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Air Fryer Crispy Onion Petals with Spicy Mayo

A plate piled high with golden brown Air Fryer Crispy Onion Petals next to a small bowl of spicy mayo.
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Make restaurant-style crispy onion petals in your air fryer. This recipe uses a simple batter and specific air fryer settings to achieve maximum crunch without deep frying. Serve with a homemade spicy mayonnaise dipping sauce.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 large sweet onion (Vidalia or yellow)
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 cup milk (or buttermilk for extra tang)
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • Cooking spray (oil-based)
  • For Spicy Mayo: 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon sriracha or hot sauce
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice

Instructions

  1. Prepare the onion: Peel the onion and slice it into thick, 1/2-inch rounds. Separate the rounds into individual petals. Place the petals in a bowl of ice water for 15 minutes to remove harshness, then drain thoroughly. Pat the petals completely dry using paper towels. This drying step is crucial for crispiness.
  2. Set up the dredging stations: In one shallow dish, combine the flour, salt, pepper, paprika, and cayenne pepper. In a second shallow dish, whisk together the milk and egg. In a third shallow dish, place the panko breadcrumbs.
  3. Coat the petals: Dip each dried onion petal first into the flour mixture, shaking off excess. Next, dip it into the milk/egg mixture, allowing excess to drip off. Finally, press the petal firmly into the panko breadcrumbs, coating completely. Place coated petals on a wire rack while you finish the rest.
  4. Preheat the air fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 380 degrees Fahrenheit (195 degrees Celsius) for 5 minutes.
  5. Arrange for cooking: Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Place the coated onion petals in a single layer in the basket. Do not overcrowd the basket; work in batches if necessary.
  6. Air fry: Lightly spray the tops of the coated petals with cooking spray. Air fry for 10 to 14 minutes, shaking the basket gently halfway through the cooking time, until the coating is golden brown and crisp.
  7. Make the spicy mayo: While the onions cook, whisk together the mayonnaise, sriracha, and lemon juice in a small bowl until smooth.
  8. Serve immediately: Remove the crispy onion petals from the air fryer and serve hot with the spicy mayo dipping sauce.

Notes

  • For the best adhesion, ensure the onion petals are completely dry after soaking in ice water. Moisture prevents the batter from sticking.
  • If the coating seems too wet before breading, add one tablespoon of flour to the milk/egg mixture.
  • If your petals are not crisping, increase the temperature by 10 degrees Fahrenheit for the last few minutes of cooking, or spray them with a little more oil.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://afripaket.com/air-fryer-crispy-onion-petals-with-spicy-mayo/