Blooming Onion, Onion Bloom, Bloomin Onion (minus the “g”), Awesome Blossom, Awesome Petals, Blooming Petals- this golden brown onion has many names and several variations. One thing they all have in common: delicious.
What's In This Article
The Original Blooming Onion
Outback Steakhouse claims to be the originator of this culinary masterpiece, a whole onion carved like a blossom, battered, floured and then fried. Deep it in zingy sauce and there you have it.
Instead of just onions rings or onion straws, you batter and fry the whole gosh darn onion!
It is simple in theory, but the actual blooming onion recipe and prep intimidates many. I’m not sure if it is cutting the onion, battering for frying, but home cooks shy away.
There are two tricks here. The first is making sure the root stays intact so the onions doesn’t fall apart while frying and the second is the trick of instead of making it all into one thick wet batter, you first wet batter and then dip in flour. This helps it stick without slinking off.
Ingredients
The ingredients for a blooming onion are fairly simple and with the exception of onion (maybe) you probably already have them all. That means there are zero excuses for making blooming onions all the time.
Well, maybe that they should be consumed in moderation like all fried foods, but you get my drift.
- Sweet onion– Honestly, you can use any type of onion you wish. For the original, use a sweet onion like a Vidalia, but for a fun variation red onions are great too.
- Flour– All purpose is best. I’m certain you can use a gluten-free alternative, this is for the purpose of sticking (like glue) instead of baking and providing structure.
- Seasonings- paprika, cayenne pepper, ground cumin, dried thyme, dried oregano, Kosher salt and white pepper.
- Eggs – Part of the glue.
- Milk – Whenever I am cooking I prefer a whole milk, it has more body and structure, but skim or 2% will suffice.
- Vegetable or Peanut Oil – or any other oil with a sufficient smoke point and neutral flavor.
- Blooming Onion Sauce – make it from scratch (link below) or buy it at the store.
How to Cut a Blooming Onion
The cutting is easy as long as you keep the root intact. Don’t cut all the way through! Try to keep the cuts similar in size so they cook evenly. The second is to soak it in cold water to let the petals bloom and separate on their own instead of forcing it.
- Start by peeling your onion and then cut off the top so it is flat. Place the cut side down (flat part) onto your cutting board. Start about 1/2 of an inch from the root, and cut the onion into 4 even quarters. This is backwards of how you usually cut things, but the easiest way to not accidentally cut through the root.
- Then cut each quarter into 4 even pieces for a total of 16 evenly sized sections. You might want to do 3 sections for smaller onions.
- Soak the onion in ice water for 2 hours. This lets is separate naturally instead of forcing it and possibly breaking off the petals.
Or buy a blooming onion cutter. This allows you to core out the center even though it isn’t necessary.
How Do you Make a Blooming Onion?
First prep your onion (instructions above) and then make your sauce. The blooming onion sauce is best if you let it sit for at least an hour to let the flavors marry.
Then…
- Whisk together dry ingredients in one bowl and wet ingredients in a separate bowl.
- Dab the bloomed onion dry and then in a clean bowl, cut-side up. Pour the dry flour mixture over the top, making sure to use a spoon to get between the onion petals. Turn the onion over and pat off the excess flour. Reserve the bowl of flour.
- Dip the onion, cut side down, into the egg mixture until fully coated. Remove and let the excess drip off, then transfer back into the reserved flour mixture.
- Place the onion into the refrigerator while you heat the oil. This helps it set and not just fall off when it hits the hot oil.
- Shake any excess flour from the onion and using a wire skimmer, deep fry until golden brown- about 3 minutes on each side. If you don’t have a deep fryer, we highly suggest using a candy or frying thermometer to make sure your oil is the correct temperature. Too hot and it will burn, too low and you’ll have soggy onion.
- Remove and drain on paper towels and then serve hot with dipping sauce.
Dipping Sauce
The classic dipping sauce goes by several names: Blooming Onion Sauce, Bloom Sauce and Comeback Sauce. They are all very similar using a mayo base with several tangy spices and other ingredients. Some use sour cream, which can be substituted.
