Description
This Baked Blooming Onion is a tasty and healthier alternative to the classic fried appetizer. Made by slicing a large onion into petals, coating it with a flavorful mixture of panko breadcrumbs, paprika, Cajun seasoning, and egg whites, then baking until tender and golden brown. Perfect as a flavorful party starter or snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 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 the oven to 400°F to prepare for baking the onion.
- Prepare Onion: Cut about ¼-inch off the top of the onion to expose a few inside layers without cutting the root side. Peel off the outermost layer, leaving the root intact.
- Cut Onion Into Sections: Place the onion cut side down on a cutting board. Carefully cut the onion into 16 sections by slicing straight down about ⅛ inch from the root. Separate the onion petals gently to open it fully, then place it on a parchment-lined baking sheet, cut side up.
- Prepare Coating: In a small bowl, mix together panko breadcrumbs, paprika, Cajun seasoning, and sea salt. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg whites until combined.
- Coat Onion: Working patch by patch, brush each onion petal with egg whites and sprinkle the panko mixture generously, starting from the bottom toward the top. After coating all petals section by section, brush the entire onion with one more layer of egg whites and sprinkle the panko mixture over the whole onion to ensure even coverage.
- Bake: Cover the onion loosely with aluminum foil to prevent burning and bake for 5 minutes. Then remove the foil and bake uncovered for an additional 15 minutes or until the onion is tender and the edges are nicely browned.
Notes
- This baked version is a healthier alternative to the traditional fried blooming onion, maintaining flavor with less oil.
- Use a large onion to ensure you can cut it into 16 petals or more for a fuller bloom.
- Be careful to keep the root intact to hold the petals together during baking.
- To add more flavor, serve with a dipping sauce such as ranch or spicy mayo.
- If you prefer a spicier coating, increase the Cajun seasoning or add a pinch of cayenne pepper.
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
