Out of the Garden: Blooming Onion

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Blooming Onion

Usually everyone makes a New Year's resolution to get healthier....well, not in our house. Paul and I went shopping and bought a deep fat fryer...goodness! For our first deep fat indulgence we made a Blooming Onion.....heaven!

Blooming Onion

1 Large Yellow Onion
Dipping Sauce
1/2 Cup Mayonnaise
1/4 Cup Sour Cream
2 Tbs Creamy Horseradish
1 Tbs Ketchup
1/4 Tsp Old Bay Seasoning
1/4 Tsp Paprika
1/4 Tsp Pepper
1 Pinch of Cayenne Pepper

Batter
1 Egg
1 Cup Milk
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1 Cup Flour
1 Tbs Paprika
1 Tbs Old Bay Seasoning
1 Tbs Pepper

Preparing Dipping Sauce:
Combine all ingredients in a bowl, mix and refrigerate until ready to use.

Preparing Batter:
In a deep bowl beat egg and mix in milk, set aside.
In another bowl combine dry ingredients, set aside

Prepare Onion:
Slice 3/4 inch slice off the top of the onion and peel, leaving the root end intact.
Place onion on cutting board root side up. Using a sharp knife, make a cut starting 1 inch from the root to the cutting board. Repeat 3 more times till the onion is cut in 4 intact sections. In each 1/4 section make 3 slices. You will end up cutting the onion into 1/16ths.

Carefully place onion on a plate, spread the 'petals' of the onion apart, sprinkle the dry batter ingredients onto onion, coating between the petals. Turn the onion root side up in a bowl and sprinkle the outside of the onion.
Place coated onion into egg mixture, coat well then dip back into the flour mixture making sure all petals are coated with flour.

Frying Onion:
Heat oil to 350F. Use enough oil to cover the onion, about 2 qts. Lower the onion into the oil and fry for about 10 minutes, till the breading is lightly browned. Remove from oil drain extra oil from onion and serve with dipping sauce.