Print

Print Recipe

A lighter, healthier version of classic fried blooming onions made crispy in the air fryer, with a flavorful seasoned flour coating and a creamy dipping sauce.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup Buttermilk (or milk with lemon juice)
  • 1 cup Flour (substitute with gluten-free flour for gluten-free option)
  • 1 tbsp Paprika (smoked paprika optional)
  • 1 tsp Garlic Powder
  • 1 tsp Onion Powder
  • 0.5 tsp Cayenne Pepper (adjust to taste)
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 1 tsp Pepper
  • 2 medium Sweet Onions (like Vidalia)
  • Cooking Spray or Oil (as needed)
  • For Dipping Sauce: mayonnaise, ketchup, horseradish sauce, lemon juice, seasonings (quantities to taste)

Instructions

  1. Mix buttermilk (or milk plus lemon juice) in a small bowl; let sit 5 minutes to thicken.
  2. Peel sweet onions, trim top and bottom to create flat base, slice vertically into petals leaving base intact.
  3. In a bowl, combine flour, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper.
  4. Dip each onion into buttermilk mixture, allow excess to drip off, then thoroughly coat in seasoned flour mixture, getting coating between petals.
  5. Preheat air fryer to 380°F (190°C) for 5 minutes.
  6. Place coated onions in air fryer basket with space between to avoid overcrowding.
  7. Lightly spray or brush tops with cooking spray or oil.
  8. Air fry at 380°F (190°C) for 10–12 minutes, shaking basket halfway to brown and crisp evenly.
  9. Meanwhile, mix mayonnaise, ketchup, horseradish sauce, lemon juice, and seasonings until smooth to make dipping sauce.
  10. Serve onions warm with dipping sauce.

Notes

Use gluten-free flour for a gluten-free variation., Increase cayenne or add hot sauce for more heat., Add chopped herbs like parsley or chives to flour mixture for fresh flavor., Mix parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast into flour for cheesy coating., Coat onions up to 24 hours ahead and refrigerate until cooking time for convenience., Store leftovers in airtight container in fridge up to 2 days., Freeze coated uncooked onions on baking sheet then transfer to freezer bag for up to 1 month; cook from frozen adding a few extra minutes., Reheat leftovers in air fryer at 350°F (175°C) for 3–5 minutes to restore crispness., Avoid crowding air fryer basket to ensure crisp texture.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://mamapantry.com/air-fryer-crispy-mini-blooming-onions-irresistible-guilt-free-snack/