Tiffany Haney
A blooming onion is a fun, flower-shaped appetizer that can be made in an air fryer. It is a healthier alternative to the classic fried version, with less fat and calories. The process involves cutting the onion into a specific shape, coating it with a variety of ingredients, and then air-frying it to achieve a crispy texture. The result is a delicious, crunchy and tasty treat that can be served with a variety of dipping sauces. While it may seem tricky to create, with the right tools and techniques, it is definitely achievable and can be a great way to impress your family and friends!
How to cook a blooming onion in an air fryer
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Preheat temperature | 300-375°F |
| Preheat time | 10 minutes |
| Onion type | Sweet onion |
| Onion preparation | Cut off 1/2-1 inch from the top of the onion, peel the outer skin, and cut into 8-16 sections without cutting through the root |
| Onion coating | Flour, egg, milk, salt |
| Onion cooking time | 20-25 minutes |
| Onion cooking temperature | 300-350°F |
| Onion cooking oil | Vegetable oil, cooking oil, or another neutral oil |
| Onion cooking method | Place the onion cut-side up in the air fryer basket, spray with oil 2-3 times during cooking |
| Onion serving | Season with salt and pepper, serve with a dipping sauce |
| Onion storage | Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing the right onion
First, look for a large onion, as this will give you more surface area to work with and create a more impressive-looking blooming onion. Sweet onions, such as Vidalia or Walla Walla, are often recommended for blooming onions as they have a milder, sweeter flavour than other varieties. However, you can also use yellow, white, or red onions, which will become slightly sweeter after frying.
When selecting your onion, look for one that is firm and has tight, dry skin. Avoid onions with soft spots or signs of sprouting, as these may not hold together well during the cutting and frying process. Also, check the onion's neck—the area just above the roots. This should be slender and firm, not thick and woody.
Before cutting the onion, remove any dirt or loose skin by gently rubbing the surface with your fingers or a soft brush. You can also peel the outer layer of skin if you prefer, but this is not necessary, as the skin will become crispy and edible after frying.
Finally, when preparing the onion for frying, cut off about 1/2 inch from the top (stem end) of the onion to create a flat surface. Then, carefully cut off just enough from the root end to allow the onion to sit flat while ensuring you do not cut through the root, which holds the onion together.
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Cutting the onion
The trickiest part of making a blooming onion is cutting it, but it's not actually that hard. You'll just need to make sure you have a good sharp chef's knife with a pointed end.
First, cut a nice flat surface off the top of the onion (the stem end). Then, cut as little as possible off the root end – just enough to allow the onion to sit flat. The root is the key to success in cutting the blooming onion properly. You want there to be enough root to hold the onion together, and you should never cut through the root.
Now, place the onion cut-side down. Starting about half an inch from the root, make a cut all the way through to the board. Make sure your knife cuts into the middle of the onion. All your cuts should meet in the middle, but do not cut through the root or too close to it. Repeat to make four evenly spaced cuts around the onion. Make one additional cut between each section until you have eight evenly spaced cuts.
If you want to get 12-20 slices, you can make more cuts, but this may be more difficult to manage. You can also remove a few petals from the very centre to make sure everything gets the hot air needed to cook properly.
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Preparing the onion for frying
Now, place the onion cut-side down, and make a cut about an inch from the root, all the way down. Repeat this process to make four evenly spaced cuts around the onion. Make sure your knife cuts into the middle of the onion, and that all your cuts meet in the middle. After that, make one additional cut between each section until you have eight evenly spaced cuts. You can also make 16 sections by slicing each section in half, as long as you don't cut through the bottom of the onion.
Once you have cut the onion, place it in a bowl of cold water for a minute, and then into ice water. This will help the onion open up and ensure that the flour and egg/milk mixture is evenly coated. You can also separate the petals with your fingers to ensure that all parts of the onion are coated properly.
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Cooking the onion
First, preheat your air fryer to 300°F–375°F (190°C) for 10 minutes. While the air fryer is preheating, take the onion out of the refrigerator and spray it generously with cooking oil or vegetable oil. Make sure to coat all the flour mixture you can see, including in between the petals. You can also add more salt to the flour mixture.
Next, create a sling out of aluminium foil to help you handle the onion. Place the onion cut-side up in the air fryer basket and cook for 20–25 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy. Spray the onion with cooking oil 2–3 times during the cooking process to help it crisp up.
Once the onion is golden brown and crispy, carefully remove it from the air fryer using the foil sling. Season with salt and pepper and serve immediately with your favourite dipping sauce.
You can also make a healthier version of the classic blooming onion by using almond, soy, or oat milk instead of regular milk, and a commercial egg replacer if your household is egg-free.
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Serving the onion
When the onion is golden brown and crispy, carefully remove it from the air fryer basket using the foil sling. Place it on a serving dish and season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately with your chosen dip.
You can make a simple dip by whisking together milk and egg, or a blend of mayonnaise, horseradish sauce, ketchup, paprika, salt, dried oregano, cayenne pepper, and black pepper. You can also try a chipotle aioli dip, or a blooming onion sauce, which is similar to what you would get at your local steakhouse.
If you want to make it a full meal, serve the blooming onion with other air-fried favorites like chicken nuggets, buffalo cauliflower, or bacon-wrapped pineapple bites with sweet and sour sauce.
Blooming onions are best served fresh, but if you have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. However, they tend to fall apart, so it's best to eat them right away.
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Frequently asked questions
Start by cutting off 1/2-1 inch from the top of the onion, then peel the outer skin from the onion. Place the onion cut-side down. Starting about 1/2 inch from the root, make a cut all the way through to the board. Make sure your knife cuts into the middle of the onion. All your cuts should meet in the middle. DO NOT CUT THROUGH THE ROOT. Repeat to make four evenly spaced cuts around the onion. Make 1 additional cut between each section until you have 8-16 evenly spaced cuts.
Preheat the air fryer to 300-375°F. After ten minutes, remove the onion from the refrigerator and spray generously with cooking oil. Be sure to soak all the flour mixture you can see. You can also check in between the petals and wet any other flour spots you see.
Place the onion bloom in the air fryer basket cut side up (on a piece of foil if desired). Air fry for 20-25 minutes at 300-375°F, spraying the onion with cooking oil a few times as it cooks.
After removing the onion from the fryer, season with salt and pepper. Serve with a dipping sauce such as chipotle aioli, blooming onion sauce, or a mixture of mayonnaise, horseradish sauce, ketchup, paprika, salt, dried oregano, cayenne pepper, and black pepper.
