Air Fryer Blooming Onion Outback Copycat Food

AIR FRYER BLOOMING ONION RECIPE

Steps:

• 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. Make sure your knife cuts into the middle of the onion. All your cuts should meet in the middle. DO NOT CUT THROUGH THE ROOT OR TOO CLOSE TO THE ROOT.
• Repeat to make four evenly spaced cuts around the onion.
• Make 1 additional cut between each section until you have 8 evenly spaced cuts.
• Turn the onion over and set aside for 5 minutes to allow the petals to relax.
• Prior to breading use your fingers to gently separate the outer pieces.
• Now that the onion is open it's time to bread it to get that crispy coating.
• If any of the "petals" are stuck together, gently separate them so the onion can be in "full bloom."
• Whisk the flour and spices in a large bowl. In a small deep bowl, whisk the egg, butter, and milk.
• Place the onion in a large clean bowl, cut-side up and separated.
• Sprinkle the flour mixture over the onion getting in between the layers. I used a fork to sprinkle the flour mixture, and used my fingers to separate each individual layer and sprinkle the flour between every petal.
• Dump the remaining flour over the whole onion. Let it sit for a few minutes.
• Turn the onion over and gently pat off the excess flour back into the bowl. Reserve the remaining flour. You want to make sure the flour coats the petals without leaving large clumps of flour in between the petals.
• Transfer the onion into a large bowl and pour the egg mixture over the onion and coat evenly. Pouring over the onion helps it to get in between the petals and coat the flour.
• Open each petal to make sure the egg mixture soaks every bit of flour between the petals. Let the onion sit in this mixture for a few minutes. Remove the onion from the bowl and let the excess drip off.
• Add the packet of seasoned coating mix to the leftover flour mixture. Place the wet onion into an empty bowl or onto the aluminum foil and sprinkle the reserved flour and coating mixture over it. Do not sprinkle in between those petals as it will be difficult to spray with cooking oil afterwards. However, sprinkle the flour and breading mixture over every part of the onion that is exposed to the air. I will even brush more egg mixture over drier parts of the onion to get as much mixture there as possible.
• Place the onion into the refrigerator to set while you preheat the air fryer.
• Preheat the air fryer to 300F.
• After ten minutes, remove the onion from the refrigerator and spray generously with cooking oil. This is important to help get that "deep fried" flavor and texture. Be sure to soak all the flour mixture with cooking oil that you can see. You can also check in between the petals and spray any other flour spots you see.
• Place on a piece of foil for easy removal after cooking.
• Air fry 20 minutes or until crispy and golden brown. Open and spray at least once with more cooking oil during the cooking process.
• Remove gently and serve with Blooming Onion Dipping Sauce.

AIR FRIED BLOOMING ONION

Steps:

• Cut off the top ½ inch of the onion. Peel the paper layers off.
• Turn it cut side down on a cutting board. Starting about a ¼ inch down from the root, make a slice all the way down to the cutting board. Repeat to make four evenly spaced cuts around the onion. Continue slicing between each section to form 16 slices in the onion. Turn the onion back over and separate the petals.
• In a mixing bowl, mix the flour, paprika, salt, pepper, garlic powder, thyme, and oregano.
• In a separate bowl, whisk the milk and eggs together.
• Place the onion in the flour mixture and cover the entire onion. Separate petals and spoon flour between each layer. Shake off excess flour.
• Transfer the onion to the egg mixture. Spoon the egg mixture over each layer, making sure to separate the petals.
• Next, place the onion on a plate or large bowl and cover with panko, making sure to cover every petal and in between.
• Carefully lift into the air fryer basket.
• Spray the entire onion with an olive oil spritzer.
• Insert basket into the air fryer and cook at 375° for 15 minutes.
• While the onion is cooking, whisk all of the sauce ingredients together until well combined.
• Remove and place on a serving plate. Serve with dipping sauce.

OUTBACK BLOOMIN' ONION

Steps:

• Mix cornstarch, flour and seasonings until well blended.
• Add beer, mix well.
• Cut about 3/4" off top of onion and peel.
• At "Outback" they soak them cutside down in water to spread them out before "breading" them!
• Cut into onion 12-16 vertical wedges but do not cut through bottom root end.
• Remove about 1" of petals from center of onion.
• Dip onion in seasoned flour and remove excess by shaking.
• Separate petals to coat thoroughly with batter.
• Gently place in fryer basket and deep-fry at 375-400 for 1-1/2 minutes.
• Turn over and fry 1-1/2 minutes longer or until golden brown.
• Drain on paper towels.
• Place onion upright in shallow bowl and remove center core with circular cutter or apple corer.
• Serve hot with Creamy Chili Sauce.