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That Bloomin' Onion

One of the favorites of Outback Steakhouse is the Bloomin' Onion. Although no one can make it quite like the Aussies..here's a good copycat recipe.                                                                                      

Prep time: 35 minutes  

Total time: 1 hour  

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

Instructions:

To make the dipping sauce: In a small mixing bowl, combine the mayonnaise, ketchup, horseradish, paprika, salt, oregano, black pepper and cayenne pepper. Set aside or chill until ready to use. 

For the onion: In a medium bowl big enough to hold the onion, whisk together the egg and milk until well-combined. In a separate bowl, combine flour, salt, peppers, paprika, oregano, thyme and cumin. 

To cut the onion: First slice 3/4 inch to 1 inch off the top and bottom of onion. Remove papery skin. Use a thin knife to cut a 1-inch diameter core out of the middle of the onion. Use a very sharp, large knife, preferably with a thin blade, to slice the onion several times down the center to create the "petals." First slice through the center of the onion to about 3/4 of the way down. Turn the onion 90 degrees and slice it again in an X across the first slice. Keep slicing the sections in half, very carefully, until you've cut the onion 16 times. Do not cut down to the bottom. 

Spread apart the petals. The onion sections tend to stick together, so you'll want to separate them to make coating easier. To help separate the petals, plunge the onion into boiling water for 1 minute and then into cold water. 

Dip the onion in the milk mixture, and then coat it liberally with the dry ingredients. Again separate the petals and sprinkle the dry coating between them. When the onion is well-coated, dip it back into the wet mixture and into the dry coating again. Let the onion rest in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes while you get the oil ready. 

Heat oil in a deep fryer or deep pot to 350 degrees. Make sure you use enough oil to cover the onion completely. 

Fry onion right side up for 10 minutes or until it turns brown. 

Remove and drain on a rack or paper towels. 

Open the onion wider from the center so you can place a small dish of the dipping sauce in the center. 

Note:

Cutting the onion to make it bloom is the trick here, and starting with a symmetrical one helps. You might want to buy several more than you need, in order to practice.