Craving the famous blooming onion from Outback Steakhouse? Learn how to make your own copycat version at home with this easy recipe. Your taste buds will thank you.
Course Appetizer
Cuisine Southern
Keyword air fryer blooming onion, bloomin onion, blooming onion recipe, blooming onion sauce, how do you make a blooming onion, how to make a blooming onion, onion flower
Prep Time 20 minutesminutes
Cook Time 18 minutesminutes
Total Time 38 minutesminutes
Servings 3blooming onions
Calories 638kcal
Author Beth Pierce
Ingredients
Dipping Sauce
¼cupmayonnaise
¼cupsour cream
1 ½tablespoonscreamy horseradish
1 ½tablespoonsketchup
½teaspoonpaprika
½teaspoongarlic powder
¼teaspoonground cayenne pepper
Blooming Onions
2eggs
1cupmilk
2cupall-purpose flour
1tablespoonpaprika
2teaspoonsground cumin
1teaspoondried oregano
1teaspoondried thyme
1teaspoonsalt
1teaspoonground cayenne pepper
½teaspoonground black pepper
½teaspoongarlic powder
3medium sweet onions
Vegetable oil
Instructions
Combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, horseradish, ketchup, paprika, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper.
Whisk egg and milk in a 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 a bowl wide enough to fit the onion.
Cut a small, flat pot on the non-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, cut the onion into quarter sections, staying about 1/2 inch from the root, as you want the onion to stay connected. Cut each of those quarter sections into three or four equal sections. Turn the onion root side down and gently fan out those sections.
Using your hands, coat the onion with the flour mixture, carefully spreading and separating it to ensure it all gets breaded. 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 7-10 minutes or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.
Serve promptly with the dipping sauce.
Video
Notes
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 for frying. Because of their thickness, they maintain and hold heat well.
If you have a deep fryer that is big enough, use it.
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.