Description
This Baked Blooming Onion is a delicious and healthier twist on the classic restaurant appetizer. Made by slicing a large yellow onion into petals, coating it in seasoned Panko breadcrumbs and egg whites, then baking until tender and golden, this recipe is perfect for a party or game day snack without the guilt of frying.
Ingredients
Scale
Blooming Onion
- 1 large yellow onion
- ⅔ cup Panko breadcrumbs
- ½ teaspoon ground paprika
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- 2 large egg whites
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for baking the onion.
- Prepare Onion: Use a large knife to cut off about ¼ inch from the top of the onion, exposing a few of the inside layers. Be careful to only cut the top side, not the root side. Peel off the outermost layer of the onion down to the root, leaving the root intact.
- Slice Onion into Petals: Place the onion cut side down on a cutting board. Starting ⅛ inch from the root, carefully slice straight down to create 16 sections (you can cut more if your onion is very large). Turn the onion over onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Use your fingers to gently separate and open the onion petals fully.
- Make Coating Mixture: In a small bowl, mix together the Panko breadcrumbs, ground paprika, Cajun seasoning, and sea salt. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg whites until slightly frothy.
- Coat the Onion: Working in sections, brush each onion petal with egg whites first, then sprinkle generously with the breadcrumb mixture. Continue coating each petal from bottom to top, rotating the onion to reach all sides. Once all sections are coated, brush the entire onion with a final layer of egg whites and sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture over the whole onion for extra crunch.
- Bake the Onion: Cover the onion loosely with aluminum foil and bake for 5 minutes. Then remove the foil and bake uncovered for 15 minutes more, or until the onion is tender and the edges are beautifully browned.
Notes
- This baked version is a healthier alternative to the traditional fried blooming onion but still delivers excellent flavor and crunch.
- Use a large onion to ensure plenty of petals to serve a crowd or for multiple servings.
- Try different seasoning blends to customize the flavor to your liking.
- Serve with your favorite dipping sauce like a spicy ranch or a creamy horseradish dip for extra enjoyment.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 0.5 onion
- Calories: 137 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 498 mg
- Fat: 2 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
