Baked Onion Blossom Food

ALMOST-FAMOUS BLOOMIN' ONION

Steps:

• Combine all of the dip ingredients in a bowl, cover and refrigerate.
• Slice the onion (see Cook's Note). Whisk the flour, cayenne, paprika, thyme, oregano, cumin and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper in a bowl. In a small deep bowl, whisk the eggs, milk and 1 cup water.
• Place the onion in a separate bowl, cut-side up, and pour all of the flour mixture on top. Cover the bowl with a plate, then shake back and forth to distribute the flour. Check to make sure the onion is fully coated, especially between the "petals." Lift the onion by the core, turn over and pat off the excess flour; reserve the bowl of flour.
• Using a slotted spoon, fully submerge the onion in the egg mixture (spoon on top, if necessary). Remove and let the excess egg drip off, then repeat the flouring process. Refrigerate the onion while you heat the oil.
• Fill a large deep pot with at least 3 inches of the oil, leaving 2 inches of space at the top. Heat the oil over medium-high heat until a deep-fry thermometer registers 400 degrees. Pat off excess flour from the onion. Using a wire skimmer, carefully lower the onion into the oil, cut-side down. Adjust the heat so the oil temperature stays close to 350 degrees. Fry about 3 minutes, then turn the onion over and cook until golden, about 3 more minutes; drain on paper towels. Season with salt and serve with the dip.

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.

BLOOMING ONION

Steps:

• Make the dipping sauce: Combine mayonnaise, ketchup, horseradish, paprika, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1 dash black pepper, and 1 dash cayenne pepper in a small bowl and refrigerate it until needed.
• Beat egg and combine it with milk in a bowl large enough to hold the onion. In another bowl, combine flour, salt, cayenne pepper, black pepper, garlic powder, thyme, oregano, and cumin.
• Prepare the onion: cut approximately 3/4 to 1 inch off of the top and bottom of the onion, remove skin. Remove the 1-inch diameter core from the middle of the onion. Using a large, sharp knife, slice down the center of the onion about 3/4 of the way down, turn 90 degrees and slice again. Keep slicing the sections in half, being careful not to cut to the bottom, until you have 16 sections. Spread the petals apart to make coating easier.
• Dip the onion in the milk, then coat well with the flour mixture. Separate the petals again and sprinkle the flour mixture between them. Once you have coated all of the petals well, dip it into the milk and into the flour mixture again. Place in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes while you preheat the oil.
• Pour enough oil to cover the onion into a deep fryer or deep pot. Preheat the oil to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Fry the onion right side up in the oil for 10 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oil and let drain in a rack or paper towels. Open the center of the onion wide so that you can put the small bowl of dipping sauce in the center.

ONION BLOSSOMS

Steps:

• Leaving the root end intact, peel the outer skin of the onion. Cut a small slice off the top. Starting at the top of the onion and on one side, make a cut downward toward the root end, stopping 1/2 in. from the bottom. Make additional cuts 1/8 in. from the first until there are cuts completely across top of onion. , Turn the onion a quarter turn so the slices are horizontal to you. Repeat the cuts 1/8 in. apart from each other until there is a checkerboard pattern across entire top of onion. , In a small bowl, make dip by combining the mayonnaise, sour cream, chili powder and 1-1/2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning; set aside. , In a 1-gal. plastic bag, combine flour and remaining Cajun seasoning. Place milk in a small deep bowl. Coat the cut onion in flour, then dip into milk and back into the flour mixture. , Fry in enough oil to cover onion at 375° for 5 minutes or until golden, turning once. Remove from oil; place on serving plate. Discard the very center of the fried onion blossom. Place a few spoonful of dip in the center of blossom and serve immediately.

