Air Fryer Blooming Onion

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(8)

Use your air fryer to prepare this blooming onion, a fun appetizer resembling a flower. Serve with dipping sauce as a shared appetizer.

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an overhead view of an air fryer blooming onion served with aioli on a pink plate.
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Prep Time:
15 mins
Cook Time:
20 mins
Total Time:
35 mins
Servings:
4
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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 4 servings

Blooming Onion

  • 1 cup milk

  • 1 large egg

  • 1 cup flour

  • 3/4 teaspoon salt

  • 3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika, plus more for garnish

  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

  • 1/8 teaspoon dried thyme

  • 1/8 teaspoon cumin

  • 1 large (14- to 16-ounces) sweet onion

  • cooking spray

Dipping Sauce

  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise

  • 2 tablespoons cream-style horseradish sauce

  • 1 tablespoon ketchup

  • 1/4 teaspoon paprika

  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

  • 1/8 teaspoon dried oregano

  • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

  • 1 pinch freshly ground black pepper

Directions

  1. Preheat air fryer to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

  2. Whisk together milk and egg in a bowl until combined. In a large bowl, stir together flour, salt, cayenne pepper, paprika, black pepper, oregano, thyme, and cumin.

  3. Slice 1 inch off the top of the onion and remove papery skin. Remove a 1-inch-diameter core from the middle of the onion, using an apple corer or paring knife, leaving the very bottom of the root end intact. Use a large sharp knife to slice about three-fourths of the way down center of the onion; turn onion 90 degrees and slice again. Keep slicing each section in half until you have 16 sections, being careful not to cut through the bottom of the onion. Spread sections apart.

  4. Dip onion into milk mixture and then into flour mixture to coat, separating the petals and sprinkling flour mixture between them. Dip onion into milk mixture again, then into flour mixture to coat once more. Coat onion with cooking spray.

  5. Arrange onion in the air fryer basket. Cook until crispy, 20 to 25 minutes.

  6. Stir together mayonnaise, horseradish sauce, ketchup, paprika, salt, dried oregano, cayenne pepper, and black pepper in a small bowl. Chill until blooming onion is ready.

  7. Serve blooming onion with dipping sauce and garnish with additional paprika.

    Cook's Note:

    To help keep onion petals separate, you can plunge onion into boiling water for 1 minute and then into ice water.

    Leftover dipping sauce keeps, covered, up to 3 days in the refrigerator.

    an overhead view of an air fryer blooming onion served with aioli on a pink plate.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

871 Calories
25g Fat
149g Carbs
20g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Calories 871
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 25g 32%
Saturated Fat 5g 23%
Cholesterol 64mg 21%
Sodium 955mg 42%
Total Carbohydrate 149g 54%
Dietary Fiber 16g 56%
Total Sugars 84g
Protein 20g 40%
Vitamin C 77mg 86%
Calcium 420mg 32%
Iron 6mg 34%
Potassium 2081mg 44%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.