Name: Crispy Air Fryer Blooming Onion and Creamy Dip
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 1 large sweet onion, We like Vidalia.; 1 cup all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon paprika; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon onion powder; 1 teaspoon salt; ½ teaspoon black pepper; 2 large eggs; ½ cup buttermilk; 1 tablespoon hot sauce; Olive oil spray; ½ cup mayonnaise; ¼ cup ketchup; 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted; 1 tablespoon mirin, or water; ¼ teaspoon garlic powder; ¼ teaspoon onion powder

Directions

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1 Peel the 1 large sweet onion and slice away the top, leaving the root end intact. Working evenly around the onion, make 8 to 12 downward cuts without slicing through the final ½ inch near the root. Carefully ease the layers apart until the onion begins to open like a flower.

2 Add the 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon black pepper to a large bowl. Stir until the seasonings are evenly distributed through the flour.

3 In a separate bowl, whisk the 2 large eggs with the ½ cup buttermilk and 1 tablespoon hot sauce until the mixture is smooth and uniform.

4 Lower the opened onion into the seasoned flour and work the coating gently between its layers. Transfer it to the egg mixture, making sure the liquid reaches inside the separated petals, then return it to the flour for a second complete coating.

5 Set the air fryer to 375°F and allow it to preheat for 5 minutes. Position the coated onion root side down in the air-fryer basket, then cover its surface evenly with olive oil spray.

6 Cook the onion in the air fryer for 12 to 15 minutes, until the coating looks golden brown and feels crisp. Check it halfway through and apply additional olive oil spray wherever the flour still appears dry.

7 While the onion is cooking, stir together the ½ cup mayonnaise, ¼ cup ketchup, 1 tablespoon melted unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon water as the listed alternative to mirin, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder, and ¼ teaspoon onion powder until smooth. Let the finished onion cool slightly, then serve it with the dipping sauce.

Crispy Air Fryer Blooming Onion and Creamy Dip

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