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Air Fryer Blooming Onions with Warm Cider Cheese Sauce

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Equipment

Ingredients

Active Time: 35 minutes / Start to Finish: 45 minutes

    For the Blooming Onions:

    • 3 large red onions
    • 1 cup milk
    • 1 egg
    • 1 cup all-purpose flour
    • 1 tsp garlic powder
    • 1 tsp ground cumin
    • ½ tsp cayenne pepper
    • ½ tsp dried oregano
    • Olive oil for drizzling
    • Olive oil cooking spray

    For the Cider Cheese Sauce:

    • 3 tbsp butter
    • 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
    • ¾ cup milk
    • ⅛ cup apple cider
    • 1 ½ ounces cream cheese softened
    • ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
    • ½ cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
    • 3 tsp whole-grain mustard

    Instructions

    For the Blooming Onions:

    • Slice 1/2 inch off the pointed end of the onions, keeping the root ends intact.
    • Using a sharp knife, cut the onions into quarters, nearly down to the root end, then make three additional cuts in each quarter without cutting through the root, creating 16 evenly spaced cuts in the onions.
    • Use your fingers to separate the sections into “petals” to resemble open blooming flowers.
    • In a medium bowl, whisk together the milk and egg.
    • In a separate medium bowl, combine the flour, garlic powder, cumin, cayenne, and oregano, and season with salt and pepper.
    • Dip the onions in the milk mixture and coat them well in the flour mixture.
    • Preheat a 5- or 6-quart air fryer to 350°F for 3 minutes.
    • Drizzle the coated onions with olive oil and spray them with cooking oil spray.
    • Carefully pull out the air fryer pan and basket, then place the coated onions in the basket.
    • Slide the pan and basket back into the appliance, maintaining the temperature at 350°F, and set the timer for 10 minutes.
    • Cook, rotating halfway through the cooking time, until the onions are golden.

    For the Cider Cheese Sauce:

    • Meanwhile, to prepare the Cider Cheese Sauce, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
    • Add the flour and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
    • Gradually add the milk, cooking and stirring continuously for about 3 minutes until the mixture boils and thickens.
    • Stir in the apple cider for an additional minute.
    • Remove the saucepan from the heat and whisk in the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, and whole-grain mustard until smooth.
    • Season with salt and pepper.
    • Serve the blooming onions drizzled with the warm Cider Cheese Sauce.

    Notes / Tips / Wine Advice:

    You can use white or brown onions if you prefer, instead of red onions.
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    Course Airfryer / Vegetables
    Diets Vegetarian