Crispy Mini Bloomin’ Onions with Buttermilk Ranch Recipe
Crispy Mini Bloomin’ Onions are a delightful bite-sized twist on the classic steakhouse appetizer. These golden-brown, deep-fried cipollini onions are coated in a flavorful seasoned flour mixture and served with buttermilk ranch for dipping, delivering a perfect balance of crispy texture and savory taste. Ideal as a snack or appetizer, they promise to impress with every crunchy bite.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 16 mini bloomin’ onions 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Onions
- 16 cipollini onions
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup buttermilk
Dry Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon dry mustard
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Frying
- Peanut or vegetable oil for frying (about 2 ½ inches in a tall pot)
Dipping Sauce
- Buttermilk ranch (for serving)
Instructions
- Heat the oil: Fill a tall pot with 2 ½ inches of peanut or vegetable oil and heat it to 350˚F, ensuring it’s hot enough for frying.
- Prepare the onions: Cut off a thin slice (1/8 inch) from the pointed stem end of each cipollini onion and carefully peel without separating the layers.
- Slice the onions: Place each onion cut-side up and make 12 crosswise cuts evenly spaced, leaving the bottom stem intact to hold the layers together.
- Separate layers: Turn onions over and gently pull apart the outer layers with your fingers to create the blooming effect.
- Prepare coating bowls: Pour the buttermilk into one small bowl. In another bowl, combine flour, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, dry mustard, and black pepper.
- Dredge onions: Dip each onion into the buttermilk, shaking off excess, then coat thoroughly in the seasoned flour mixture. Repeat this dipping and dredging process for a double coating.
- Fry the onions: Carefully place onions in the hot oil, cut-side down, frying 3 to 4 minutes until golden and crispy. Flip and fry another 2 minutes to crisp the other side.
- Drain and season: Transfer fried onions onto paper towels to drain excess oil. Season immediately with additional salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve: Plate the crispy mini bloomin’ onions and serve warm with buttermilk ranch dipping sauce for a delicious appetizer experience.
Notes
- Ensure the oil temperature stays consistent at 350˚F for optimal frying results and crispy texture.
- Handle onions gently to avoid breaking the layers before coating and frying.
- Use peanut or vegetable oil with a high smoke point for best frying performance.
- Double-coating with flour and buttermilk helps achieve extra crispy blooms.
- Serve immediately after frying for best texture and flavor.
- Leftover bloomin’ onions can be reheated briefly in an air fryer or oven but may lose some crispiness.
Keywords: Mini Bloomin’ Onions, Cipollini Onions, Appetizer, Fried Onion, Crispy Snack, Buttermilk Ranch, Steakhouse Style
