Blooming Onion and Dipping Sauce

Recipe View 5 mins 1. **Prepare Ingredients:** Gather all your ingredients and clear your workspace. (5 minutes)

Recipe View 5 mins 2. **Make the Dipping Sauce:** In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, horseradish, ketchup, paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, oregano, and black pepper until smooth and well combined. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. (5 minutes)

Recipe View 2 mins 3. **Create the Milk Mixture:** In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the milk and egg until well combined. Set aside. (2 minutes)

Recipe View 3 mins 4. **Make the Flour Mixture:** In another bowl, combine the flour, salt, cayenne pepper, paprika, black pepper, oregano, thyme, and cumin. Whisk well to ensure even distribution of spices. Set aside. (3 minutes)

Recipe View 5 mins 5. **Prepare the Onion:** Slice about 1 inch off the top and bottom of the onion. Remove the papery outer skin. (5 minutes)

Recipe View 3 mins 6. **Core the Onion:** Using a small knife or apple corer, carefully remove a 1-inch diameter core from the center of the onion, leaving the very bottom of the root end intact to hold the petals together. (3 minutes)

Recipe View 10 mins 7. **Slice the Onion:** With a large, sharp knife, make your first cut down the center of the onion, stopping about 3/4 of the way down. Rotate the onion 90 degrees and make another cut. Continue halving each section until you have approximately 16 evenly spaced sections, being careful not to cut through the bottom. (10 minutes)

Recipe View 5 mins 8. **Bloom the Onion:** Gently spread the onion petals apart to create the blooming effect. For easier separation, you can blanch the onion by plunging it into boiling water for 1 minute, then immediately transferring it to an ice bath to stop the cooking process. (5 minutes)

Recipe View 8 mins 9. **First Coating:** Dip the onion into the milk mixture, ensuring it's thoroughly coated. Then, dredge it generously in the seasoned flour mixture, separating the petals and sprinkling the flour between them to ensure every surface is covered. (8 minutes)

Recipe View 8 mins 10. **Second Coating:** Dip the onion back into the milk mixture, followed by another generous coating of the seasoned flour mixture. This double coating ensures a crispy and flavorful crust. (8 minutes)

Recipe View 15 mins 11. **Fry the Onion:** Heat the vegetable oil in a deep fryer or a large, deep pot to 350°F (175°C). Use enough oil to completely submerge the onion. Carefully lower the onion into the hot oil, cut-side up. Fry for approximately 10 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy. (15 minutes)

Recipe View 5 mins 12. **Drain and Serve:** Remove the fried onion from the oil and place it on a wire rack or paper towels to drain excess oil. (5 minutes)

Recipe View 2 mins 13. **Final Presentation:** Carefully widen the center of the onion to create a well. Place the bowl of dipping sauce in the center and serve immediately. (2 minutes)