Is it just me or are onion rings a special treat? Personally, I'd rather have French fries, but that's because I have a weird love affair with them. I do really like onion rings, and every so often I order them when we go out to eat. They seem a little indulgent with all that fried onion and breading, but that's why this recipe is so incredible. These are baked, but they taste like they're been fried. The secret to these bad boys is the topping of crushed saltine crackers and kettle-cooked potato chips. I know, right? Who comes up with this stuff? I tell you, only those geniuses at America's Test Kitchen could come up with this. It works, and while it's slightly time consuming to do all the dipping of the onion rights, it's worth the work. And it's nice knowing you're saving yourself a few calories.
Baked Onion Rings Recipe
Makes about 24 rings (about 4 servings)
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1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 egg
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/4 teaspoon cayenne powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
30 saltine crackers
4 cups kettle-cooked potato chips
2 large yellow onions, cut into 24 large rings, 1/2 inch thick
6 tablespoons vegetable oil
Preheat your oven to 450 degrees and get out 2 large rimmed baking sheets. Spread 3 tablespoons of oil on each.
Take out three shallow dishes for dipping. In one, place 1/4 cup flour. In another dish, mix together the egg and buttermilk and then mix in the remaining 1/4 cup flour, cayenne, salt and pepper.
Using a food processor, pulse together the crackers and chips until well blended and they resemble coarse crumbs. Place these in the third dish.
One at a time, dip your onion rings in the flour, the egg mixture, and then the cracker/chip crumbs. Make sure they get coated on all sides in each container. Place on the greased baking sheet.
Cook the rings for 15 min, flipping each ring over half way through the baking time. I've found that using a fork to flip these works much better than tongs. Drain the rings on a paper towel and serve immediately.
Source: Barely adapted from The Best of America's Test Kitchen 2007
Baked Onion Rings Recipe
Makes about 24 rings (about 4 servings)
Print this recipe
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 egg
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/4 teaspoon cayenne powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
30 saltine crackers
4 cups kettle-cooked potato chips
2 large yellow onions, cut into 24 large rings, 1/2 inch thick
6 tablespoons vegetable oil
Preheat your oven to 450 degrees and get out 2 large rimmed baking sheets. Spread 3 tablespoons of oil on each.
Take out three shallow dishes for dipping. In one, place 1/4 cup flour. In another dish, mix together the egg and buttermilk and then mix in the remaining 1/4 cup flour, cayenne, salt and pepper.
Using a food processor, pulse together the crackers and chips until well blended and they resemble coarse crumbs. Place these in the third dish.
One at a time, dip your onion rings in the flour, the egg mixture, and then the cracker/chip crumbs. Make sure they get coated on all sides in each container. Place on the greased baking sheet.
Cook the rings for 15 min, flipping each ring over half way through the baking time. I've found that using a fork to flip these works much better than tongs. Drain the rings on a paper towel and serve immediately.
Source: Barely adapted from The Best of America's Test Kitchen 2007
