I Win At Homemade Onion Rings

I had a very grumpy Friday. Very grumpy Fridays require comfort food such as homemade soup and deep fried objects. The object I chose as my edible security blanket was the gloriousness that is the onion ring.

I’d never attempted to make these guys at home before, but their preparation went off flawlessly. Here’s the recipe I used:

* 1-3 large yellow onions (scored on the cheap for $.29/lb!)
* 1/2 cup flour
* pinch of salt
* pinch of pepper
* 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
* 1 egg, beaten to hell
* 1/2 cup milk (I used whole cream-top milk from the Pike Place Market, because I am naughty)
* vegetable oil

So, first off, you slice your oniony friends into rings, discarding any bits that are too thin, spotty, or slimy. Partition them into separate rings and set them aside. Blend all of your dry ingredients together in a big bowl. In a small bowl or measuring cup, whisk your egg and milk together (I use old-school rotary egg beaters I dumpstered–they work superbly). Tip your wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and combine thoroughly to remove lumps.

Heat your cooking oil in a heavy-bottomed saucepan, unless you are awesome enough to have your own deep fryer. I just put about two inches of oil into an industrial-grade saucepan I got for $2 at Value Village, and it’s all good. Warm your oil to 365 degrees Fahrenheit–check this with a candy/frying thermometer. Once your grease is hot and ready to go, dip each onion ring into the batter, making certain to coat both sides with goo. Drop each ring, one at a time, into the fry pot, flipping the onion once to make sure both sides are a lovely golden brown.

After frying your onion slices, let them drain on paper towels or a cut-up paper grocery sack. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt prior to serving, if you’d like.

These guys were SO GOOD. I couldn’t stop moaning delightedly at the dinner table, and I think I even made a few pompous comments about pwning the cooking game, too. I aim to make the next batch with some Tandoori curry, turmeric, and cumin added in = Indian-style onion rings!