Air Fryer Blooming Onion With Spicy Dipping Sauce

Crispy, breaded blooming onion with edge of the dipping sauce container beside.

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5 from 1 vote

Air Fryer Blooming Onion With Spicy Dipping Sauce

A no guilt, fun appetizer.

Prep Time15

Cook Time20

Chilling Time30

Total Time1 5

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Servings: people

Calories: 267kcal

Author: Carolyn Hetke

Equipment

air fryer
Olive oil mister

Ingredients

1 large yellow onion or sweet onion like Vidalia or Walla Walla
¼ cup flour
2 eggs
1 cup bread crumbs I used Panko
2 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon olive oil

Spicy Dipping Sauce

⅓ cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon ketchup
¼ teaspoon paprika
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon Italian spices
¼ teaspoon salt
3 drops hot sauce (or to taste)

Instructions

Start by mixing all the sauce ingredients in a bowl. Ensure they are well blended and allow them to rest while you make the onion.
Next, peel the onion and slice about a ½" off the top. It is important that the root end of the onion remain intact to hold it all together.
Turn the onion on its side and starting a half inch from the root end, slice through the onion from the root end to the top, cutting through to the other side of the onion. Repeat this cut 3 times so you have now quartered the onion but the root end is intact. Then slice each quarter in half using the same technique of starting at the root end. Hold the onion gently since it will start to spread as you make the multiple cuts.
Transfer cut onion to a bowl just slightly larger than the onion. This will help hold it together and allow you to ruffle the cut onion open a bit.
Gently sieve the flour over the onion, ruffling the cuts gently so that all the cuts and the layers are lightly dusted with flour. (The onion will tend to close up again after you have dusted it with flour. Don't worry it will eventually stay opened up.)
Whisk the eggs until they are well blended. Gently separating the onion slices and layers brush the egg all over the onion. If the egg pools in the bottom of the bowl, gently tip to allow the egg to run off, back in to its original bowl. Keep brushing and pouring the egg till the onions is thoroughly and well coated.
Mix the bread crumbs, paprika, onion powder and salt together. Sprinkle the bread crumb mixture evenly over the onion, again gently separating the slices and layers until the onion is fully coated in bread crumbs.
Refrigerate coated onion about 30 minutes (or longer) to help the coating solidify. Optional step.
Transfer the to a square of parchment paper to help support it during the handling. Spritz the onion all over with the olive oil mister.
Preheat air fryer if necessary to 375°. Transfer the onion to the top rack and bake 11 minutes at 375°. Turn the rack so the other side of the onion is now closest to the fan. Reduce oven to 325° and bake another 6 minutes until the breading is all crispy and browned.
Transfer onion gently to a serving plate and serve with the dipping sauce.

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