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Air Fryer Blooming Onion

Air Fryer Blooming Onion Recipe

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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 27 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 270
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 large sweet onion (14 to 16 oz)
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
  • 1 tsp fine sea salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • 2 large eggs
  • ¼ cup milk
  • Cooking spray
  • ¼ cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tbsp ketchup
  • 1 to 2 tsp hot sauce
  • ¼ tsp garlic powder (for the sauce)

Method
 

  1. Cut the top off the onion, peel it, and cut down toward the root to create 8 connected wedges. Gently separate the petals with your fingers.
  2. Stir the flour, paprika, garlic powder, cayenne, salt, and black pepper in a wide bowl. In a second bowl, whisk the eggs and milk.
  3. Dredge the onion in the flour, then the egg wash, then the flour again, using a spoon to work the coating between the petals.
  4. Preheat the air fryer to 375°F (200°C). Spray the onion heavily with oil, place it bloom-side up in the basket, and cook for 10 to 12 minutes until deep golden and crisp.
  5. While it cooks, mix the mayonnaise, ketchup, hot sauce, and ¼ tsp garlic powder for the dipping sauce. Serve the onion immediately with the sauce on the side.

Notes

Let the coated onion rest for a couple of minutes before it goes into the air fryer; it helps the flour set up so fewer crumbs fall off during cooking. The dipping sauce can be made a day ahead and chilled.