The Outback Steakhouse Blooming Onion is a treat the restaurant has been serving up since it opened. You can make this appetizer menu item just like they do, and you don’t need any fancy tools to prepare this Bloomin Onion.
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Outback Steakhouse Blooming Onion
I think this is one of one my first copycat recipes. I can remember the first time I tried this bloomin onion. An onion is sliced in a way that it opens up, some might even say it “blooms”.
The petals are battered, and the onion is deep-fried and then this creation is served with a wonderful sauce. I know you will be blown away just like I was the first time I tried this creation.
Ingredients
What you’ll need for making a blooming onion:
- Cornstarch
- Minced garlic
- Salt
- All-purpose flour
- Paprika
- Pepper
- Beer
- Garlic powder
- Cayenne pepper
- Vidalia onions or other large sweet onions
- Oil for frying
- Bloomin Onion Sauce for serving
Ingredient Notes
A sweet onion will give the perfect flavor. Use a Vidalia or 1015 onion.
My preference for cooking oil is peanut oil followed by vegetable oil. Any liquid oil will do, but I think peanut makes the onion crispier.
How to Prepare a Bloomin Onion
Preparing this onion isn’t too difficult. Basically, you’ll make a seasoned beer batter and flour mixture, cut and batter the onion, then deep fry it. Here are the step-by-step instructions:
- Mix cornstarch, minced garlic, flour, paprika, and pepper until well blended.
- Add the beer and mix well until the batter is well combined.
- Combine flour with garlic powder, cayenne pepper, paprika, and pepper. Mix until well blended.
- Peel the onions and place the root side on the cutting board. Use a sharp knife to slice the first 3/4 inches off the top of the onion. Then you will make 10 to 12 verticle cuts, but don’t go all of the way to the root.
- Separate the onion petals slightly, but do not do this too much or you will destroy the onion.
- Dip the onions into the seasoned flour and shake off the excess flour.
- Dip the onions into the batter and separate the petals to ensure they are thoroughly coated.
- Then dip the onion into the seasoned flour again.
- Heat the oil in a deep fryer until the oil temperature is 375 to 400°F. Gently place the onion in the fryer basket and deep-fry for 1½ minutes on one side. Flip the onion and fry for an additional 1½ minutes.
- Drain on paper towels.
- Place the onion on a plate and serve it hot with Bloomin Onion Sauce.
Recipe Tips
You may want to make sure your cutting board has a damp cloth under it so it doesn’t move.
If desired, you can cut out the center of the fried blooming onion and put a small cup of dipping sauce in it.
If you feel cutting the blooming onion is too much, then try cutting it into petals, strings, or onion rings.
Be sure to serve it with plenty of bloomin onion sauce.
Love Outback Steakhouse? Try these recipes
Tasty Onion Rings and Petals Recipes
Be sure to check out more copycat appetizers and game day food recipes.
Outback Steakhouse Bloomin Onion
You can make some magic in your kitchen when you make this blooming onion at home.
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Servings: 4
Calories: 600kcal
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup cornstarch
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour divided use
- 2 tablespoons paprika divided use
- 2 1/2 teaspoons ground black pepper divided use
- 12 ounces beer
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 4 Vidalia onions or other large sweet onions
- Bloomin’ Onion Sauce or Creamy Chili Sauce to serve
Instructions
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To make the batter, combine the cornstarch, minced garlic, and salt with 1 1/2 cups of flour, 2 teaspoons of paprika, and 2 teaspoons of ground black pepper. Mix well. Add the beer and mix to combine.
-
To make the seasoned flour, combine the garlic powder and cayenne pepper with 2 cups of flour, 4 teaspoons of paprika, and 1/2 teaspoon of ground black pepper. Mix well.
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Cut about 3/4 inch off the top of the onions and peel them. Cut each onion into 12 to 16 vertical wedges, but do not cut through the bottom root end. Remove about 1 inch of petals from the center of the onion. You may want to separate the onion petals slightly, but do not do this too much or you will destroy the onion.
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Dip the onions into the seasoned flour and shake off the excess. Dip the onions into the batter, separating the petals to ensure they are thoroughly coated. Then dip the onions into the seasoned flour again.
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Heat the oil in a deep fryer to 375°F to 400°F. Gently place the onions into the fryer basket and deep-fry for 1 1/2 minutes on each side. Remove the onions from the fryer and drain on paper towels.
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To serve, place the onion upright in a shallow bowl and remove the center core with a circular cutter or apple corer. Serve hot with Bloomin’ Onion Sauce or Creamy Chili Sauce.
Nutrition
Calories: 600kcal | Carbohydrates: 125g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 617mg | Potassium: 633mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 1580IU | Vitamin C: 16.3mg | Calcium: 98mg | Iron: 6.8mg
