I have an undeniable love of french fries of any sort, but a crispy sweet onion ring takes fried sides to a whole new level!  Aside from the mess of frying and the oil cleanup, these onion rings are super-easy to make and turn out perfect every time.  A short bath in buttermilk takes the bite away from the onions and creates a great base for the crispy coating.  Give them a try for your Fourth of July weekend picnic or the next time you’re grilling burgers or steaks!

CRISPY ONION RINGS

Ingredients

• 2 Large Sweet Onions
• 1 1/2 Cups Buttermilk
• 2 Tsp Hot Sauce
• 2 Cups All Purpose Flour
• 1/2 Cup Ground Cornmeal
• 1 Tsp Salt
• 1 Tsp Black Pepper
• 1 Tsp Garlic Powder
• 6 Cups Canola Oil

Instructions

• Peel onions and cut into 1/2 inch slices.  Separate rings and place into a large bowl.
• Pour buttermilk and hot sauce over the onions and toss to coat evenly.  Place in refrigerator for 1-3 hours.
• In a bowl or cake pan, combine flour, cornmeal, salt, pepper and garlic powder.  Mix well to distribute spices.
• Remove onions from buttermilk, about 5 at a time, and dredge in flour mixture.  Shake excess off and place onions on a wire rack.  Continue until all onions are floured and placed on rack.  You can stack these, they won’t stick together.  Allow floured onions to sit for 30 minutes – this will ensure that they stay breaded during frying.
• Fry onions in 350 degree canola oil for 3-4 minutes until golden brown.  Turn if necessary and don’t over-crowd your frying oil!
• Drain fried onions on paper towels and lightly salt.  You can keep them warm on a cookie sheet in a 200 degree oven while you cook them in batches.

You’ll be a hero when you fix these for your family and friends at your next gathering!  Try alternatives to the spices in the flour mixture or share your best dipping sauce with me.  I’m a ketchup guy with my rings, but I’m open to new ideas!  Either way, I’ve never met a ring I didn’t like…