• Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Recipes
  • Cookbooks
  • Work With Me
  • Contact

CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

Fried Onion Petals

appetizer· snacks
June 8, 2023

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Fried Onion Petals – Sweet onion is sliced into petals, seasoned, and fried until perfectly crispy. Served with homemade horseradish sauce.

a fried onion petal dipping into horseradish dip

Another yummy snack coming at ya! This one was uber addictive. I was munching on these Fried Onion Petals all day after making them.

The inspiration for this snack comes from the Bloomin’ Onion at Outback Steakhouse. Making a whole onion seems so intimidating so I never thought to make it at home. But then the thought came to me – why not fried them in little petals instead? They’re also easier to dip than onion rings.

Without further ado, here are the Fried Onion Petals!

bowl of fried onion petals with horseradish sauce
close up of horseradish sauce
overhead shot of fried onion petals in a green bowl and a side of horseradish sauce

Tips & Tricks

  1. Prepared horseradish. Make sure you get prepared horseradish and not raw horseradish. Prepared horseradish is more mild and has a creamy texture.
  2. Use a round onion. To get a nice long petal, make sure you use a round onion instead of a flat, wide one.
  3. Coat the onions completely. You need to coat the onions well in seasoned flour to ensure they get nice and crispy.
  4. Fry until golden brown. Make sure you fry until the petals turn golden brown. This will produce a perfectly crunchy exterior.
Print Recipe

Fried Onion Petals

Prep Time15 minutes mins
Cook Time25 minutes mins
Total Time40 minutes mins
Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients

For the horseradish sauce:
  • ½ cup mayo
  • ¼ cup sour cream
  • 2 tablespoons ketchup
  • 2 tablespoons prepared horseradish
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper
For the petals:
  • oil for frying
  • 1 large sweet onion
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1½ teaspoons salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1 large egg

Instructions

  • Add all the horseradish sauce ingredients together in a bowl and stir together to combine. Set aside.
  • Add canola or vegetable oil to a large Dutch oven so the oil is about 4 inches deep. Set over medium heat. Place a candy thermometer into the oil to monitor the temperature.
  • Slice off the root end of the onion. Cut onion in half. Peel off paper skin and discard. Slice onion halves in half again and then into quarters. Separate onion pieces into petals and place into a ziploc bag. Set aside.
  • Mix flour, salt, peppers, onion powder, garlic powder, and paprika in a medium bowl. Add ¼ cup of mixture to the bag of onions. Seal the bag and shake to coat the onions evenly.
  • Set up dredging stations by adding buttermilk and egg to a medium bowl and whisking together. Set bowl of flour next to it. Place an empty baking sheet next to the flour.
  • Pour about ⅓ of the onions into the buttermilk and coat evenly. Remove the onions from the buttermilk and drain off excess. Toss in the seasoned flour until completely coated in flour. Shake off excess and set on empty baking sheet. Repeat with the rest of the onions.
  • Once the oil reached 365 degrees, add about ¼ of the breaded onion petals to fry for about 3 minutes. Flip and fry until deep golden brown, about 3 more minutes. Remove and place on cooling rack over a baking sheet to help drain excess oil. Repeat in 3 more batches with the rest of the onion petals.
  • Let cool for 5 minutes and then serve hot with horseradish dipping sauce.

Notes

Recipe adapted from Tornadough Alli

Pin for later:

pin of fried onion petals

More recipes you’ll love:

French Onion Soup
a spoonful of french onion soup highlighting the caramelized onions in the soup
Healthy Onion Dip
photo of healthy onion dip in a square bowl with a chip sitting in the center
Fried Cheese Curds with Buttermilk Ranch
close up of fried cheese curd getting dipped into homemade buttermilk ranch

Share this:

  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)

6 Comments

« Rosemary Cheese Straws
Raspberry Lime Macaron Sandwich »

Comments

  1. mcdvoice says

    August 31, 2023 at 2:54 am

    This fried onion petaos is very int. and it’s helpful for me. I wish you make many more post like this.

