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Close-up of bite-sized blooming onions with buttermilk ranch dip

Classic Bite-Sized Blooming Onions with Buttermilk Ranch Dip

Enjoy these crispy, bite-sized blooming onions, perfectly seasoned and fried to golden perfection, served with a creamy homemade buttermilk ranch dip.
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Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 450
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Bite-Sized Blooming Onions:
  • 1 large or 2 medium yellow onions
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour divided
  • 1/2 cup cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for a kick)
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 cup buttermilk (or milk with 1 tbsp vinegar/lemon juice, let sit 5 mins)
  • 1 large egg
  • Vegetable oil for frying
For the Buttermilk Ranch Dip:
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/2 cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
  • 1/4 cup buttermilk
  • 1 tablespoon fresh chives finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon dried dill
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • Pinch of black pepper
  • fresh lemon juice A squeeze of (optional, for brightness)

Equipment

  • Shallow bowls
  • Whisks
  • Heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven
  • Candy thermometer or deep-fry thermometer
  • Wire rack
  • Slotted spoon
  • Paper towel-lined plate

Method
 

For the Onions
  1. Peel and slice the onions into 1/2-inch thick rings, then separate them into individual petals for even cooking.
  2. Prepare two dredging stations: one with a dry mixture of flour and spices, and another with a wet batter of flour, buttermilk, and egg.
  3. Heat 2-3 inches of vegetable oil in a heavy-bottomed pot to 350°F (175°C).
  4. Dip onion pieces into the wet batter, then into the dry mixture, ensuring a complete and firm coating.
  5. Fry coated onions in batches for 2-4 minutes until golden brown and crispy, avoiding overcrowding.
  6. Drain fried onions on paper towels and immediately sprinkle with salt.
For the Dip
  1. Combine all dip ingredients in a bowl and whisk until smooth, then adjust seasoning as desired.
Serving
  1. Serve the hot, crispy blooming onions immediately with the homemade buttermilk ranch dip.

Notes

For best results, use a deep-fry thermometer to maintain the oil temperature. Overcrowding the pot will lower the oil temperature and result in soggy onions. Feel free to adjust the cayenne pepper in the blooming onion mixture to your preferred level of spice. If you don't have buttermilk, you can easily make a substitute by adding 1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice to regular milk and letting it sit for 5 minutes before use. Always serve the blooming onions immediately after frying for optimal crispiness.