Crispy Onion Blossom Recipes

CRISPY ONION

Steps:

• Slice the shallots VERY THINLY-- cut them in half and julienne your way through-- Heat oil in frying pan-- chuck the shallots in the very hot oil until they turn brown and crunchy-- be sure that there's significant colour change but careful that they don't burn!
• Drain the shallots, place on a plate over paper towel to take out excess oil, and sprinkle with salt.
• When they cool, store in an airtight jar.

CRISPY "BLOOMED" ONION

Steps:

• Slice off the top of 1 onion to create a flat bottom. Slice into quarters through the center of the root end. Peel off the skin. Repeat with the second onion.
• Bring a heavily salted pot of water to a boil. Boil onion quarters until layers start to soften and separate, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove onions with a slotted spoon and place, cut-sides down, on a baking sheet lined with paper towels. Let drain and cool.
• Set an oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler.
• Heat a medium pan over medium heat. Add bread crumbs and 1/8 cup olive oil; toss with a wooden spoon until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, salt, pepper, cayenne, and 1/4 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. Mix until completely combined.
• Cut root end off the onions and separate the petals. Coat a 10- to 12-inch round pan with a drizzle of olive oil. Arrange onion petals in concentric circles around the pans. Do not overlap petals by much. Scatter bread crumbs into the petals. Sprinkle remaining Parmigiano-Reggiano on top, and add a drizzle of olive oil.
• Broil until browned and crispy, 5 to 10 minutes. Let cool to room temperature before garnishing with parsley and serving.

AIR FRYER BLOOMING ONION

Steps:

• Peel the onion and cut off the top, leaving the root intact. Place top of the onion down on a cutting board. Starting 1/2-inch from the root, cut the onion into quarters slicing down toward the cutting board. Then cut each quarter into 3 equal pieces for a total of 12 sections. (see note)
• In a medium bowl, stir together flour, paprika, garlic salt, thyme, and oregano. Place the onion into the flour. Use a spoon to make sure to distribute flour mixture and make sure all petals are coated. Shake off any excess flour.
• In a medium mixing bowl, whisk milk and eggs together. Coat entire onion in egg mixture. The mixture will be sticky. Then place the onion back into the flour mixture and spoon it all over the onion until coated.
• Place a piece of oil into the bottom of your basket of your air fryer. Set the breaded onion on top of the foil and then spray the onion with olive oil spray. This will give the onion a deep-fried texture. Loosely place another piece of foil over the onion to help prevent the tips from burning.
• Cook at 340 degrees F for 10 minutes. Spray the onion with more olive oil spray. Cook at 360 degrees F for 10-12 minutes. Remove the foil over the onion and cook for another 3-5 minutes depending on how browned you like it.
• While the onion is cooking, make the blossom sauce. Add the mayo, sour cream, ketchup, creamy horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, and cayenne to a small bowl and whisk to combine.
• Once the onion is done cooking, transfer it to a large, shallow bowl. Carefully take out the middle of the onion (keep this for snacking!) and place the ramekin of sauce in the center. Serve immediately.

PARMESAN FRIED ONION

Steps:

• Fill a large pot or Dutch oven with enough oil to submerge the onion, with space around the sides for it to "bloom." (You might need up to a gallon, depending on the size of your onion, but don't worry; you can strain the oil and use it again for frying, so it won't go to waste.) Preheat to 400 degrees F.
• Combine the milk, eggs, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a generous amount of pepper in a medium bowl. Whisk to combine.
• Combine the flour, Parmesan, paprika, garlic powder, 1 teaspoon salt and a generous amount of pepper in a large bowl. Toss with a fork to combine.
• Cut off the top of the onion and place cut-side down. Think of the onion as the face of a clock, and cut slits at noon, 3, 6 and 9, cutting almost but not quite to the center of the onion. You'll now have 4 quadrants. Cut 3 more slits in each quadrant, once again cutting almost but not quite to the center of the onion. Flip the onion and gently separate the "petals" with your fingers.
• Put the onion in the flour mixture and sprinkle it over and around to coat, gently separating the petals as needed to completely coat it.
• Put the onion in the egg wash and coat evenly in the egg, opening the petals again as needed. Let the excess egg wash drip back in the bowl.
• Put the onion in the flour once more and sprinkle it over and around to coat, making sure to keep the petals as separate as you can.
• Use a large spider to lower the onion, cut-side up, into the hot oil. The temperature of the oil will immediately begin to drop. Adjust the heat so the oil stays around 350 to 360 degrees F for the remainder of frying. With a fork, separate the petals a bit more, if needed. Fry the onion until the tips are golden, 3 to 4 minutes. Use the spider to gently flip the onion and continue to fry until the entire onion is crisp, deep golden and cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes more. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
• Transfer the onion while still hot to a serving plate. Season with salt and pepper. Shower with chopped parsley and grated Parmesan. Serve with mayo for dunking.

CRISPY ONION BLOSSOM

Steps:

• For the onion: Trim the stem end of the onion by slicing off 1/2 inch. Peel off and discard any onion skin. Trim the root end of the onion to remove any hair or dirt. Put the onion on a cutting board root-end up. Leaving 1/2 inch uncut around the root end, make 4 vertical cuts evenly spaced around the onion. Continuing this action, make 3 cuts in each quadrant of the onion to create 16 "petals" evenly spaced around the onion root.
• Put the onion stem-side up in a medium bowl and sprinkle with some salt and pepper. Mix the buttermilk and hot sauce in a measuring cup and pour over top of the onion. Allow the onion to rest in the buttermilk mixture for 30 minutes.
• For the dipping sauce: Meanwhile, whisk together the mayonnaise, horseradish, mustard, lemon juice and Cajun seasoning in a small mixing bowl. Set aside. (See Cook's Note.)
• For the breading: Use a mixing bowl that is wide enough to accommodate the onion blossom, and be sure to have a plate that fits over the bowl. Whisk together the flour, cornstarch, dried parsley, Cajun seasoning and ground mustard. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper.
• Pour the vegetable oil into a large, heavy-bottomed stockpot. Preheat the oil to 375 degrees F over medium-high heat (the oil will drop in temperature when the onion is added, so adjust the heat as needed to maintain 360 degrees F). Line a baking sheet with paper towels.
• Remove the onion from the buttermilk mixture and allow any excess to drip off. Crack the eggs into the buttermilk mixture and whisk to combine.
• Place the onion into the seasoned flour, root-end up. Put the plate on top of the bowl to cover the opening, then invert the bowl and plate, holding them together and gently shaking to ensure that the onion is evenly coated in the seasoned flour. Invert again right-side up and remove the plate. Lift the onion out and shake to remove any excess flour.
• Place the onion into the egg mixture root-side down, being sure that it is fully submerged. Remove the onion and allow any excess liquid to drip off. Place the onion back into the seasoned flour and repeat the shaking process for a second time to ensure that all petals are evenly breaded.
• Carefully lower the breaded onion, root-side down, into oil. Fry until evenly golden brown and crispy, 5 to 6 minutes. Lift the onion out of the hot oil and place on the lined baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt and serve immediately with the dipping sauce.