    Reply
  2. Elizabeth says

    June 10, 2023 at 10:25 am

    Yum, this makes me think of the onion treats sold at my local fair! The horseradish sauce complements the taste of the fried onions nicely. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  3. Kathleen says

    June 10, 2023 at 10:22 am

    These fried onion petals are such a simple, easy and delicious appetizer. I can’t wait to make them.

    Reply
  4. Ali says

    June 10, 2023 at 9:38 am

    What an addictive appetizer— just like what you’d get in a restaurant. This is definitely going to be a family favorite!

    Reply
  5. Quynh says

    June 10, 2023 at 6:13 am

    Delicious! One of my favorite appetizers at Outback Steakhouse. I can’t believe how simple it is to make.

    Reply
  6. Beth says

    June 10, 2023 at 1:31 am

    A must-try side dish recipe! Easy & flavorful – my favorite things!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Hi, my name is Sharon. I’m an accountant by day, risk-taking baker and food enthusiast by night. Come join me as I share my favorite recipes and test out new ones along the way!

fall flavors

slice of pistachio loaf on a cutting board with the rest of the loaf in the background

Pistachio Loaf

a glass dish with pumpkin cinnamon rolls in it with some missing from the center and a spatula with a pumpkin the background, shot from a side angle

Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

a slice of chocolate pecan pie on a plate with another plate of pie in the background, shot from a side angle

Chocolate Pecan Pie

a stack of three pumpkin oatmeal cream pies on cotton napkins with a platter behind it with more pies in the background, shot from the front

Pumpkin Oatmeal Cream Pies

carrot raisin muffins stacked on top of each other and sitting on a purple plate

Carrot Raisin Muffins

slices of Pumpkin Banana Bread on a cotton napkin with walnuts sprinkled around and bananas in the background, shot from a side angle

Pumpkin Banana Bread

ORDER MY NEW COOKBOOK NOW!

photo of entertaining made easy cookbook available for preorder now

Breakfast
Appetizers
Entrees
Salads
Sides
Drinks
Desserts
Roundups
Holidays

Browse by Date

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Contact Me
  • Privacy Policy

holiday favorite

whole nutella cream pie shot from an overhead angle

Nutella Cream Pie

picture of fried goat cheese balls stacked on an appetizer plate with honey drizzling over the top

Fried Goat Cheese Balls

close up angle of pumpkin cinnamon roll pancakes stacked on a white plate

Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

zoomed in shot of min fruit tarts, shot from a side angle

Classic Fruit Tarts

overhead shot of slices of pear coffee cake

Pear Coffee Cake

 

This Cacio e Pepe Pasta Risotto changed my pasta g This Cacio e Pepe Pasta Risotto changed my pasta game forever!

After having mind-blowing cacio e pepe at Eataly in Boston, I became obsessed with recreating it at home. But here's the problem: the traditional recipe only makes small portions. So I had a lightbulb moment – what if I cooked it risotto-style to feed a crowd?!

The result? Pure magic. By cooking short pasta (I use ditalini!) slowly in chicken broth, you get an ultra-creamy, luscious texture without any cream. Just simple Italian ingredients: Pecorino Romano cheese, fresh black pepper, butter, and good olive oil.

Here's what makes this amazing:
✨ Feeds a crowd (perfect for dinner parties!)
✨ Only 7 ingredients, but packed with flavor
✨ Takes 30 minutes but worth every second
✨ Creamy without any cream

The key? Using the BEST ingredients – fresh ground black pepper and quality extra virgin olive oil make all the difference. And cooking that pepper in the oil at the beginning? That's what gives it that signature cacio e pepe punch!

Pro tip: Dice those onions super small so they don't overpower each bite. Trust me on this one

Ready to make restaurant-quality Italian pasta at home? Comment "PASTA" below and I'll send the full recipe to your DMs! 

#cacioepepe #pastarisotto #italianfood #pastarecipes #dinnerparty
Black Forest Cupcakes are the ultimate delight! R Black Forest Cupcakes are the ultimate delight!

Rich chocolate cupcakes stuffed with amaretto-roasted cherry compote, topped with fresh whipped cream and a chocolate-dipped cherry. They're basically the fancy cupcake version of the classic German cake, and they're absolutely stunning!

