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Crispy Air Fryer Blooming Onion Recipe Easy Homemade with Chipotle Comeback Sauce

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A lighter, crispy blooming onion made in the air fryer paired with a smoky chipotle comeback sauce. This easy recipe delivers a crunchy, tender appetizer perfect for casual gatherings or weeknight snacks.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 large sweet onion (Vidalia or Walla Walla recommended)
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour (can swap with almond flour for gluten-free)
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 large eggs, beaten (room temperature)
  • ½ cup buttermilk (or plain milk with 1 teaspoon lemon juice)
  • Cooking spray or avocado oil
  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon chipotle peppers in adobo, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Peel the onion and trim off the top, leaving the root end intact. Place root-side down on a cutting board. Starting about ½ inch from the root, slice downward to create 12 to 16 evenly spaced cuts without cutting through the root.
  2. Submerge the cut onion in a large bowl of ice water for 15 minutes to help petals open and crisp. Drain and pat dry thoroughly.
  3. In one bowl, whisk together eggs and buttermilk. In another bowl, combine flour, smoked paprika, garlic powder, cayenne, salt, and black pepper.
  4. Coat the onion in the egg mixture using a spoon or brush, ensuring every petal is covered. Let excess drip off. Transfer to the flour mixture, coating between all petals. For extra crispiness, repeat dipping in egg wash and flour mixture.
  5. Preheat air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for 3 minutes.
  6. Spray air fryer basket with cooking spray or brush with avocado oil. Place coated onion root-side down in basket. Spray top lightly with cooking spray.
  7. Air fry for 15-18 minutes, spraying halfway through and checking for even crisping. Onion should be golden brown and crispy on edges.
  8. While onion cooks, whisk together mayonnaise, ketchup, chopped chipotle peppers, smoked paprika, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, and garlic powder. Season with salt and pepper. Chill until serving.
  9. Carefully transfer cooked onion to a serving plate and serve warm with chipotle comeback sauce on the side.

Notes

[‘Soaking the onion in ice water is critical for opening petals and achieving crispiness.’, ‘Double dredging the onion in egg wash and flour mixture yields the crispiest crust.’, ‘Use cooking spray liberally inside and outside the onion before and during cooking to mimic frying.’, ‘Watch your air fryer model as cooking times may vary; start checking crispness at 12 minutes.’, ‘If onion petals break, ensure root end is intact and use a sharp knife for clean cuts.’, ‘Leftovers can be refrigerated up to 2 days and reheated in the air fryer at 350°F for 5-7 minutes.’, ‘Chipotle comeback sauce can be made up to a week in advance and stored in the fridge.’]

Nutrition

Keywords: blooming onion, air fryer, appetizer, chipotle comeback sauce, crispy onion, easy recipe, homemade, snack

Find it online: https://evabake.com/crispy-air-fryer-blooming-onion-recipe-easy-homemade-with-chipotle-comeback-sauce/