Description
These air-fried mini blooming onions are a crunchy, flavorful appetizer that blooms beautifully and pairs well with a tangy dip.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 small sweet onions (about 600 g / 1.3 lb total), trimmed
- 125 g (1 cup) all-purpose flour
- 60 g (½ cup) cornstarch (or 75 g potato starch)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1½ tsp Diamond Crystal kosher salt (or 1 tsp Morton’s)
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- 2 large eggs (100 g / 3.5 oz), beaten
- 240 ml (1 cup) cold club soda or beer
- 60 ml (¼ cup) neutral oil (grapeseed or vegetable)
- Cooking spray or a small neutral oil in a mister
- Optional dip: 120 g (½ cup) sour cream + 2 tbsp ketchup + 1 tsp hot sauce
Instructions
- Prepare the onions: Trim each onion’s root and stem. Cut vertically into 8 equal slices while leaving the base intact.
- Make the dry and wet mixes: Whisk flour, cornstarch, salt, baking powder, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder in one bowl. In another bowl, whisk eggs, club soda, and oil until smooth.
- Dredge and batter the onions: Coat each onion in the dry mix, dip in the wet mix, then return to the dry mix for a second layer.
- Preheat and arrange in air fryer: Preheat air fryer to 200°C (400°F). Place onions petal-side up, leaving space between them. Spray lightly with cooking spray.
- Air-fry until golden and crisp: Air-fry at 200°C (400°F) for 8–10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and crisp.
- Rest and serve: Let onions rest on a wire rack for 2 minutes. Serve warm with the dip of your choice.
Notes
For crispier results, do not overcrowd the air fryer basket. You can prepare the onions up to 3 hours in advance and refrigerate.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 mini blooming onion
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 640mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 80mg