Air Fryer Blooming Onion

If your Outback go-to is a Air Fryer Blooming Onion, you’ll love this air fryer version.

Ingredients For Air Fryer Blooming Onion:

1. One large sweet onion, like a Vidalia, weighing about one pound
2. One cup of flour for all purposes
3. One tablespoon of paprika
4. One teaspoon of ground cumin and two kosher salts
5. Half a teaspoon of powdered garlic
6. 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
7. Two big eggs
8. 2% or 1/2 cup whole milk
9. Cooking mist

1. Mayonnaise, two tablespoons
2. Two tsp of sour cream
3. One tablespoon of ketchup
4. One tsp of Worcestershire sauce
5. Half a teaspoon of paprika
6. Half a teaspoon of powdered garlic
7. Half a teaspoon of kosher salt
8. One-eighth teaspoon of cayenne

• One large sweet onion should have the stem end cut off about 1/2 inch. Remove and dispose of the outer layer. On the chopping board, place the onion cut-side down. Make a downward cut to the bottom of the onion, starting about 1/2 inch from the root. Repeat to cut around the onion three more times, at equal intervals. Once you have 16 cuts that are uniformly spaced, make 3 more cuts in between each part.
• Turn the onion over, then gently pull back and separate the onion pieces with your fingers to release the petals.
• In a large, wide basin, whisk together 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon paprika, 2 teaspoons kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. In a medium-sized dish, add 2 large eggs and 1/2 cup milk; whisk to blend.
• Aim for 375°F in an air fryer. Coat the onion in the interim.
• Spoon the flour mixture onto a baking sheet with a rim, then arrange the onion on top. To ensure that the onion is thoroughly coated, use your hands or a spoon to spread the flour mixture over it, breaking off the petals as necessary. Re-fill the bowl with the remaining flour mixture after shaking off any extra.
• Gently submerge the onion in the egg mixture, adjusting the petals as necessary to ensure complete coating. Let the excess fall off. Go back to the baking sheet with the onion. Using your hands or a spoon, circle the onion and distribute the leftover flour mixture between each petal and all over the onion, making sure it is well covered. Remove any extra by shaking to prevent clumping.
• Spread cooking spray generously over the onion, getting in between the petals. Spray cooking spray on the air fryer basket sparingly. Transfer the onion into the basket using a tiny metal spatula. For 30 to 35 minutes, air fried until crispy and golden brown throughout. In the interim, prepare the dipping
• In a small bowl, mix together 2 tablespoons mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons sour cream, 1 tablespoon ketchup, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper.
• After taking the blooming onion out of the basket, serve it right away with the dipping sauce.

• Put on a baking pan. The majority of recipes call for you to coat the onion in breading in a big bowl. Although this method is undoubtedly effective, using a baking sheet simplifies the process and provides additional workspace.
• Remove any extra breading. After applying the second coat of breading, this is the most crucial step. It is best to shake off any excess to avoid clumping around the onion base.
• Apply a liberal amount of cooking spray. Make sure to cover every petal and the entire outside of the onion with coating. This will make the onion crispier to the biting and give it more colour. Not a fan of cooking spray? An olive oil mister can be used in its place.