PARMESAN FRIED ONION

Steps:

• Fill a large pot or Dutch oven with enough oil to submerge the onion, with space around the sides for it to "bloom." (You might need up to a gallon, depending on the size of your onion, but don't worry; you can strain the oil and use it again for frying, so it won't go to waste.) Preheat to 400 degrees F.
• Combine the milk, eggs, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a generous amount of pepper in a medium bowl. Whisk to combine.
• Combine the flour, Parmesan, paprika, garlic powder, 1 teaspoon salt and a generous amount of pepper in a large bowl. Toss with a fork to combine.
• Cut off the top of the onion and place cut-side down. Think of the onion as the face of a clock, and cut slits at noon, 3, 6 and 9, cutting almost but not quite to the center of the onion. You'll now have 4 quadrants. Cut 3 more slits in each quadrant, once again cutting almost but not quite to the center of the onion. Flip the onion and gently separate the "petals" with your fingers.
• Put the onion in the flour mixture and sprinkle it over and around to coat, gently separating the petals as needed to completely coat it.
• Put the onion in the egg wash and coat evenly in the egg, opening the petals again as needed. Let the excess egg wash drip back in the bowl.
• Put the onion in the flour once more and sprinkle it over and around to coat, making sure to keep the petals as separate as you can.
• Use a large spider to lower the onion, cut-side up, into the hot oil. The temperature of the oil will immediately begin to drop. Adjust the heat so the oil stays around 350 to 360 degrees F for the remainder of frying. With a fork, separate the petals a bit more, if needed. Fry the onion until the tips are golden, 3 to 4 minutes. Use the spider to gently flip the onion and continue to fry until the entire onion is crisp, deep golden and cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes more. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
• Transfer the onion while still hot to a serving plate. Season with salt and pepper. Shower with chopped parsley and grated Parmesan. Serve with mayo for dunking.