This TikTok recipe for air fryer pearl onions leaves me wondering why? Just why? | Mashable.
Why would anyone want a basket of air-fried pearl onions? Just why?
Welcome to AirFryDay, where — you guessed it — every Friday Mashable covers the latest trends, dispenses advice, and reviews recipes for your air fryer.
But even I cannot understand the need to air fry a massive batch of pearl onions. That's the TikTok recipe I tested out for this week's AirFryDay. Nothing further...just roasted, previously frozen onions. The recipe comes from TikTok user @cook.clean.shop.repeat. It's not that the final product is bad. It's just that I don't totally understand what purpose it serves. Who needs a big bowl of roasted onions? Without anything else?
Anyway, here are the details, in case you're super into snacking on onions.
Ingredients
1 bag of previously frozen, thawed pearl onions.
seasonings of your choosing — I used salt, pepper, garlic powder, dried herbs, and smoked paprika.
Directions
Dump a bag of pearl onions in a bowl.
Coat with oil and seasonings. Mix well.
Air fry at 375 degrees for about 13 minutes or until the onions thoroughly blacken.
Here's how the final product looked in the original TikTok recipe.
While this recipe's utility — or, rather, lack thereof — befuddles me, I will say it is wildly simple. All you do is dump some seasoned onions into an air fryer. It's about as foolproof as foolproof gets.
The end result? I mean, it's not bad. It's not super tasty, either. The outside of the onion is blackened, roasted, and crispy. That's great. The interior of the onion is still very oniony and sort of...pops...when you crunch into it. It's a somewhat strange blast of onion shards into your mouth, which is not as great.
Frankly, I would never make this exact recipe again. I just don't get it. It's not a meal. It's not a snack. It's just a basket of roasted onions. Unless you want to alienate your loved ones with intense onion breath, I just don't understand the need for this recipe.
Another note: The TikTok suggest cooking the onions for a total of 25 minutes. Unless your air fryer is the weakest in history, that is a truly bonkers amount of time to air fry onions. You will almost certainly end up with hardened onions that taste like soot. For most air fryers, I think 10-15 minutes will suffice. Here's how my onions looked once finished cooking.
Now, if you're someone who happens to keep pearl onions on-hand, I think there might be some utility to this recipe. i wouldn't make it on its own. But tossing some pearl onions in with other vegetables, perhaps as a side for your dinner? I could see it. I've long said that the air fryer is best used as a veggie roaster. It does a nice job with the onions.
Cooking is about balance, mixing together savory, sweet, acid, spice, salt, and fat into something tasty and coherent. A heaping plate of onions alone is...not that. But using those onions as a component in another dish is a fine idea.
So while this TikTok recipe might not be my favorite, it's worth bookmarking the idea for use in another, more balanced, dish.
More in Kitchen, Air Fryers
That sounds delicious. The only thing missing is the ability to deglaze the pan to put all that deliciousness of carmelization into a stock or sauce. I'll go the slow route.
ReplyDeleteWe eat onion rings and straws soo nothing wrong
ReplyDeleteSide dish maybe they're hosting a bbq or dinner
ReplyDeleteYes!
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ReplyDeleteYUM!!!!
ReplyDeleteyum
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ReplyDeleteOnions are typically less calories than nuggets
ReplyDeleteI like onions.
ReplyDeletehttps://media1.tenor.co/images/8d71202c1395a2b2eacb4f456abb6f4c/tenor.gif?c=VjFfZmFjZWJvb2tfd2ViY29tbWVudHM&itemid=17793287
ReplyDeleteI'll take'em!
ReplyDeleteBecause it’s
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https://media1.tenor.co/images/b8daec30cc2ad0338931ec2b96023327/tenor.gif?c=VjFfZmFjZWJvb2tfd2ViY29tbWVudHM&itemid=16637212
ReplyDeletehttps://media1.tenor.co/images/be67aefbe57832b548bbf7d1b83e69cc/tenor.gif?c=VjFfZmFjZWJvb2tfd2ViY29tbWVudHM&itemid=24826058
ReplyDeleteIt makes them easier to insert.
ReplyDeleteWhy not!!!!! That sounds amazing, with a horseradish sauce!!!!
ReplyDeleteI want that or a plate of garlic !
ReplyDeletehttps://media1.tenor.co/images/e17525775ef2f4138dc3bb4b5750179a/tenor.gif?c=VjFfZmFjZWJvb2tfd2ViY29tbWVudHM&itemid=11478682
Deletedone.
Deletefull portion of each tho . Please and thank you
DeleteThis…. Looks amazing 🤤
ReplyDeleteI’d eat that with some mash and gravy.
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DeleteThere will never be too many onions! ❤
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DeleteWhy not?
ReplyDeleteI want some
ReplyDeleteLove onions.. got garlic in their too I hope
ReplyDeleteLearn to cook, kthxbye
ReplyDeleteMe. This sounds freaking delicious
ReplyDelete