Here’s a Baby Air Fryer Blooming Onion recipe, perfect for making a delicious, crispy onion appetizer without deep frying:
Ingredients:
- 2 small onions (preferably baby onions or medium-sized ones)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup buttermilk (or regular milk)
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (preferably panko for extra crispiness)
- Cooking spray (for spraying the onion)
Dipping Sauce (Optional):
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce
- 1 teaspoon paprika
Instructions:
1. Prepare the Onion:
- Peel the onions, then slice off the top and bottom, but leave the root intact to help hold the layers together.
- Make 4-5 vertical cuts down the onion (careful not to cut all the way through the root).
- Gently separate the onion layers, creating a “bloom” shape. You can use your fingers or a spoon to help open it up.
2. Prepare the Coating:
- In one shallow bowl, mix the flour, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper.
- In another bowl, whisk the egg and buttermilk together.
- In a third bowl, add the breadcrumbs.
3. Coat the Onion:
- Dip the onion into the flour mixture, ensuring it’s evenly coated.
- Then dip the coated onion into the egg mixture.
- Finally, dip the onion into the breadcrumbs, pressing gently to ensure they stick to the onion layers.
4. Air Fry the Onion:
- Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C).
- Lightly spray the onion with cooking spray for extra crispiness.
- Place the onion in the air fryer basket. If the onion doesn’t fit, you can cut it into halves and cook them separately.
- Air fry for 10-15 minutes, checking halfway through and spraying with more cooking spray if needed, until the onion is golden and crispy.
5. Make the Dipping Sauce (Optional):
- While the onion is cooking, mix together the mayonnaise, ketchup, hot sauce, and paprika to create a dipping sauce.
6. Serve:
- Once the blooming onion is crispy and golden, remove it from the air fryer and serve with the dipping sauce.
Tips:
- For a spicier version, you can add chili powder or more cayenne pepper to the flour mixture.
- If you don’t have panko breadcrumbs, regular breadcrumbs will work, though panko gives extra crunch.
Enjoy your crispy and flavorful baby air fryer blooming onions! They make a fantastic appetizer or snack!