Oven-Fried Onion Rings

If you are making those summer time burgers, brats and hot dogs this is a great side dish. They are much healthier and easier and they are still crispy like you deep fried them.

Oven-Fried Onion Rings

1 cup saltine crackers crumbs

1 cup plain potato chips crumbs

1 egg

½ cup buttermilk

1 large onion (Vidalia or Spanish) 

2 tbs. vegatable oil

¼ cup flour

Kosher salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 450 Degrees.

Cut your sweet onion in slices and pop out the rings.

Dredge the onion ring slices in a thick batter of buttermilk blended with egg, flour, and seasonings of your choice.  I like simple pepper, but you may wish to spice it up a bit with a pinch of cayenne pepper or hot sauce.

Use a blend of equal parts unsalted crushed saltines and plain potato chips for the crust.  Put them into a food processor to turn them into crumbs.  The secret is the potato chips.  The combination yields a texture and flavor most resembling that of deep-fried onion rings.

Pre-heat the baking sheet (about 2 minutes).  Remove sheet from oven and tilt to coat evenly with the oil.   Be very careful when positioning the rings on the very hot sheets.  This helps with making the skins nice and crisp. Bake the battered and crumb-coated rings for 15 minutes turning them once until crisp and golden. 

Taste for seasoning.  Since the potato chips have salt, I do not use any salt at all in the batter and I use unsalted saltines.  If you think it needs more then add salt while they are still hot out of the oven.

Dip for Onions

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1 tablespoon ketchup

Juice of ½ a lime or lemon

1/3 teaspoon paprika

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon dried oregano

1 pinch ground black pepper

1/3 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Combine all the ingredients and refrigerate.  Serve the onion rings with a side of dip.

Have a great day, be happy and may God bless you and yours.