Description
This Baked Blooming Onion recipe transforms a large yellow onion into a visually stunning and tasty appetizer. Coated with a flavorful mixture of panko breadcrumbs, paprika, and Cajun seasoning, and baked until tender and crispy, it’s a perfect dish for sharing or serving at parties.
Ingredients
Scale
Onion
- 1 large yellow onion
Coating
- â…” cup Panko breadcrumbs
- ½ teaspoon ground paprika
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- 2 large egg whites
Instructions
- Prepare the Oven and Onion Top: Preheat your oven to 400°F. Using a large knife, carefully cut off about ¼-inch from the top of the onion to expose the inside layers, making sure not to cut the root side. Peel the outermost layer of the onion down to the root, keeping the root intact.
- Cut the Onion into Sections: Place the onion cut side down on your cutting board. Slice the onion into 16 equal sections by making cuts â…›-inch away from the root, cutting straight down. You can add more cuts if the onion is especially large. After cutting, turn the onion over and place it on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Gently use your fingers to separate and open each onion petal fully.
- Mix the Coating Ingredients: In a small bowl, combine the panko breadcrumbs, paprika, Cajun seasoning, and sea salt. In another bowl, whisk the egg whites until slightly frothy.
- Coat the Onion: Working in sections, brush each onion petal with egg whites, then generously sprinkle the panko mixture on top. Start from the bottom and move upward in each section. Rotate the onion and repeat for all sections. Finish by brushing the entire onion with a final layer of egg whites and sprinkling the coating mixture over the whole onion.
- Bake the Blooming Onion: Cover the baking sheet loosely with aluminum foil and bake the onion for 5 minutes. Then remove the foil and continue baking for another 10 to 15 minutes, or until the onion petals are tender and the edges are nicely browned and crisp.
Notes
- Use a very sharp knife to ensure clean cuts when sectioning the onion.
- Make sure the onion petals are fully separated to ensure even coating and baking.
- Baking covered initially helps the onion cook through without drying out.
- Adjust Cajun seasoning to taste for more or less spice.
