Mini Onion Blossoms Food

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.

ONION BLOSSOM BITES

Steps:

• Slice about 1/4 inch off the top of each onion and slice off just a little bit of the root end, making sure the root is still intact. Peel each onion. Using a paring knife, make a slice from the top of each onion into the center and down to about 1/4 inch above the root. Repeat the cuts going around the onion, spacing them out by 1/3 inch to form the "petals" of the blossom. Once all the cuts have been made, press down on the top of the onion with the palm of your hand to help separate the petals. Repeat with the remaining onions.
• Fill a medium heavy-bottomed pot with enough canola oil so it comes up the sides about 3 inches. Heat over medium-high heat to 350 degrees F.
• In a pie dish, whisk together the flour, cornmeal, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder and a generous pinch of salt and pepper. In a second pie dish, whisk together the milk and eggs. Working in batches, coat the onions in the egg wash, then dredge in the flour mixture, making sure the onions are coated and the flour mixture gets into all the crevasses of the onion "petals." Place on a plate.
• Fry the onions in batches until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate. Season with a bit more salt. Serve with Onion Blossom Sauce.
• Combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, hot sauce, horseradish, paprika, garlic powder and onion powder in a bowl and mix until blended.

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.

GRILLED ONION BLOSSOM

Steps:

• For the dipping sauce: Combine the mayonnaise, horseradish, BBQ seasoning, mustard and some salt and pepper in a small mixing bowl. Store refrigerated in an airtight container until ready to serve.
• For the onion blossom: Preheat a grill to 350 degrees F. Spay a disposable pie plate with olive oil cooking spray.
• Peel the onion and trim the root end to remove any hairs. Slice the pointy stem end of the onion off. Turn the onion so the root end is facing up. Leaving a 1/2-inch rim around the root, make 4 cuts into the onion, down to the stem end. This results in 4 sections of the onion. Repeating the same motion, make 3 more cuts into each section of the onion, from root to stem end. Turn the onion over to reveal 16 onion petals. Use your hands to separate the layers of petals as needed.
• Place the onion stem-side up in the prepared pie plate. Generously spray all of the petals with the olive oil cooking spray. Sprinkle the onion with the BBQ seasoning.
• Put the onion on the grill and close the grill. Roast at 350 degrees F, checking halfway, until the onion blossom has opened, 40 to 45 minutes. The petals should be tender and darkened on the ends. Carefully remove the onion from the grill. Serve warm with the dipping sauce.

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.

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.

MINI BLOOMIN ONION

Steps:

• Take a small to medium onion and cut the top off (about 1/4th of the onion).
• Peel away the outer skin but leave the root on.
• With a knife cut wedge shapes in it.
• But here's the trick -- take two wooden cooking spoons and rest the onion between them root down.
• Now slice wedges into the onion as you would cut a pizza.
• Doing this keeps the onion together at the base therefore allowing a bloomin onion result.
• Gently (with a knife) separate the sections from one another.
• Fry each one for a minute or so (depends on the size of the onion).
• These small onions will open up quickly and cook quickly so please understand this takes a little practice.
• Once its bloomin take it out of the grease and season it lightly with creole seasoning or cajun spice.
• You could also add remolade or rosette sauce on top to finish it.
• Variation: You can also batter them by mixing 1 cup of Bisquick and 1/2 cup of cornstarch in 2 cups of milk.
• Make a paste first with a little milk before adding all the milk.
• Soak the onions for about 30 minutes then dust them with flour and seasoning.
• Open the onion a little as you do it.
• Let the onions sit at least 5 minutes before frying.