in your air fryer. This recipe details the cutting technique, batter consistency, and cooking times for a non-soggy result.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 large sweet onion (Vidalia or similar)
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 cup milk (dairy or non-dairy)
  • Cooking spray (high heat oil recommended)
  • For the Sauce: 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons ketchup, 1 tablespoon prepared horseradish, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, 1/2 teaspoon paprika

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Onion: Peel the onion. Place the root end down on a cutting board. Make vertical cuts from the top toward the root, stopping about 1/2 inch from the root base. Rotate the onion 45 degrees and make another set of cuts. Continue rotating and cutting until you have 16 to 20 wedges. Do not cut all the way through the root. Gently spread the onion open so it resembles a flower. Rinse the cut onion under cold water to separate the layers slightly, then pat it completely dry with paper towels.
  2. Make the Dry Mix: In a shallow dish, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper.
  3. Make the Wet Mix: In a separate bowl, whisk the egg and milk until combined.
  4. Batter the Onion: Dip the entire dried onion into the wet mix, ensuring all surfaces are coated. Let excess drip off. Immediately dredge the onion in the dry mix, pressing the flour mixture firmly into all crevices to help the batter adhere. Shake off any excess flour.
  5. Air Fry: Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C). Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Place the battered onion in the basket, bloom-side up. Spray the top surface generously with cooking spray.
  6. Cook: Air fry for 15 minutes. Carefully flip the onion (use tongs or two spatulas) and spray the second side with cooking spray. Continue to air fry for another 10 to 15 minutes, or until the batter is deep golden brown and crispy. If the edges start to brown too quickly, reduce the temperature to 350°F (175°C) for the remaining time.
  7. Make the Sauce: While the onion cooks, combine all dipping sauce ingredients in a small bowl and mix well.
  8. Serve: Carefully transfer the cooked onion to a serving plate. Serve immediately with the zesty dipping sauce.

Notes

  • Drying the onion thoroughly after rinsing is key to batter adhesion.
  • For extra crispiness, you can double-dip the onion: coat in wet, coat in dry, dip back into wet, and then coat heavily in dry mix again.
  • If your air fryer basket is small, you may need to cook the onion in two batches to prevent crowding, which causes sogginess.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://delishdiarist.com/air-fryer-blooming-onions/