Old fashioned onion rings are the classic! Do you want to learn the greatest fried onion ring recipes in 3 ultimate ways? Keep reading! You’ll be intrigued!
What Are Old Fashioned Onion Rings
Old fashioned onion rings are my favorite go-to whenever I want something indulging and satisfying. With the crispness on the exterior and the sweetness from the interior, onion rings always win the game of comfort fast food in my heart.
Imagine when you bite into a fried onion ring, you will first taste the crunchy golden brown batter, and then the next part is the soft and flavorful actual onion that’s well seasoned with salt, pepper, and a few dry herbs.
Don’t forget the most creamy and tangy mayo dipping sauce which gives extra awesomeness to the dish. Everything seems like a party in your mouth, and you cannot stop. That sounds amazing, doesn’t it?
It may appear to be some simple food but to make fried onion rings to perfection, and to achieve restaurant quality, it requires a lot more attentiveness and culinary skills than you think. Let me walk you to the details.
How to Choose Onions for Onion Rings
Aren’t all onions the same? No no no, that can’t be more wrong. Choosing the right onion will be the very first step in the perfect old fashioned onion rings recipe.
There are a few different kinds of onions as you may know; each is slightly different from one another. Therefore, they will be chosen for different purposes.
White onions have the strongest, sharpest taste of all. They produce a lot of fragrance and are often used in flavorful dishes in Asian and Mexican cuisines.
They are also favored to make soups because after cooking for a long period of time, they will become quite sweet but not lose their distinctive scent.
Red onions are the mildest onions in my opinion. Their natural sweetness is perfect to eat raw. That’s why you can see red onions in many salad dishes.
Or when you want to make caramelized onions, the red kind is always the top choice. Besides, people also prefer red onions for pickling since they give such a beautiful color.
Last but not least are yellow onions, especially Walla Walla and Vidalia. They have quite a strong taste but not too overwhelming.
However, when cooked, these yellow onions will bring out the most beautiful sweetness. And for that reason, it’s the most common choice when it comes to making traditional old fashioned onion rings.
I just want to give you the most general suggestions. Please feel free to experiment with all other onions and decide which ones are best suited to your preference.
Deep Frying Your Old Fashioned Onion Rings
The first important part of picking onions is done. Let’s move on to the next part which is also super crucial: preparing and frying onions.
How To Cut Onions In A Smart Way:
If you always cry your eyes out whenever you handle onions, you need some tips.
- The key when you cut onions is to use a sharp knife. When you use a dull knife, you will be more likely to smash the onions, and more compounds will be released. That’s how your eyes get watery.
- For this particular old fashioned onion rings recipe, you have to slice against the grain.
How To Deep Fry Onion Rings In A Smart Way:
Before frying the onion rings, make sure to soak them in water for 10-20 minutes helps to neutralize the flavors and to make the onions crunchier.
- If you are one of those folks who love the texture but hate the smell, add some vinegar to the water. However, this will make the onions less crispy. Your call.
- Some professionals suggest soaking onions in milk as a way to get rid of compounds. I’ve tried this method once and in my opinion, the onions just lost their special taste and become bland. I do not recommend this.
- Boiling onions, on the other hand, is a great method to get rid of their bitterness while still keeping the onion flavor. Just boil them for 4 – 10 minutes until al dente.
- Remember to drain and pat the onion rings completely dry before cooking. The moisture will cause your onion rings to be soggy, which is the worst.
- Talking about soggy, pay attention to the oil you fry the onion rings, too. It has to be not enough. But if the oil is too hot it’s going to burn the onions. You should notice the oil starts to smoke and the temperature reaches about 365ºF before you add in the onions. Also, keep an eye on the oil temperature throughout the frying process to make sure it’s consistent.
How to Make Crispy Onion Rings
Old fashion onion rings, though pretty basic, are the staple dish that can be served on any occasion, from casual to fancy. Therefore, let’s learn how to master this dish so everybody will have to ask you to make them again and again.
Old Fashioned Crispy Onion Rings Recipe
Ingredients:
- 2 large onions
- 1 cup flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs
- 2/3 cup milk
- 1 tbsp oil
- Cooking oil
Directions:
- Slice onions about 1/4 inch thick. Soak in cold water for 30 minutes. Take them out and pat them completely dry.
- Make a batter by adding flour, salt, milk, egg, and 1 tbsp of oil in a bowl. Whisk well until combined.
- Heat oil in a deep frying pan at 375ºF.
- Dip the onion rings in the batter and quickly transfer to the pan. Deep fry them for 2-3 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.
- Take them out and place them on a rack or on a paper towel to absorb excess oil. Serve hot. ENJOY!
Creative Mozzarella Onion Rings Recipe
Oh, come on! This onion rings recipe is even better! Just add some mozzarella cheese and you can get all the cheese pulls you want.
While it’s not really considered a traditional onion rings recipe but I want to include it here because it’s super fun and definitely a conversation starter at any party.
Mozzarella Onion Rings Ingredients:
- 70-100g Mozzarella cheese
- 2 Onions
- 50g Flour
- 100g Bread crumbs
- 2 Eggs
- Cooking oil
Directions:
- Cut the cheese into thin slices. Set aside.
- Slice onions about 1.5-2cm thick. Separate the rings.
- Stack 2 layers of onion rings with different widths from inside out, leaving little gaps in between. Repeat for all the onion slices. Fill the cheese in between the gaps.
- Make 3 separate bowls of flour, eggs, and bread crumbs.
- Cover onion cheese rings into flour, then dip into the eggs, then cover with bread crumbs. Repeat until finished.
- Heat cooking oil in a deep frying pan. Gently add the onion rings and deep fry for 2-3 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.
- Take them out, absorb excess oil, and enjoy while hot with some ketchup. Bon appetite!
The Best Dipping Sauces to Pair with Onion Rings
You cannot have the perfect old fashioned onion rings without a good dipping sauce. I’ve found not 1 but 2 delicious recipes for creamy dipping sauce for you to try out. Tell me which one is your favorite.
These sauces are not only for ultimate onion rings but you can use them for all kinds of fried food.
1. Korean May Dipping Sauce
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup mayo
- 2 Tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 1/2 tsp gochujang (Korean red pepper paste)
- 2 tsp honey (optional)
Directions:
Mix all the ingredients in a bowl well until combined.
2. Creamy Garlic Dipping Sauce
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup plain yogurt
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 5-6 tsp minced garlic
- 1 pinch dry parley
- Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
Mix all the ingredients in a bowl well until combined.
Tips and Praise
Cooking with Anadi, “I’ve never made onion rings but that’s totally something I gotta try! They’re such a perfect golden brown and I bet they’re so tasty! They remind me of onion pakora but I should try the good old classic onion rings at home haha thanks for the inspo Pam!”
Cooking At Pam’s Place, “Hey Michael! Spanish onions work well but I tend to use what I have on hand. I would add a little cayenne pepper if you all like a little spice parsley and thyme would make a good addition to. Or Italian seasoning. Thanks so much for your support!”
This Guy, “This is pure genius. Thank you so much for the inspiration and those delicious crunches.”
KArie Doll, “Depending on the type of cheese, you may still need to add just a touch of seasoning within the flour or bread crumbs, even if it’s salt free.”
Editor’s Note
The ultimate old fashioned onion rings recipe makes a delectable appetizer or a side dish to enjoy together with many main course options such as beefsteak, fish, burgers, sandwiches, salads, etc.
Please check out the list down below and find the best dish you like to pair with the yummy fried onion rings you make today: