Onions from Tennessee
Components:
- Two large onions, ideally white or yellow
- One cup of buttermilk (to soak)
- One and a half cups of all-purpose flour
- One teaspoon of powdered garlic
- One teaspoon of powdered onion
- Half a teaspoon of ordinary or smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon of optionally hot cayenne pepper
- An additional teaspoon of salt for seasoning
- Half a teaspoon of black pepper
- One huge egg
- One cup of cornmeal (to make it crispier)
- Oil made from vegetables (for frying)
Directions:
1. Get the Onions Ready: Peel the onions and cut them into rings that are 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Separate the rings and discard the interior parts that are too small to fry.
2. To soak the onion rings, put them in a big dish and cover them with buttermilk. To improve batter stickiness and add a little tang, let them soak for at least half an hour.
3. Make the Coating: Combine the flour, smoked paprika, onion powder, cayenne (if used), salt, black pepper, and garlic powder in a different shallow bowl.
Beat the egg gently in a separate basin.
The cornmeal used to dredge the onion rings should be put in a third bowl.
4. Coat the Onion Rings: After soaking in the buttermilk, dip a few onion rings at a time into the flour mixture, making sure to coat them equally.
Then, for a crispy exterior, coat the coated rings in cornmeal after dipping them into the beaten egg.
Repeat until all of the onion rings have been coated, then place the coated rings on a dish or tray.
5. Fry the Onion Rings: Preheat a large pot or deep fryer to 350°F (175°C) and add about 2 inches of vegetable oil. By adding a tiny piece of batter, you may test the oil; it should sizzle and rise to the top.
To avoid packing the pan too full, fry the onion rings in batches. Fry them for two to three minutes, or until crispy and golden brown.
To drain extra oil, remove the rings with a slotted spoon and set them on a dish covered with paper towels.
6. Serve: While the fried onion rings are still hot, sprinkle them with a little salt.
Serve your Tennessee onions with a dipping sauce on the side, like honey mustard, ranch, or barbecue sauce.
Savor your tasty and crispy Tennessee onions—a great addition to any meal!