Here's what you need to know:
✨ Made with FRESH cherries (it's their peak season!)
✨ Amaretto instead of Kirsch for better flavor
✨ Three delicious components: cake + filling + topping
✨ Easier than they look – just takes some time

Fun fact: The chocolate represents the Black Forest, while the red and white represent traditional colors worn by women of that region. How beautiful is that? 

These are perfect for gatherings, BBQs, or whenever you want to impress someone with an elegant dessert. Multiple people said these were devoured within 2 days – and I totally believe them!

Pro tip: Make sure everything is completely cooled before assembling, or you'll have a melty mess on your hands 

Ready to make cherry season magic? Comment "CHERRIES" below and I'll send the full recipe straight to your DMs!

#blackforestcake #cherryseason #chocolatecupcakes #summerrecipes #elegantdesserts
The secret to getting kids to eat their veggies? W The secret to getting kids to eat their veggies? Wrap them in puff pastry and cheese.

These Broccoli Cheese Pinwheels are a total game-changer in our house. My kids never want vegetables (ok, who are we kidding – NO kid does), but these? They gobble them up without a single complaint!

Here's what makes them amazing:
✨ Only 4 ingredients – puff pastry, cream cheese, broccoli, and shredded cheese
✨ Ready in 30 minutes from start to finish
✨ Perfect for snacks, lunch boxes, or appetizers
✨ Can make them meal-sized or appetizer-sized

The flaky puff pastry + creamy cheese + tender broccoli combo is chef's kiss. One follower said these were gone in SECONDS at their party and everyone wanted the recipe!

Pro tip: Add some shredded chicken to make these a complete meal!

Want the full recipe with all my tips for perfect pinwheels? Comment "PINWHEELS" below and I'll send it straight to your DMs!

#kidfriendlyrecipes #healthysnacks #puffpastry #pinwheels #hiddenveggie
Pull-apart perfection in every bite! This Apple Pull-apart perfection in every bite! 

This Apple Cinnamon Monkey Bread is the ultimate fall treat – fluffy balls of sweet dough stuffed with warm cinnamon apples, rolled in cinnamon sugar, and baked with a sticky brown sugar glaze. It's basically like a giant apple fritter you can pull apart with your hands!

Apple picking season is actually at its peak RIGHT NOW (did you think it was October too?!) so this is the perfect recipe to make with all those fresh apples 🍏

Here's what you need to know:
✨ Easier than you think – yeast dough isn't scary!
✨ 40 little dough balls = maximum pull-apart fun
✨ Each bite has warm cinnamon apples inside
✨ That brown sugar goo? Chef's kiss

Pro tip: Use a nonstick Bundt pan and grease it REALLY well. Trust me on this one.

Perfect for weekend brunch, holiday mornings, or honestly any time you want to impress your people. One follower said her 5-year-old declared this is what they're giving Santa – so you KNOW it's good!

Want the full recipe with all my tips and tricks? Comment "APPLES" below and I'll send it straight to your DMs! 

#monkeybread #applecinnamon #fallbaking #applerecipes #brunchideas
The FLUFFIEST sweet yeast rolls you'll ever make! The FLUFFIEST sweet yeast rolls you'll ever make!

These beauties are perfectly soft, subtly sweet, and paired with the most incredible whipped pumpkin butter (butter + pumpkin + cinnamon + honey = heaven!).

My husband said these are the best rolls he's ever had, and trust me—he doesn't give compliments lightly 😄

Here's why you need to make these:
✨ Easier than you think (no fancy skills needed!)
✨ Perfectly fluffy and chewy texture
✨ That whipped pumpkin butter is ADDICTIVE
✨ Make ahead and freeze for up to 2 months

Whether it's Thanksgiving, Christmas, or just a cozy family dinner, these rolls will steal the show. The secret? Scalded milk for maximum fluffiness and making sure they're touching in the pan before baking.

Want the full recipe with step-by-step instructions? Comment "ROLLS" below and I'll send it straight to your DMs! 💌
#homemadebread #yeastrolls #thanksgivingrecipes #holidaybaking #pumpkinrecipes

Copyright © 2025 Certified Pastry Aficionado · Web Design by Viva la Violet

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.