Description
Crispy mini blooming onions deliver a golden, crunchy sensation straight from your air fryer. These bite-sized delights offer a perfect balance of savory flavor and irresistible texture you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables:
- 4 small onions (pearl onions or cippolini onions)
Dry Coating Ingredients:
- ½ cup (120 ml) all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup (30 g) cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Wet Ingredients and Sauce:
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup (60 ml) milk
- Cooking spray
- ¼ cup (60 ml) mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon hot sauce (optional)
Instructions
- Meticulously select medium-sized onions with firm, unblemished exteriors, ensuring they have a sturdy base for creating the signature blooming presentation.
- Utilize a sharp knife to create precise, symmetrical vertical incisions from the top, stopping approximately half an inch from the base. Gently unfurl the layers to craft a delicate flower-like structure without compromising the onion’s integrity.
- Craft a seasoned coating mixture by blending dry ingredients, incorporating complex flavor profiles through carefully measured spices that will enhance the onion’s natural sweetness.
- Establish a two-stage dredging technique: first, envelop the onion completely in the seasoned flour mixture, ensuring every intricate layer receives an even coating.
- Submerge the flour-dusted onion into a whisked egg mixture, allowing the liquid to penetrate between the delicate layers and create a robust adhesion for the final coating.
- Return the moistened onion to the seasoned flour, pressing gently to guarantee a comprehensive and textured exterior that will transform into a crispy shell during cooking.
- Prepare the air fryer by preheating to an optimal temperature, creating an environment that will produce a golden, crunchy exterior while maintaining the onion’s tender interior.
- Position the coated onions strategically within the air fryer basket, avoiding overcrowding to ensure maximum circulation and uniform crispiness.
- Carefully monitor the cooking process, rotating the onions midway to achieve an even, appetizing golden-brown coloration.
- Simultaneously prepare a complementary dipping sauce by whisking together creamy and tangy ingredients, balancing flavors to enhance the crispy onion experience.
- Once cooked to perfection, transfer the blooming onions to a serving platter, accompanied by the prepared sauce, ready to be enjoyed immediately while maintaining optimal temperature and crunch.
Notes
- Choose medium-sized onions with tight, compact layers to ensure a perfect blooming shape and crispy texture.
- Pat the onions completely dry before coating to help the flour mixture adhere better and create a crunchier exterior.
- Use a sharp knife and gentle hand when making the cuts to keep the onion layers intact without breaking them apart.
- Experiment with different spice blends in the coating mix to customize the flavor profile, such as adding smoked paprika or curry powder for extra kick.
- Rotate the onions halfway through cooking to guarantee even browning and maximum crispiness in the air fryer.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with almond flour or gluten-free flour blend.
- Keep the dipping sauce chilled until serving to maintain its fresh, tangy flavor and creamy consistency.
- Serve immediately after cooking to preserve the onion’s crispy texture and prevent sogginess.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg