Outback Steakhouse Bloomin Onion

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Outback Steakhouse’s Bloomin’ Onion is one of the most legendary appetizers on chain restaurant menus. This enormous onion is sliced into petals, breaded and fried into a crispy, golden brown flower-shaped treat. It’s served alongside a unique creamy and tangy Bloomin’ Onion dipping sauce that customers crave.

While typically an indulgent restaurant-only order, it’s entirely possible to recreate Outback’s signature Bloomin’ Onion right in your own kitchen. This will allow you to save money and wow guests with this spectacular fried onion masterpiece anytime.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Recreating the Outback Bloomin’ Onion requires just a handful of ingredients, most of which you likely have in your pantry and fridge already:

• Large Yellow Onions – Select the biggest, roundest onions you can find. The larger the onion, the better it will bloom into petals.
• All-Purpose Flour – This will be used to dredge the onion petals before dipping into the batter.
• Baking Powder – Helps lighten the batter so the Bloomin’ Onion fries up extra crispy.
• Beer Batter Mix – The key ingredient to give the Bloomin’ Onion its distinctive crispy, lace-like coating.
• Egg and Milk – Mixed together to create the dip before dredging in batter.
• Seasonings – Salt, pepper and paprika add flavor. Outback Steakhouse uses proprietary seasoned salt on theirs as well.
• Oil for Frying – Use vegetable, canola or peanut oil. You’ll need a lot!

Step-by-Step Bloomin’ Onion Recipe

Follow these steps for Outback perfection:

1. Choose an Onion

• Select the roundest, largest yellow onion you can find.
• Peel off only the very outermost papery layer. Leave root end intact.

2. Mix the Dredge

• In a shallow dish, mix together flour, baking powder and seasoning salt.

3. Make the Beer Batter

• Prepare beer batter mix according to package instructions.
• The batter should coat the back of a spoon but still be pourable like pancake batter.

4. Slice the Onion into Petals

• Turn onion root side up and make 4 vertical cuts, leaving about 1-2 inches uncut at the bottom.
• Then make 4 horizontal cuts. Be careful not to cut all the way through to the root area.
• Gently separate petals, opening onion and loosening layers.

5. Coat Petals in Flour

• Dredge all onion petals thoroughly in the seasoned flour mixture, coating both sides.
• Shake off any excess flour between layers.

6. Dip Petals in Batter

• One at a time, dip floured onion petals into the prepared beer batter, allowing excess to drip off.

7. Deep Fry Bloomin’ Onion

• Using tongs, carefully add battered onion petals into hot oil (375°F) without overcrowding.
• Fry 2-3 minutes until golden brown, occasionally opening petals wider with tongs or spoon.

8. Drain and Season

• Remove cooked Bloomin Onion to a paper towel lined plate to drain excess oil.
• Generously season with Outback’s signature seasoned salt or salt and pepper.

How to Cut and Separate Onion into Petals

Cutting the onion properly before battering and frying is the key to getting it to open up into a flower shape. Follow this visual guide:

1. Root Side Up

• Place peeled onion on a cutting board with root end facing upwards. This keeps layers intact.

2. Vertical Cuts

• Use a large sharp knife to slice vertically downward, making 4 evenly spaced cuts around onion. Stop about 1-2 inches from the root.

3. Horizontal Cuts

• Now make 4 horizontal cuts to connect the vertical slices, again stopping short of the root area by 1-2 inches.

4. Separate Petals

• Gently pull apart onion petals layer from outermost to innermost to open up flower.
• Take care not to tear layers or cut all the way through root area.

5. Rinse and Pat Dry

• Carefully rinse under water to remove any debris between layers.
• Gently pat dry with paper or kitchen towels.

When slicing, coating and frying your onion this way, you’ll achieve maximum surface area for extra crispy bloomin’ deliciousness!

How Long to Fry Bloomin’ Onion

Frying the battered onion petals to crisp, golden perfection without burning takes some finesse. Follow these guidelines:

Maintain Oil Temperature

• Best fried at a consistent 375°F oil temperature.
• Use a deep fry or candy thermometer to monitor temp.
• Adjust heat to prevent oil from getting too hot.

Fry in Small Batches

• Fry no more than 5-6 onion petals at a time so oil temp doesn’t drop drastically.

Fry 2-3 Minutes Per Batch

• Fry first side 1-2 minutes until deep golden brown.
• Flip and fry second side another 1-2 minutes.

Check Interior Doneness

• Interior should be fully tenderized but not mushy.
• Use a knife to test doneness on thickest petal.

Drain Immediately

• Remove promptly once golden and crispy to prevent overcooking.

Following these frying guidelines will deliver a perfect Bloomin’ Onion with lacy, crispy exterior and tender interior every time.

Tips and Tricks

Use these pro tips for Bloomin’ success:

Use Ice Cold Beer in Batter

• Chilling beer before mixing the batter yields the lightest, crispiest coating.

Let Petals Open on Their Own

• No need to manually open petals while frying. They’ll bloom beautifully on their own.

Sprinkle with Salt Immediately

• Generously seasoning with salt as soon as it comes out of the fryer really heightens the flavors.

Allow Oil to Reheat Between Batches

• Give oil a minute or two to come fully back up to temp before frying more.

Blot Excess Marinade Before Frying

• Gently shake off any excess egg/milk and batter mixture before immersing petals. Reduces oil splatter.

Serve with Both Seasoning and Dipping Sauce

• Outback’s signature seasoning salt takes this appetizer over the top. But don’t forget the tangy Bloomin’ sauce for dipping!

Follow these pro tips and you’ll achieve oniony perfection worthy of the Outback menu.

Making Outback Steakhouse’s Signature Bloomin’ Onion Sauce

No Bloomin’ Onion would be complete without Outback’s special creamy, tangy dipping sauce. The great news is it’s easy to recreate right at home with just a few simple ingredients:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 tbsp white vinegar
• 2 tsp French onion soup mix
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1⁄4 tsp paprika
• Pinch of cayenne pepper

Directions:

1. In a small saucepan, combine all ingredients except mayonnaise over medium-low heat.
2. Warm until heated through while stirring frequently, about 2 minutes. Do not allow to boil.
3. Transfer sauce mixture to a medium bowl. Stir in the mayonnaise until fully blended and smooth.
4. Taste and adjust seasoning if desired. More cayenne offers extra spice similar to Outback’s horseradish cranberry sauce.
5. Transfer dipping sauce to a serving bowl and refrigerate until ready to serve alongside freshly fried Bloomin’ Onion.

And that’s all there is to whipping up this special sauce to complement the crispy fried onion! Adjust spice amounts to your personal taste preferences.