BLOOMING ONIONS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°. With a sharp knife, slice 1/2 in. off the top of the onions; peel onions. Cut each into 16 wedges to within 1/2 in. of root end., Place each onion on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 12 in. square). Fold foil around onions and seal tightly. Place in an ungreased 11x7-in. baking dish. Bake, uncovered, for 20 minutes., In a small bowl, combine butter and mustard. Open foil; fold foil around onions. Brush butter mixture over onions; sprinkle with bread crumbs, salt and pepper., Bake until crisp-tender, 18-22 minutes. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine sauce ingredients. Serve with onions.

BLOOMING ONION

Steps:

• Beat together the egg and buttermilk in a medium bowl.
• Combine the flour, salt, pepper, cayenne, oregano, thyme, cumin and old bay in a separate bowl.
• Slice 3/4" to 1" off the top and bottom of the onion and remove skin.
• Cut out a 1" core and slice about 3/4 of the way down to create petals.
• Place the onion in boiling water to separate the petals.
• Let cool.
• Dip the onion into the milk mixture.
• Dip the coated onion into the flour mixture, covering liberally.
• Repeat process.
• Let onion set in the refrigerator for 15 minutes before frying.
• Heat vegetable oil in a deep fryer or pot to 350 degrees.
• Fry the onion right side up for 10 minutes until brown.
• Drain on a rack or paper towel.
• Combine ingredients for dipping sauce and serve.

BAKED BLOOMING ONIONS

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil that hangs over the pan by about three inches on each side. You'll need the extra for wrapping the onions.
• Preheat the oven to 375.
• Slice off 1/4 inch of the stem end of your onion leaving the root end intact.
• Peel off the dry outer layers of the onion and discard.
• Turn the oven cut side down and cut 4 slices (pretend it's like North, South, East and West), starting just below the root. Don't cut the root.
• Now cut between each of your four first slices to get 8 around the onion.
• Turn it over and lightly spread the petals.
• Holding it by the root, dip it in the egg and place it root side down on the cookie sheet.
• Mix the salt and seasonings together in a bowl and over and between the petals, spreading the petals a bit to get it even.
• Sprinkle with bread crumbs.
• Wrap lightly in the foil and bake 5 minutes.
• Remove the foil and bake until golden brown, about 30 minutes more.

BAKED BLOOMIN' ONION

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425.
• Peel onions. Cut the bottom level but leave core intact.
• Cut onion 6 ways to make petals, carefully loosening. It will bloom more when cooked.
• Place flour salt and seasonings in zip lock bag.
• Spray onions with cooking spray, place in bag and shake gently.
• Remove onion and shake excess off.
• Place on baking sheet and spray again with cooking spray to aid in browning.
• Bake 35 to 45 minutes until tender.
• Serve with ranch dressing.

GRILLED ONION BLOSSOM

Steps:

• Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat.
• Peel the onion. Slice into 6 to 8 wedges, leaving the base of the onion intact. Pull apart wedges slightly, and place butter, garlic salt and ground black pepper inside onion.
• Wrap onion tightly with aluminum foil. Place on the preheated grill. Cook 45 minutes, or until the onion is translucent and lightly browned.

BAKED ONION BLOSSOM

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425 degrees.
• Peel skin from onion and cut off top 1/4 inch. Leave root end on to hold onion together. Cut through the onion from the top down to the bottom, stopping 1/2 to 1/4 inch short of bottom.(leave bottom intact), forming 16 wedges.
• Place on a 12 inch square sheet of foil. Fold up foil around the onion and place in an oven safe baking dish or pie plate. Bake for 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile combine the butter and mustard in a small bowl and mix well.
• Remove the onion from the oven and open the foil. Fold it down to make a 1 inch high rim around the onion; crimp edges to seal. With a pastry brush, coat the onion with the butter mixture, then sprinkle liberally with bread crumbs and paprika.
• Return onion to the oven and bake an additional 15 to 20 minutes, or until crispy tender. Pour the ranch dressing into a small bowl. Place the cooked onion on a serving plate and set the dressing bowl in the center or alongside.
• TIP: Any favorite dressing that goes well with onions can be used for dipping sauce.