Classic Beer Battered Onion Rings

Yes, these are fried.  No, I didn’t want to make a baked version.  Sorry!!

There are some foods that should just get fried, don’t you think?  Because I don’t do it often, I pick and choose carefully what gets fried.  Along with fried chicken, I think onion rings should be fried.  Sure, we can bake potato chips quite successfully.  Even baked french fries and pakoras work great.  But I just don’t like the batter/breading that has to be used for onion rings if we are to bake them.  There is a restaurant chain here in Canada that has a breaded onion ring.  Some people love them.  I don’t.  Give me a batter!! You can’t fake tempura, and you can’t fake these onion rings either.

It’s hard to choose between onion rings and french fries, wouldn’t you say?  Isn’t it great when restaurants offer a combo of both?!  There is something so wonderful about the crispy batter with the sweetness of the onion inside. Which one do you love more?  But onion rings don’t have to be a treat left for the restaurants to provide for us.  You can easily enjoy these at home, especially since ordering onion rings for takeout during these Covid days will probably mean soggy, cold results.  So you really have to try this recipe.  Your kids (big and small) will think you are a hero!

Tips for the Perfect Onion Ring

First things first.  When slicing the sweet onions into 1/2 inch rings, try and remove the inner membrane from the ring.  It will make such a difference when you go to eat them- the membrane is what keeps biting through the onion flesh possible and causes the onion to slip out from the shell. Chill the onion slices before the actual frying will help with this step.  Same goes for the batter, you will want to use ice cold beer.  Before adding the onion slices to the batter, dredge the onion slices in a combo of seasoned flour and cornstarch in a freezer bag.  The cornstarch will add to the crispy outcome of the batter.

Use a wok for frying. It has a wider opening allowing more onions to fit in at a time, making a faster process.  Transfer the fried onion rings to a paper towel lined baking sheet, and season with salt immediately.  You should transfer the onions to a warm 200F oven till ready to eat.  Of course, you can also use a large, heavy dutch oven. 

Air Fryer Tip.

Obviously these onion rings can’t be prepared in the air fryer, with the batter dripping everywhere!  But don’t think that your air fryer is just going to sit there.  If you have one, here is a fabulous way to add extra crunch to these rings.  Rather like a double fry, like with french fries etc, take the finished onion rings once they have cooled down and place them in a single layer in your air fryer and fry them at 325-350F for 8 or so minutes. This will add extra crunch, without needing any more oil.  Which is a good thing!  I don’t have a full out air fryer, but rather a Cuisinart Toaster Oven/ Air Fryer combo, and it works perfectly for this.

Onion rings are great on their own, with your dip of choice, as a side for a good steak dinner, or on the side of sliders (see my Cubano Sliders!) or burgers.  Or why not put some inside your next veggie wrap!  Yep, I went there! Have you ever put fries or onion rings inside a burger?  You must try it! You may find it a game changer!

Enjoy that special goodness of a light and fluffy battered onion ring.  You can eat salad tomorrow! You will love this temporary treat of a light, crisp onion ring.

Love Jen

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Classic Beer Battered Onion Rings

Crispy, light and full of flavour, you will love these onion rings!

Course side

Cuisine American

Keyword batter, beer, onion

Prep Time 1 hour 10 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Servings 4

Ingredients

• 2 large sweet onions

Dredging Flour

• 1 cup flour can use cup for cup Gluten Free flour blend substitutes
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 2 tsp salt

Batter

• 1 cup flour see above
• 4 tbsp cornstarch
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp white pepper
• 1 12 oz can beer ice cold Lager or Blonde
• peanut oil or other oil with high burning point enough to fill the wok or dutch oven you are using a few inches high
• flakey salt to finish

Instructions

1. Slice the onions into 1/2 inch rings. Separate them into individual rings. Place them all into a bag or container and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. You can have this step done first thing in the morning.
2. When ready to fry, pull the onions out of the fridge and remove the inner thin membranes from the rings. Chilling will help the membrane separate easier)
3. In a large freezer bag, add all the Dredging flour ingredients. Add the onions, close the bag, and give everything a good shake to help coat all the onions.
4. Fill a wok or dutch oven with 2-3 inches high with the oil. Preheat the oil over medium high heat, you want the final temperature at no more than 375F. Prepare a baking sheet with a cooling rack covered with paper towel. Preheat the oven to 200F.
5. In a medium bowl combine all the dry ingredients of the Batter. Add enough of the ice cold beer to create a batter, whisking it until it is like very thick pancake batter. Add the beer in batches till this consistency is achieved. But don't over-mix, some small clumps of flour are fine. An onion ring should be covered and hold onto the batter without losing it all back into the bowl.
6. Using tongs a fork (or your fingers) slowly lower the onion into the oil, releasing when halfway submerged. The oil should be working, not overly bubbling, but not too gentle either. Add more onion rings, without crowding. Fry, flipping them as soon as they turn a golden brown. The whole time in should be about 4 minutes. If they are turning too brown too quickly, then adjust the heat. But don't lower it too much, this is what causes the batter to absorb more of the oil, and you will get soggy battered rings, and will end up eating more oil than is healthy.
7. Transfer the rings to the paper towel lined cooling rack. Immediately sprinkle with salt. When all the onion rings are fried up you can transfer the whole baking sheet to the oven to keep warm.

Air Fryer Second 'Fry'

1. If you have an air fryer, you will love using it to rewarm the finished rings. The fryer will use the residual oil on the rings to crisp them up perfectly. Use a setting between 325 and 350F (you know your fryer!) and place the rings on the fryer basket in one layer. Fry for about 8 minutes till crisped.