Emilie Meyer
Making a blooming onion in an air fryer is a great way to enjoy a healthier version of this classic fried appetizer. The air fryer gives the onion a crispy texture without the need for deep frying. While the process may seem intimidating at first, it is quite simple once you get the hang of it. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you create this delicious treat at home.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Onion | Sweet onion, Yellow onion, White onion, Vidalia onion |
| Other ingredients | Olive oil, Eggs, Breadcrumbs, Spices, Mayonnaise, Ketchup, Horseradish, Paprika, Garlic powder, Dried oregano, Salt, Flour, Milk, Butter, Egg wash, Breadcrumbs, Cooking oil spray, Italian seasoning, Cayenne pepper, Italian seasoned breadcrumbs, Aluminium foil, Water, Sour cream, Worcestershire sauce, Black pepper, Turmeric, Onion powder |
| Tools | Air fryer, Sharp chef's knife |
| Cooking time | 20-25 minutes |
| Calories | 44-421 |
What You'll Learn
Choosing the right onion
The most popular choice is the Vidalia onion, a sweet onion variety with a mild flavour that is not too sharp or pungent. Its flatter shape also lends itself well to the blooming process, making it easier to cut and achieve the desired flower-like appearance. If you cannot find Vidalia onions, large sweet onions are a good alternative, as their wider shape also facilitates the blooming process.
White onions are another option and are readily available. They have a sharper, more intense flavour than Vidalia onions, which may be too strong for some people's tastes. However, if you prefer a more pronounced onion flavour, white onions can be a good choice.
Yellow onions are also an option, but their strong flavour can be overwhelming for some palates. They also tend to be more rounded, which can make cutting the petals more challenging.
When selecting your onion, look for a large, firm specimen with a smooth, dry outer skin. Avoid onions with soft spots, sprouting, or signs of mould. The onion should feel heavy for its size, indicating that it is fresh and has a high water content, which will help it cook evenly in the air fryer.
With the right onion and careful preparation, you'll be well on your way to creating a delicious, crispy blooming onion that's sure to impress!
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Cutting the onion
To make a blooming onion in an air fryer, you'll need to start by cutting the onion. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to do it:
First, cut off about half an inch from the top of the onion. This will create a flat surface on the onion. Then, carefully peel off the outer skin of the onion. Place the onion with the cut side down onto your cutting board.
Now, here comes the tricky part. You want to cut the onion into several sections, but it's crucial that you don't cut through the root. The root will hold the onion together, so make sure to leave it intact. Starting about half an inch from the root, make a downward cut all the way through to the cutting board. Make three more evenly spaced cuts around the onion, ensuring you stay half an inch away from the root with each cut.
Next, you'll make additional cuts within each of the four sections you just created. Make three cuts in each section, dividing them evenly. At this point, you should have 16 evenly spaced cuts total. Be very careful not to cut through the root, as this will cause the onion to fall apart.
Once you've made all the cuts, turn the onion over and set it aside for about five minutes. This will allow the petals to relax and open up. After this brief pause, use your fingers to gently separate the outer pieces, encouraging the onion to bloom.
And there you have it! You've successfully cut the onion and created the blooming effect. Now you're ready to move on to the next steps of breading and frying your onion.
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Preparing the onion for frying
Place the onion stem side down on the countertop and make four slices down the onion at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o'clock, but don't cut through the root. Then, make three slices down the onion between each of the original four slices, but again, don't cut through the root. If you're good at following instructions, when you turn the onion over, the onion will open up, but not fall apart because the root will still be intact. Use your fingers to help separate all the petals of the onion gently.
Place the onion in a bowl of ice-cold water and leave it to sit for about an hour. This will help the petals to relax and make them easier to coat. Drain the onion from the water, patting dry with a paper towel if needed. Open the onion slices, spreading them as much as possible without tearing the centre.
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Frying the onion
Firstly, preheat your air fryer to 350ºF. You can also preheat to 300ºF, depending on your preference. Place a piece of tin foil or aluminium foil in the air fryer basket to prevent the onion from sticking.
Next, place the onion in the basket, cut side up. Spray the onion generously with cooking oil or vegetable oil. You can also use olive oil spray. This will give the onion a deep-fried texture. Then, place another piece of foil over the onion to prevent the tips from burning.
Now, it's time to air fry! Cook at 340ºF for 10 minutes. After this, spray the onion again with cooking spray and increase the temperature to 360ºF. Fry for another 10-12 minutes.
Finally, remove the foil and cook for a further 3-5 minutes, depending on how browned you like your onion. The onion is ready when it is golden brown with a crispy coating.
And that's it! You can now remove the onion from the air fryer and serve it with your favourite dipping sauce. Enjoy!
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Making the sauce
If you're looking for a different sauce, you could try hot sauce, spicy ranch, regular ranch dressing, sour cream, or cheese sauce.
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Frequently asked questions
You can use any large onion for this recipe, but Vidalia onions are wider and flatter and work better when you cut the petals into the onion. Plus, the sweet taste of the Vidalia onions works well with this recipe.
It takes around 20 minutes to cook a blooming onion in an air fryer at 350°F. However, cooking time may vary depending on your air fryer model and the size of your onion, so keep an eye on it and adjust the timing as needed.
You can serve your blooming onion with various dipping sauces such as hot sauce, spicy ranch, regular ranch dressing, sour cream, Worcestershire sauce, or your favorite dip!
