Description
Awesome Blossom Onion Bites are crispy, golden-fried sweet onion petals coated in a flavorful seasoned batter, served with a tangy and spicy horseradish dipping sauce. Perfect as an appetizer or snack, these bites bring the fun and flavor of blooming onions to your table in bite-sized portions.
Ingredients
Scale
Onion Bites
- 2 large sweet onions, cut into bite-sized petals
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Vegetable oil (for frying)
Dipping Sauce
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon prepared horseradish
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Soak the Onions: In a bowl, soak the onion petals in buttermilk for at least 30 minutes, or up to 2 hours to tenderize and add moisture.
- Prepare the Flour Mixture: In a separate bowl, combine all-purpose flour, cornstarch, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper to create a well-seasoned coating.
- Heat the Oil: Heat vegetable oil in a deep skillet or pot until it reaches 350°F (175°C), ideal for frying to achieve crispy texture.
- Coat the Onion Petals: Remove onion petals from buttermilk, dredge them into the flour mixture, pressing gently to ensure a good coating. Shake off any excess flour. For extra crunch, you can dip them again in buttermilk and then back into the flour mixture.
- Fry the Onion Bites: Fry the coated onion petals in batches for 2 to 3 minutes until they turn golden brown and crispy. Avoid overcrowding the pan for even frying. Drain the fried bites on paper towels to remove excess oil.
- Make the Dipping Sauce: In a small bowl, mix mayonnaise, ketchup, prepared horseradish, paprika, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, and salt until smooth. Chill the sauce until serving for best flavor.
- Serve: Serve the onion bites hot alongside the dipping sauce and enjoy immediately for maximum crispness and flavor.
Notes
- You can air-fry these onion bites by spraying the coated petals lightly with oil and cooking at 400°F (200°C) for 10–12 minutes, flipping halfway through for even crispiness.
- Using yellow or Vidalia onions gives the best natural sweetness and flavor for this recipe.
- For an extra crispy texture, double dredge the onion petals in the buttermilk and flour mixture.
- Be cautious about oil temperature to avoid greasy or soggy bites; maintain steady heat at 350°F during frying.
