Spring onion beignets that are perfect for dipping and dunking
This versatile vegetable creates a delicious starter to welcome in the longer days.

Spring has sprung, almost, so it's time for the onions of the same name to start sprucing up your dishes. 'Fresh spring onions, sweet and mellow, steal the show in this week's recipes', says Melanie Johnson, who recommends adding them to anything from blackened miso cod to 'green-goddess' orzo.
Her spring onion air-fryer beignets with easy herb mayo and sriracha pulls this delicious vegetable front and centre though, and is our favourite.
Recipe: Spring onion air-fryer beignets with easy herb mayo and sriracha
Ingredients
- 75g butter
- 225ml water
- 1tspn sugar
- 110g plain flour
- 3 eggs
- 3 spring onions
- Olive oil for brushing
For the herby mayonnaise
- 125ml mayonnaise
- 1 spring onion (white part, reserve the green part for decoration)
- A handful mixed fresh herbs (basil, parsley, mint, dill)
- 1 clove garlic
- ½ lemon, juice of
- Sriracha and edible flowers to serve
Method
Preheat your air fryer to 200˚C and set the timer for 15 minutes. If you don’t have an air fryer, deep fry the beignets in an inch of vegetable oil until golden.
Heat the butter, water and sugar in a saucepan. Once simmering and foaming, take off the heat and dump in all the flour in one hit. Beat furiously until it comes together and leaves the side of the pan to create a dough. Add the eggs, beat again until smooth and then mix in the chopped spring onions and season.
Use two tablespoons to shape the mixture into balls and place straight onto a tray that goes into your air fryer. Brush each one gently with olive oil and air fry for about 15 minutes or until golden and puffed up and airy like little pillows.
To make the herby mayonnaise, simply mix all the ingredients together. Serve the beignets with the herby mayonnaise and extra spring onions, and dot the plate with sriracha. I added edible flowers to make it pretty.
Sign up for the Country Life Newsletter
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
Tom Parker Bowles on the classic English food that's 'never dull, comforting, and impossible to resist'
We defy you to Tom Parker Bowles's puddings piece and not hanker after a steak and kidney pudding. Thankfully, Tom
Credit: Melanie Johnson
A 'dramatically delicious' leek, saffron and seafood pie
Melanie Johnson takes this sweet staple vegetable and combines it with saffron to elevate a fish pie.
Credit: Melanie Johnson for Country Life
How to make braised beef short rib with celeriac-and-Parmesan mash
Our kitchen garden cook Melanie Johnson turns her hand to a superb meal made even better with seasonal celeriac mash.
Credit: Melanie Johnson/Future Publishing
A rhubarb and marmalade meringue roulade to set tongues wagging
As well as being quite the tongue twister, this kitchen-garden dessert is a delicious dessert.
-
Gaze over Cap Ferrat in this four-bedroom French villa
Ignore the wind and the rain. Imagine yourself in this hillside home with some of the best views the Mediterranean can offer.
By James Fisher Published
-
The Airlander wants to save our skies
A new hybrid aircraft promises eco-friendly aviation. Designed and built in the UK, can it be the future of air travel?
By Charles Harris Published