Kathie Oh's Recipe

Bloomin' Onion

Category: specialties

The Onion:
1 egg
1 cup milk
1 cup flour
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/4 tsp. dried oregano
1/8 tsp. dried thyme
1/8 tsp. cumin
1 huge Spanish/Vidalia onion (at least 3/4 pound!)
Vegetable oil for frying

The Sauce:
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 tsp. ketchup
2 Tbsp. creamy horseradish sauce
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. paprika
1/8 tsp. dried oregano
dash of fresh ground black pepper
dash of cayenne pepper

Directions:
Bring the fun home and make your own bloomin' onion.

You will need: a deep fryer

Prepare the sauce by combining the ingredients in a small, non-metal bowl. Refrigerate, covered, until serving time.

For the onion, in a medium bowl large enough to hold all "mix" ingredients and the onion too, beat the egg and combine it with the milk.

In a separate bowl, combine the flour, salt, pepper, oregano, thyme and cumin.
Slice 3/4 inch off the top and the bottom of the onion. Remove the papery onionskin from the onion.

Use a large, sharp knife to slice the onion several times down the center (3/4ths of the way down) to create "petals" of the onion. The best way is to slice, then turn the onion 90 degrees and do it again. Keep going until you've sliced the onion 16 times. The last few slices are difficult; keep your hand steady.

Spread the "petals"apart. Dip the onion into the milk mix, then coat it well with the dry mixture. Again separate the petals and sprinkle the coating in to ensure a good coating. Once the onion is well coated, dip it back in the milk mix and then back into the dry mixture. Let the onion rest in the fridge for at least 15 mins. while you prep the oil.

Heat oil in a deep fryer or deep pot to 350°F. Make sure you use enough oil to completely cover the onion as it fries. Fry the onion right side up for 10 min., or until golden brown. When it has browned, remove from the oil and let it drain on a paper-toweled plate. When cooled slightly, open the onion wider in the center so that you can place a small dish of the sauce in the center of the onion.