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A platter of bite-sized blooming onions served with creamy buttermilk ranch dip.

Classic Bite-Sized Blooming Onions with Buttermilk Ranch Dip

Enjoy these crispy, bite-sized blooming onions, perfectly seasoned and fried, served with a creamy and tangy homemade buttermilk ranch dip. This appetizer is perfect for sharing and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 450 kcal

Equipment

  • large bowl
  • shallow dish or large Ziploc bag
  • large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven
  • kitchen thermometer
  • slotted spoon or spider
  • small bowl

Ingredients
  

For the Bite-Sized Blooming Onions:

  • 2-3 medium-sized yellow onions
  • 2 cups buttermilk
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • Vegetable oil or canola oil for deep frying

For the Buttermilk Ranch Dip:

  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • 1 tablespoon dried parsley or 3 tablespoons fresh, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon dried dill or 1 tablespoon fresh, finely chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • Pinch of cayenne pepper optional

Instructions
 

Bite-Sized Blooming Onions

  • Peel and cut each onion into 8-10 wedges, keeping the root intact to hold the "petals" together, then gently separate the layers into florets.
  • Place onion pieces in a bowl, submerge in buttermilk, and soak for 20-60 minutes in the refrigerator.
  • Combine flour, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper in a shallow dish or Ziploc bag.
  • Heat 2-3 inches of vegetable or canola oil in a pot to 350-375°F (175-190°C).
  • Working in batches, remove onions from buttermilk, coat thoroughly with the flour mixture, pressing gently.
  • Carefully lower coated onions into hot oil and fry for 2-4 minutes until golden brown and crispy.
  • Drain fried onions on paper towels and sprinkle with salt immediately.

Buttermilk Ranch Dip

  • While onions fry, whisk together mayonnaise, buttermilk, parsley, dill, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and optional cayenne pepper until smooth.

Notes

For extra crispiness, you can double-dredge the onions: after the first flour coating, dip them back into a little buttermilk and then into the flour mixture again before frying. Ensure the oil temperature is maintained for best results when frying. Serve immediately for optimal crispiness.