Description
Make crispy onion rings using sweet Tennessee onions, served with a tangy buttermilk dipping sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 large Tennessee Onions (or sweet Vidalia-style onions)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1 cup milk
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup breadcrumbs (Panko recommended)
- Vegetable oil for frying
- For the Dip: 1 cup buttermilk
- For the Dip: 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- For the Dip: 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- For the Dip: 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Peel the onions and slice them into 1/4-inch thick rings. Separate the rings gently.
- Set up a dredging station with three shallow dishes. In the first, combine flour, salt, pepper, and paprika. In the second, whisk the milk and egg together. In the third, place the breadcrumbs.
- Heat about 2 inches of vegetable oil in a deep skillet or Dutch oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Dip each onion ring first into the flour mixture, shaking off excess.
- Next, dip the floured ring into the milk/egg mixture, letting excess drip off.
- Finally, coat the ring thoroughly in the breadcrumbs, pressing lightly to adhere.
- Carefully place a few rings at a time into the hot oil, ensuring you do not overcrowd the pan.
- Fry for 2 to 3 minutes per side, until golden brown and crisp.
- Remove the rings with a slotted spoon and place them on a wire rack lined with paper towels to drain excess oil.
- While the rings drain, prepare the dip by whisking together the buttermilk, mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic powder in a small bowl.
- Serve the hot onion rings immediately with the dipping sauce.
Notes
- For the best separation, soak the sliced onion rings in ice water for 15 minutes before breading; pat them completely dry before starting the dredging process.
- If you do not have a thermometer, the oil is ready when a drop of batter sizzles immediately and floats to the top.
- Tennessee onions are naturally sweet; avoid using overly pungent yellow or white onions for this recipe.
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 15 min
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Deep Frying
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 6 rings)
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 10
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Unsaturated Fat: 18
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 40
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 8
- Cholesterol: 55