It is simple, but best prepare ahead so the flavors have time to really marry each other.
You can also use Yum Yum Sauce, any other aioli like Mustard Aioli, Sriracha Aioli or Garlic Aioli. Just ketchup also works fine, as does hot sauce (according to my husband, but he puts it on just about everything except Cheerios).
Blooming Onion Bites or Petals
If cutting and frying a whole onion still seems intimidating, you can always make smaller pieces known as petals or bites.
Use the same recipe, but skip the part about soaking your onion since individual pieces don’t need to bloom. Also make them into larger cuts, more like wedges. Larger pieces work best here.
Be mindful to try and shake off as much batter and flour as possible so they aren’t clumpy. If there is too much, the onion won’t cook and you’ll just have batter on a raw onion bit.
Then fry. Frying time will reduce to about 4-5 minutes, turning while they get golden brown and crispy.
Air Fryer Blooming Onion
I usually shy away from anything battered in the Air Fryer because it has the tendency to just slide right off, but this batter sticks, so it works.
Follow all the same instructions, but instead of frying, spray the battered onion with cooking spray and then set root side down in the basket. Heat at 400 degrees for 9-10 minutes.
Actual cooking time varies from size and model of Air Fryer, so watch closely after about 5 minutes.
More copycat recipes you will love:
- Copycat Cheddar Bay Red Lobster Biscuits
- Instant Pot Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup
- Copycat Jiffy Cornbread Mix
- In-N-Out Burger Animal Style Fries
Blooming Onion
Ingredients
- 1 large sweet onion
- 2 ½ cups flour
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup milk
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Vegetable or Peanut Oil , for frying
- Blooming Onion Sauce
Instructions
- Start by cutting off 1/2 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 downward cut all the way through to the board.
- Repeat to make four evenly spaced cuts around the onion. Make 3 additional cuts between each section until you have 16 evenly spaced cuts.
- Place the onion in a bowl of ice water, cut side down, for 2 hours.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk flour, paprika, cayenne, cumin, thyme, oregano, Kosher salt and white pepper.
- In a separate medium deep bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, and 1 cup water.
- Place the onion in a clean bowl, cut-side up, spoon flour mixture over the onion being mindful to get in all the nooks and crannies. If parts re left bare, the wet batter won’t stick. Tap off excess flour and reserve.
- Cut side down, dredge floured onion in the wet ingredients, pull up and return to flouring mixing bowl, spooning flour over the top again.
- Place the onion into the refrigerator for about 10 minutes to let is set. Meanwhile, prepare the frying oil.
- In a high sided Dutch oven or deep fryer, heat vegetable or peanut oil to 400 degrees.
- Remove the onion from the refrigerator and shake any excess flour from the onion (it will burn in the oil while frying).
- Using a wire skimmer lower the onion, cut side down, into the oil. Oil temperature will fall, maintain at 350 degrees for duration of cooking.
- Fry until golden brown, about 8-9 minutes, turning halfway through so the root side is down.
- Remove onion using your wire skimmer and drain on paper towels.
- Serve hot with dipping sauce.
- If you’ve tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments and ratings!
Can you prepare the onions up to the point of deep frying in advance? I would like to prepare a dozen or so onions, and deep fry them at our tailgate the next day. Is that possible?
You can cut the onions and make the batter, but don’t dip them until you are ready to fry, it will just fall off.
This was an excellent recipe. I was hesitant to make one because it seems a little hard, but it wasn’t that hard and tasted great!
Loved this recipe- the whole family approves!
I have only tried a blooming onion one, but I loved everything about it! I never thought of making it at home. This is so good, thanks for the recipe!!
oh My GOD you made it seriously. I love onion fritters and this one I am surely going to make without fail. Moreover it is air fried. I am going to make it yeeeeeeee
The blooming onion looks so pretty. We’ve had this in a restaurant before, now I can make it at home for my family. 🙂
What a delightful blooming onion it is! I have never heard of it before, but I love the idea! Yes, it might be a masterpiece of the table being served. 🙂
I’m so glad I found this recipe!! This is my favorite appetizer from Outback- soooo yum!! Will make again for sure!