Low Calorie Air Fryer Blooming Onion Recipe (Weight Watchers Friendly). You can enjoy a crispy and delicious appetizer, side dish, or snack without feeling guilty.
This recipe is perfect for those who love the classic blooming onion but don’t want to use all of that oil. By cooking it in the air fryer, you’ll get the same crispy texture you love, without deep-frying. The recipe uses simple ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen.
Serve it up with a tangy dipping sauce and enjoy the deliciousness.
So why not give this recipe a try? It’s a perfect snack for game day or a movie night at home, and it’s sure to be a hit with friends and family.
Weight Watchers Points
2 WW Points (Current Plan)
MyWW Points: 2 Blue Plan and 3 Green Plan
2 WW Freestyle Points and 3 Smart Points
Why You’ll Love This Low Calorie Air Fryer Blooming Onion
Lighter take on a restaurant favorite
You get the same pull-apart blooming onion experience you know from restaurants, without deep frying in a large pot of oil.
Air fryer friendly
The air fryer handles the crisping, so you only need a few sprays of nonstick cooking spray instead of a heavy oil soak.
Simple, budget-friendly ingredients
This recipe starts with one large onion, basic pantry spices, flour, cornmeal, and a few everyday condiments for the sauce.
Great for sharing
The onion opens into “petals” that are easy to pull apart, which makes it a fun appetizer for family nights, parties, or game day.
Ingredient Substitutions
Onion
Use a large sweet onion such as Vidalia or another yellow onion if that is what you have. Mild onions work best for this style.
Flour
If needed, use a 1:1 gluten-free all-purpose flour blend in place of regular all-purpose flour. Texture may change slightly but will still crisp.
Cornmeal
If you do not have cornmeal, use fine dry breadcrumbs or panko. They will give a different texture but still add crunch to the coating.
Garlic Powder
If garlic powder is low, use a smaller amount and add a pinch of onion powder for extra flavor. Fresh minced garlic is not recommended in the coating but can go in the sauce.
Smoked Paprika
Use regular paprika or a pinch of chili powder if you do not have smoked paprika. You will miss the smoky note but still have good color and taste.
Mayonnaise
Any light mayonnaise will work here. Regular mayonnaise can be used if that is all you have, though it will be richer.
Greek Yogurt
Use low-fat or nonfat plain Greek yogurt. If Greek yogurt is not available, use plain regular yogurt and strain it briefly to thicken.
Horseradish
Prepared horseradish gives the sharp kick in the sauce. If you only have creamy horseradish sauce, use it and reduce the mayonnaise slightly so the dip stays thick.
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Low Calorie Air Fryer Blooming Onion (Weight Watchers Friendly)
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Ingredients
- 1 large onion
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 1½ teaspoon garlic powder divided
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoon water
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup yellow cornmeal
- 5 sprays nonstick cooking spray
- 2 tablespoon light Mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoon fat-free plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- 1 tablespoon horseradish
Instructions
- Begin by preparing the onion. Cut a very small piece off the root and stem ends, and remove the skin from the onion.
- Put the onion on a cutting board, with the stem side facing up. Cut the onion into quarters, but make sure to stop about ¾ of an inch from the bottom so that the onion remains whole.
- Cut each quarter into thirds, again stopping about ¾ of an inch from the bottom.
- In a small bowl, mix together flour, garlic powder, salt, and paprika. In a separate bowl, whisk together water and egg.
- Put the onion in a shallow bowl, and sprinkle it with the flour mixture. Gently separate the onion wedges to coat all surfaces. Shake off any excess flour and put it in a separate bowl.
- Stir cornmeal into the flour mixture that you set aside earlier. Put the onion back in the shallow bowl and brush all surfaces evenly with the egg mixture. Sprinkle with the flour-cornmeal mixture, making sure all surfaces are coated.
- If your air fryer needs preheating, do so now to 375°F. Spray the air fryer basket with nonstick spray.
- Carefully place the onion in the basket and spray it generously with nonstick spray. Air-fry until the breading is crispy and the onion is tender, which should take around 15-18 minutes.
- While the onion is cooking, make the sauce by mixing together yogurt, mayonnaise, horseradish, ketchup, and the remaining ½ tsp of garlic powder.
- Serve it with the sauce.
Notes
Tips and Tricks
Cutting the onion: Slice slowly and stop before the knife reaches the bottom so the base stays together and the onion can bloom without falling apart. Opening the petals: After cutting, gently spread the sections apart with your fingers. Do this over the dish so loose pieces still catch the coating. Coating evenly: Shake off extra flour before adding the egg mixture, then press the cornmeal coating lightly onto the petals so it sticks well. Keeping the basket clean: Spray the air fryer basket before adding the onion to help prevent sticking and make cleanup easier. Checking for doneness: If the outside browns too fast, lower the temperature slightly and cook a few more minutes until the center of the onion is tender. Reheating in air fryer: Reheat in Air Fryer – Place leftover pieces in the air fryer basket. Heat at 350°F for a few minutes until warm and crisp again.Nutrition
