Blooming Onion Recipe

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

Cook Time 18

Total Time 38

Servings blooming onions

Calories 638kcal

Author Beth Pierce

Ingredients

Dipping Sauce

¼ cup mayonnaise
¼ cup sour cream
1 ½ tablespoons creamy horseradish
1 ½ tablespoons ketchup
½ teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper

Blooming Onions

2 eggs
1 cup milk
2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon paprika
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
½ teaspoon garlic powder
3 medium 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.

Nutrition