Crispy Mini Bloomin Onions (Printable Version)
Golden, bite-sized bloomin onions fried crisp and served with a smoky horseradish dipping sauce for sharing.
# What You Need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 12 small yellow onions, approximately golf-ball size
→ Batter
02 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
03 - 1/4 cup cornstarch
04 - 1 teaspoon paprika
05 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
06 - 1 teaspoon onion powder
07 - 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
08 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
09 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
→ Wet Mixture
10 - 2 large eggs
11 - 1/2 cup whole milk
→ For Frying
12 - Vegetable oil for deep frying
→ Dipping Sauce
13 - 1/2 cup mayonnaise
14 - 2 tablespoons ketchup
15 - 1 tablespoon prepared horseradish
16 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
17 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
18 - Salt and black pepper to taste
# How-To:
01 - Peel onions and trim just enough of the root so onions stand flat. Create four evenly spaced vertical cuts downward on each onion, leaving the base intact. Make four more cuts between the previous ones for a total of eight sections. Gently separate petals with your fingers.
02 - Place onions in a bowl of ice water for 10 minutes to help them open. Drain thoroughly and pat dry with paper towels.
03 - In a mixing bowl, combine flour, cornstarch, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper. Whisk until evenly blended.
04 - In a separate bowl, beat eggs and whole milk together until smooth.
05 - Dredge each onion in the flour mixture and shake off the excess. Submerge in the egg mixture, then coat again in the flour mixture, pressing gently to ensure petals are thoroughly covered.
06 - Heat vegetable oil in a deep fryer or heavy-bottomed pot to 350°F (175°C).
07 - Working in batches, carefully lower onions cut side down into hot oil. Fry for 2 to 3 minutes, flip, and continue frying another 2 to 3 minutes until they are golden and crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon and transfer to paper towels to drain.
08 - For the dipping sauce, mix mayonnaise, ketchup, horseradish, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper in a bowl until smooth.
09 - Serve mini bloomin onions hot, accompanied by the dipping sauce.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- You get all the crunchy, spiced edges of a classic bloomin onion in miniature, easy-to-dip bites.
- This is the sort of snack that instantly breaks the ice at a gathering—people can't help but gather around the platter and reach for just one more.
02 -
- Skipping the ice water soak means blooming onions that won't truly open or crisp up right—the difference is huge.
- Using enough oil and keeping the temperature steady kept the coating from turning greasy (which I learned the hard way on the second round).
03 -
- A digital thermometer keeps oil temp spot-on so blooms never come out greasy or pale.
- Pressing flour into every petal means each bite has maximum crunch factor.