Description
Make a restaurant-quality crispy blooming onion at home with this easy air fryer recipe. It’s a healthier, lighter way to enjoy this classic appetizer, perfect for game days or parties.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 large sweet onion (Vidalia or similar)
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1 cup oat flour
- ½ cup cornmeal
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Olive oil spray
Instructions
- Peel the onion and trim the top, leaving the root intact. Make four even cuts from the top to ½ inch above the root. Make three additional cuts between each quadrant to form 16 petals. Gently spread the layers apart to help it bloom.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs and almond milk.
- In a large bowl, mix together the oat flour, cornmeal, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.
- Dip the onion upside down in the egg mixture, using your hands to coat between the petals.
- Transfer the onion to the dry mix, pressing the coating into all sides and between the petals. Repeat dipping and coating if desired for a thicker crust.
- Spray the coated onion thoroughly with olive oil spray.
- Place the onion in the air fryer basket, root-side down. Use foil if needed for stability.
- Air fry at 375°F (190°C) for 20–25 minutes, rotating as needed for even browning, until deeply golden and crispy.
- Serve hot with your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
- Chill your cut onion in the fridge for 30 minutes after cutting to help maintain its shape while coating.
- Don’t slice through the root, as this will cause the onion to fall apart.
- Ensure you spray the onion thoroughly with olive oil for maximum crispness.
- Avoid overcrowding the air fryer; cook in batches if necessary for even airflow and cooking.
- Reheat leftovers in the air fryer at 350°F (175°C) for 5–8 minutes until crisp again. Do not microwave.
- For a gluten-free version, use certified gluten-free oat flour and cornmeal.
- For a vegan version, replace eggs with flax eggs (1 tbsp flaxseed meal + 3 tbsp water, let sit for 5 minutes).
- Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or red chili flakes to the dry mix for a spicy version.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snack
- Method: Air Fried
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 260
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 420mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
Keywords: Crispy Air Fryer Blooming Onion, Air Fryer Blooming Onion, Blooming Onion Air Fryer, Crispy Blooming Onion, Air Fryer Onion