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Extra Crispy Onion Rings

This recipe for extra crispy onion rings involves marinating sweet onion rings in a seasoned buttermilk and sour cream mixture, then dredging them in a spiced flour mixture before frying. The marinated onions are fried at 375°F until golden brown and crispy, then immediately sprinkled with salt. Enjoy these crunchy onion rings with ranch dressing or your favorite dipping sauce.
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Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 5 minutes
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Servings 4 People

Ingredients
  

Onion Rings:

  • 2 large sweet onions
  • 2-3 cups frying oil
  • Salt for sprinkling
  • Ranch for dipping

Marinade:

  • 1 ½ cups buttermilk
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • ¼ tsp cayenne optional

Dredge:

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • ¼ tsp cayenne optional

Instructions
 

Prepare the Onions:

  • Cut one end off of each onion and peel the outside layer.
  • Slice the onions into ½inch thick rings.
  • Separate each ring and place them in a Ziplock bag.

Marinate:

  • In a bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, sour cream, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and cayenne (if using).
  • Pour the marinade over the onions in the Ziplock bag. Add ¼ cup of water to the bowl to use up the rest of the marinade, then pour this into the bag as well.
  • Seal the bag and place it in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour, preferably overnight.

Heat the Oil:

  • Heat the oil in a deep fryer or a large pot to 375°F.

Prepare the Dredge:

  • In a 9x9 dish, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and cayenne (if using).

Fry the Onion Rings:

  • Remove the marinated onions from the refrigerator.
  • Take out ¼ of the onion rings and toss them in the dredge mixture until each ring is well coated. Shake off any excess flour.
  • Carefully place the coated onion rings into the hot oil. Fry for 2-3 minutes or until golden brown.
  • Remove the onion rings from the oil and place them on a cooling rack. Immediately sprinkle with salt.
  • Repeat the process until all the onion rings are fried.

Serve:

  • Enjoy the onion rings with ranch dressing or your favorite dipping sauce.

Tips

  • Marinating the onions overnight will yield the best results, as it softens the onions and reduces their sharpness.
  • Ensure the oil is at the correct temperature for optimal crispiness.
  • Use a cooling rack instead of paper towels to keep the onion rings crispy.
Keyword buttermilk, Crispy, Dipping, fried, Onions, Ranch, salt