Blooming onion
| Blooming onion | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Alternative names | Onion bloom, onion blossom, onion 'mum |
| Course | Hors d'oeuvre |
| Place of origin | United States of America |
| Main ingredients | Onion, batter |
 Cookbook:Blooming onion  Blooming onion | |
A blooming onion, onion bloom, onion blossom, or onion 'mum is a dish consisting of one large onion which is cut to resemble a flower, battered and deep-fried. It is served as an appetizer at some restaurants.
History
The dish was popularized in the United States when it appeared as "Bloomin' Onion", a charter feature of the Outback Steakhouse when that national chain opened in 1988. The dish remains prominent on its menu.
The owners of Scotty's Steak House in Springfield, New Jersey also claim to have invented this dish in the 1970s but is still yet to be proved. Its popularity has led to its adoption as an appetizer at various other restaurant chains, most notably Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon, where it is known as the "Texas Rose". The dish is usually served with a restaurant-specific signature dip.
Despite the implied association with Australian cuisine due to Outback Steakhouse's branding, the dish is almost unknown in Australia (much like the Outback Steakhouse chain itself) and rarely served outside of the United States.
The Blooming Onion was also a very popular part of the Chili's menu, at least in the UK, until it was finally removed circa 2001, possibly for health reasons cited below.
Nutrition
The egg wash and deep frying preparation process of the blooming onion means it is high in calories; a single blooming onion with dressing contains approximately 3,000 calories and 134 grams of fat.[1] A study by the Center for Science in the Public Interest found a slightly lower fat content of 116 grams, including a combined 44 grams of saturated and trans fat.[2] When it existed, the similar style Awesome Blossom at Chili's was ranked "Worst Appetizer in America" by Men's Health magazine in 2008 for the unusually high totals of calories and fat, with 2,710 calories, 203 grams (1,827 calories) of fat, 194 grams of carbohydrates, and 6,360 milligrams of sodium, with as much fat as 67 strips of bacon.[3] On the other hand there is an alternative variant of making such bad product a healthier way, it contains only 65 calories and only 2g of fat.[4] For reference, the US Reference Daily Intake for fat is 65g and for sodium is 2300 mg, assuming a 2000 calorie diet, while typical daily food energy recommendations lie in the range of 2000-3000 calories.
See also
- French fries
- List of hors d'oeuvre
- List of onion dishes
- Onion rings
- Poutine - French Canadian combination of fries, cheese curds and gravy
- Waffle fries
References
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