Crispy Spicy Blooming Onion

Name: Crispy Spicy Blooming Onion
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 1 large sweet onion; 2 cups all-purpose flour; 1 1/2 cups buttermilk; 1 tablespoon smoked paprika; 1 tablespoon garlic powder; 1 tablespoon onion powder; 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon black pepper; 2 cups vegetable oil for frying; 1 tablespoon hot sauce; 1/2 cup mayonnaise; 1/4 cup ketchup; 1 tablespoon horseradish; 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce; 1 teaspoon lemon juice

🕒 Prep: 15 min

🔥 Cook: 10 min

🍽 Serves: 4

★★★★★

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Welcome to the world of crispy, spicy indulgence with this Crispy Spicy Blooming Onion! It's a crowd-pleaser that's perfect for game day, a casual gathering, or just because you deserve a treat. Let's dive into making this restaurant-style appetizer right in your own kitchen.

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Ingredients for Crispy Spicy Blooming Onion

The star of this dish is the sweet onion, which adds a natural sweetness and a mild bite. The all-purpose flour forms the base of our crispy coating, while the smoked paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder infuse deep, savory flavors. A dash of cayenne pepper brings heat, and salt with black pepper balance the seasoning. The buttermilk adds tanginess and helps the flour stick, while a splash of hot sauce intensifies the spice. For frying, vegetable oil gives a neutral flavor that lets the spices shine. The dipping sauce marries mayonnaise, ketchup, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, and lemon juice for a creamy, zesty complement.

Tips & Tricks

Make sure your oil is at the right temperature to avoid soggy onions.
Pry the onion petals apart slightly to ensure even coating and frying.
Double-dip in buttermilk and flour for an extra-crispy texture.

Serving Suggestions

Pair this blooming onion with a cold, crisp beer to balance the heat. It's also a great sidekick to a juicy burger or grilled steak, creating a hearty meal that's sure to satisfy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this without buttermilk?: Yes, you can substitute with regular milk and a tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice to mimic the tanginess.
What's the best way to cut the onion?: Use a sharp knife and make sure you don't cut all the way through to keep the base intact for the blooming effect.

Crispy Spicy Blooming Onion Recipe Walkthrough

Start by slicing the top off your onion and peeling away the outer skin. This is your chance to get artistic with the bloom—carefully make cuts from the top down, leaving about half an inch at the base uncut to hold everything together.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together your flour, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, salt, and pepper. In a separate bowl, stir the buttermilk and hot sauce together—it's going to be the glue for your flour mixture.

Now, take your cut onion and dunk it into the buttermilk mixture, making sure you get into every little crevice. It helps to gently pry the layers apart a bit to coat them well. Then, dredge the onion in the flour mixture. Repeat the buttermilk and flour steps for an extra-crispy coating.

Heat your vegetable oil in a large pot until it reaches 350°F. It's important to maintain this temperature for optimal crispiness without burning. Once ready, gently lower your coated onion into the hot oil using a slotted spoon or frying basket. Fry it for about 8-10 minutes until it turns a lovely golden brown.

While your onion is frying, whip up the dipping sauce by combining mayonnaise, ketchup, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, and lemon juice. This sauce is the perfect partner for your blooming onion.

Once the onion is crispy and golden, remove it from the oil and let it drain on paper towels to soak up any excess oil. Serve it warm with the spicy dipping sauce you just made!

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Perfectly crispy texture that rivals any restaurant version.
A bold, spicy kick from cayenne and hot sauce.
Simple ingredients you probably already have at home.
Fun and impressive presentation that wows guests.

Ingredients

1 large sweet onion

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups buttermilk

1 tablespoon smoked paprika

1 tablespoon garlic powder

1 tablespoon onion powder

1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

2 cups vegetable oil for frying

1 tablespoon hot sauce

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/4 cup ketchup

1 tablespoon horseradish

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon lemon juice

Step-by-step Instructions

1. Slice the top of the onion and peel away the outer skin. Carefully make cuts into the onion to create the blooming effect, ensuring not to cut all the way through.

2. In a large bowl, mix the flour, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper.

3. In another bowl, combine the buttermilk and hot sauce.

4. Dip the prepared onion into the buttermilk mixture, ensuring it gets into all the crevices.

5. Dredge the onion in the seasoned flour mixture, coating thoroughly.

6. Heat the vegetable oil in a large pot to 350°F (175°C).

7. Gently place the coated onion into the hot oil and fry for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.

8. For the dipping sauce, mix mayonnaise, ketchup, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, and lemon juice.