Crispy Mini Bloomin Onions (Printable)
Miniature blooming onions with crunchy golden petals and a zesty dipping sauce—perfect for any gathering.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 6 small sweet onions (pearl or cipollini, 2–3 inches in diameter)
→ Breading
02 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
03 - ½ cup cornstarch
04 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
05 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
06 - 1 teaspoon onion powder
07 - ½ teaspoon salt
08 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper
09 - ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
→ Wet Batter
10 - 2 large eggs
11 - ½ cup whole milk
→ Frying
12 - 1 quart vegetable oil for deep frying
→ Dipping Sauce
13 - ½ cup mayonnaise
14 - 2 tablespoons ketchup
15 - 1 tablespoon prepared horseradish
16 - ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
17 - ½ teaspoon garlic powder
18 - ½ teaspoon lemon juice
19 - Pinch of salt
# How To Make It:
01 - Trim the root end just enough so each onion stands upright while staying intact. Peel the onions. Make 4 to 6 vertical cuts from the top down toward the root, stopping about ¼ inch from the base to keep the layers connected. Rotate and add additional cuts to form 8 to 12 evenly spaced petals. Gently fan the petals apart with your fingers.
02 - Combine the flour, cornstarch, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and cayenne in a shallow bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs and whole milk until uniform.
03 - Dip each onion into the flour mixture, ensuring full coverage. Shake off the excess, then submerge in the egg-milk wash. Return to the flour mixture and press gently to coat every petal thoroughly.
04 - Pour vegetable oil into a deep pot or fryer and bring to 350°F.
05 - Lower one or two onions into the hot oil cut-side down. Fry for 2 to 3 minutes until golden, then flip and continue frying for another 2 to 3 minutes until crisp and cooked through.
06 - Lift the onions out with a slotted spoon and set them on paper towels to drain. Sprinkle lightly with extra salt if desired.
07 - Stir together the mayonnaise, ketchup, prepared horseradish, smoked paprika, garlic powder, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt in a bowl until well blended.
08 - Arrange the hot mini bloomin onions on a serving plate alongside the dipping sauce.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The double coating trick gives you that shatteringly crisp exterior that restaurants charge twelve dollars for
- Mini size means everyone gets their own whole onion and nobody has to share or negotiate petals
02 -
- If your oil drops below 340 degrees the breading goes soggy instead of crispy so do not crowd the pot
- Letting the scored onions soak in ice water for ten minutes before breading helps the petals fan open wider
03 -
- Freeze the double coated raw onions on a sheet pan for thirty minutes before frying to set the breading and prevent petals from falling off
- Sift your flour and cornstarch together before adding spices to avoid any lumpy spots in the coating