Extremely Crispy Blooming Onion With Tangy Outback Style Mayonnaise. The Perfect Combination!

How to make the perfect blooming onion that’s way better than Outback Steakhouse. This fried blooming onion recipe is incredible; it’s super crispy and easy to make. Along with the blooming onion is a delicious tangy outback-style mayonnaise that perfectly accompanies this appetizer. 

Blooming Onion

5 from 1 vote
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Calories: 600kcal
Servings: 2 People

Ingredients

Onion & Oil

  • 2 Brown (Yellow) Onions Large
  • Vegetable, Canola or Sunflower Oil For Frying

Flour Mixture

  • 150 g Plain Flour All Purpose
  • 4 g Cornflour Cornstarch
  • 4 g Ground Cumin
  • 4 g Smoked Paprika
  • Salt & Pepper To Taste

Egg Wash

  • 1 Egg
  • 250 ml Full Fat Milk

Mayonnaise

  • 1 Egg You Can Use Pasteurised If Needed
  • 180 ml Neutral Oil
  • 7.5 ml White Vinegar or Lemon Juice
  • 5 g Dijon Mustard
  • Salt & Pepper To Taste

Tangy (Outback Style) Mayonnaise

  • Mayonnaise Above
  • 15 g Tomato Ketchup
  • 15 g Horseradish
  • 15 ml Worcestershire Sauce
  • 4 g Smoked Paprika
  • 4 g Garlic Powder
  • 2 g Red Chilli Powder Optional
  • Salt & Pepper To Taste

Method

Mayonnaise

  • Place all of the mayonnaise ingredients into a tall jar or container. Blend with an immersion blender until thick and creamy. Transfer to a bowl.
  • Add the tangy (Outback-style) ingredients, mix to combine, and place in the fridge until ready to serve.

Blooming Onion

  • Preheat a deep fryer, or fill a large high-rimmed pan or pot with enough oil to fill it by half, and heat to 170°C (340°F).
  • Peel and remove the tip from the onion, leaving the root intact. With the root facing up, slice next to the root to create 4 even slices around the onion in a cross shape. Slice in between each original slice to create 16 even-sized slices all the way around. Flip the onion over and gently open it to create a blooming onion (see photo and video).
  • Add all the flour mixture ingredients to a bowl and mix to combine.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg and milk to create an egg wash.
  • Dust the blooming onion in the flour mixture, making sure each individual layer is well coated.
  • Transfer the onion into the egg wash and coat well.
  • Place the egg-washed onion back into the flour, making sure everything is completely covered, getting in between each layer.
  • Gently place the dredged onion into the preheated oil and fry for 6-7 minutes, or until golden brown and extremely crispy. Remove and drain over a wire rack or paper towel.
  • Serve the crispy golden blooming onion alongside the tangy mayonnaise. Dig in.
Chef's Tips
Take your time slicing the onion into even layers — uneven cuts mean some petals cook faster than others, and the onion won't "bloom" open evenly.
Double dredge the onion (flour, egg wash, then flour again) and really work the coating into every layer — this is what gives it that thick, extra-crispy crust.
Don't overcrowd the oil or fry at too low a temperature — keep it at 170°C (340°F) so the onion crisps up quickly rather than absorbing excess oil.
Storage & Reheating
This is best eaten fresh and hot, as the crispy coating won't hold up well once stored. If needed, leftovers will keep in the fridge for up to 2 days; reheat in the oven or air fryer at 180°C (350°F) until hot through and crispy again, rather than the microwave, which will make the coating soggy. Because the mayonnaise contains raw egg, use a pasteurised egg where possible, especially for pregnant, elderly, very young, or immunocompromised eaters — it'll keep in the fridge for around 5-7 days rather than the couple of weeks you'd get from shelf-stable, store-bought mayo.
Serving 1OnionCalories 600kcalCarbohydrates 42.6gProtein 10.6gFat 43.7gSaturated Fat 6.5gPolyunsaturated Fat 5.89gMonounsaturated Fat 28.68gTrans Fat 0.1gCholesterol 89.4mgSodium 231.7mgPotassium 374.3mgFiber 2.6gSugar 7.9gVitamin A 181.93IUVitamin C 8.12mgCalcium 130mgIron 1.9mg

The above nutrition guide is based on daily averages and is calculated for a single portion.

Recipe Notes

Can I Store The Blooming Onion If Theres Any Leftover?

Due to the onion being fried, storing or leaving any for leftovers is not recommended. It will be very soggy and no longer as tasty as fresh after reheating or eating cold. In saying this, nothing stops you from doing so if required. If you do, store it for no longer than 1 day and to reheat it either refry or place it in the microwave (microwaving will make it very soggy).

Tangy Outback Style Mayonnaise Storage Instructions

To store the mayonnaise and its tangy counterpart, it can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days but with incredible flavour. It’s difficult not to use it all with the delicious blooming onion.

Watch How To Make The Recipe

Did You Like This Blooming Onion Recipe?

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2 thoughts on “Blooming Onion”

  1. 5 stars
    Hi Chef!

    The recipe calls for 1.5 teaspoons or 30 ml vinegar. I think 1 teaspoon is usually supposed to be 5 ml (~5 ml in the US and exactly 5 ml elsewhere). And 30 ml would be ~2 Tablespoons or ~1 fl oz in the US. So is this a typo? Or is it an international spoon issue?

    I ask in part because I know Aussie Tablespoons are tricky for Americans since ours are ~15 ml and I believe yours are 20 ml (we Americans have 3 teaspoons in a Tablespoon while I think Aussies have 4).

    We’re very attached to volume measures in the US, which I know is annoying and not logical, but my scale just isn’t very good at small amounts so I must use measuring spoons. I’m overall confused on this spoon issue. Can you clarify whether the vinegar is a typo and whether I understand Aussie spoons correctly?

    Thank you so much for the recipe and the video! I appreciate your hard work, how clearly you explain things, and how delicious your recipes are. Thank you!

    1. Hi Kirsten. I’m confused to as where you’re reading it saying 1 1/2 tsp to 30 ml. On my end it says to 15ml. Have you adjusted the amount of people the recipe serves on the calculator by any chance?

      I’ll look into it a little further but you are correct about 1 tsp being 5ml 😊

      Sorry for any confusion and thank you very much for your kind words. Glad you’ve been enjoying the recipes.

5 from 1 vote

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