Description
Crispy and golden homemade onion rings made with sweet onions soaked in buttermilk and coated in seasoned flour, then deep-fried to perfection. This classic appetizer is perfect for serving with your favorite dipping sauces like fry sauce or ketchup.
Ingredients
Scale
Onion Rings
- 2 Sweet onions
- 2 cups Buttermilk
Batter & Coating
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Frying
- Vegetable oil or canola oil, for frying (approximately 3 inches deep)
Instructions
- Slice Onions: Peel the sweet onions and slice them into rings between 1/2 to 1 inch thick. Gently separate the rings to prepare them for soaking.
- Soak in Buttermilk: Place the onion rings in a bowl and cover them with buttermilk. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least one hour to tenderize and add flavor.
- Prepare Oil for Frying: In a dutch oven or large deep pot, add vegetable or canola oil to a depth of about 3 inches. Heat the oil to 360 degrees Fahrenheit. If you don’t have a thermometer, dip the handle of a wooden spoon into the oil – when bubbles form around the handle, the oil is ready.
- Mix Coating: In a wide shallow bowl or plate, combine the all-purpose flour with kosher salt and ground black pepper. Mix well to evenly distribute the seasoning.
- Dredge Onion Rings: Using tongs, remove onion rings from the buttermilk and coat them thoroughly in the flour mixture. For extra crispiness, you can double coat by dipping them back in buttermilk and flour again.
- Fry the Rings: Carefully add the coated onion rings to the hot oil without overcrowding the pot. Fry them in batches for 2-3 minutes until they turn golden and crisp. Watch closely to prevent burning, as they can go from perfectly done to burnt quickly.
- Drain Excess Oil: Remove the fried onion rings with tongs and shake off excess oil. Place them on a paper towel-lined plate to drain and cool slightly.
- Serve: Serve the onion rings immediately while hot with your favorite dipping sauces such as fry sauce or ketchup.
Notes
- Soaking the onions in buttermilk helps reduce their sharpness and results in a tender inside once fried.
- Maintain the oil temperature around 360°F for crispy and non-greasy onion rings.
- Do not overcrowd the frying pot to maintain consistent oil temperature.
- Double coating the rings increases the crunchiness and thickness of the batter.
- Use high smoke point oils like vegetable or canola oil for frying.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Homemade onion rings, crispy onion rings, fried onion rings, classic appetizer, buttermilk onion rings
