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Crispy Air Fryer Blooming Onion Recipe with Perfectly Seasoned Coating Easy and Delicious

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A golden, crispy blooming onion made in the air fryer with a perfectly seasoned coating of garlic powder, smoked paprika, and cayenne. This easy recipe delivers big flavor and crunch without the mess of deep frying.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 large sweet onion (like Vidalia or Walla Walla)
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 large egg (room temperature)
  • ½ cup buttermilk (or regular milk with 1 tsp vinegar as substitute)
  • Cooking spray (preferably avocado or canola oil spray)

Instructions

  1. Peel the outer skin off the onion. Place the onion root side down on a cutting board. Using a sharp knife, cut into the onion from the top about ½ inch away from the root, slicing downward to create 12-16 petals. Carefully separate the petals gently with your fingers to form the blooming shape, keeping the root intact.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together 1 large egg and ½ cup buttermilk until smooth.
  3. In another bowl, combine 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp smoked paprika, ½ tsp cayenne pepper, 1 tsp salt, and ½ tsp black pepper. Mix well.
  4. Dip the blooming onion into the wet mixture, making sure to get inside the petals. Then dredge it thoroughly in the seasoned flour mixture, pressing gently to help the coating stick between all the petals. Repeat the wet and dry coating once more for extra crunch. Shake off any excess flour.
  5. Preheat the air fryer to 360°F (182°C) for 3-5 minutes.
  6. Place the coated onion root side down in the air fryer basket. Spray generously with cooking spray all over the onion. Cook for 15-18 minutes, spraying halfway through, until golden brown and crispy. Watch closely after 12 minutes to avoid burning.
  7. Carefully remove the onion using tongs and place it on a cooling rack for 5 minutes to let it crisp up more. Serve warm with your favorite dipping sauce.

Notes

For gluten-free, substitute all-purpose flour with almond flour or gluten-free blend. For dairy-free, use coconut or almond milk instead of buttermilk. Spray oil generously before and halfway through cooking for best crispiness. Cook in batches if air fryer basket is small to avoid sogginess. Rest on cooling rack after cooking to maintain crispiness.

Nutrition

Keywords: air fryer blooming onion, crispy blooming onion, appetizer recipe, game day snack, easy appetizer, air fryer recipe, party food

Find it online: https://elvafood.com/crispy-air-fryer-blooming-onion-recipe-with-perfectly-seasoned-coating-easy-and-delicious/