Cornmeal-Fried Onion Rings

Show: Barefoot ContessaEpisode: Steak and Sides

Rated: 5 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (72)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(72)

Cook Time:
20 min
Level:
Intermediate
Yield:
4 to 6 servings

Times:

Prep: 30 min
Inactive Prep: 15 min
Cook: 20 min
Total:: 1 hr 5 min

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Ingredients

2 large Spanish onions (or 3 yellow onions)
2 cups buttermilk
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup (medium) yellow cornmeal
1 quart vegetable oil

Directions

Peel the onions, slice them 1/2 to 3/4-inch thick, and separate them into rings. Combine the buttermilk, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon pepper in a medium bowl. Add the onion rings, toss well, and allow to marinate for at least 15 minutes. (The onion rings can sit in the buttermilk for a few hours.) In a separate bowl, combine the flour, cornmeal, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Set aside.

When you're ready to fry the onion rings, preheat the oven to 200 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with paper towels.

Heat the oil to 350 degrees F in a large pot or Dutch oven. (A candy thermometer attached to the side of the pot will help you maintain the proper temperature.) Working in batches, lift some onions out of the buttermilk and dredge them in the flour mixture. Drop into the hot oil and fry for 2 minutes, until golden brown, turning them once with tongs. Don't crowd them! Place the finished onion rings on the baking sheet, sprinkle liberally with salt, and keep them warm in the oven while you fry the next batch. Continue frying the onion rings and placing them in the warm oven until all the onions are fried. They will remain crisp in the oven for up to 30 minutes. Serve hot.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Cornmeal-Fried Onion Rings
Leandra Lubbock, TX 02-07-2010
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The best onion rings I have ever had!!!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

These are the greatest onion rings I have had and are super easy to make.
recipe Cornmeal-Fried Onion Rings
Julie Leicester, NC 01-30-2010
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Great O Rings!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

We paired these with Bobby Flay's Grilled Tomato Aioli for dipping and they were terrific. If you thnk you've made too many,... you are probably wrong. We ate every bite!Read more
recipe Cornmeal-Fried Onion Rings
Jessica Chicago, IL 01-25-2010
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Excellent but make sure to double-dip!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

These turned out SPECTACULAR. As good as a steakhouse. Two tips though: (1) Get the oil REALLY hot. When I tried to fry... at 350 degrees, they were taking forever and not crisping. I turned my stove all the way up and they did great. (2) Double dip the onions. Dip in the buttermilk, then the flour mixture, then the buttermilk and flour mixture again. This makes them super crispy. Delish! Ina you are the absolute best teacher for all things food!!!! :-) Thanks! Read more
recipe Cornmeal-Fried Onion Rings
Lynda Milwaukee, WI 01-24-2010
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These rings are sweet & crunchy!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I made these as a side to go with Giada's Mini Italian Club sandwiches while we watched the Vikings vs Saints championship... football game....each of us, including 2 fussy teenage boys, loved them! I ended up double dipping/dredging the onions between the milk and flour mixture for a thicker coating preventing bare spots with only 1 coating....very easy to make...rings taste sweet with a great crunch! We salted our rings to taste with fine popcorn salt after they were done frying....otherwise, the salt amount was just right for the milk and flour mixture. Thanks Ina for a great recipe my family will be sure to ask me to make again and again! Read more
recipe Cornmeal-Fried Onion Rings
Christopher Palm Springs, CA 01-23-2010
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Delicious!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I made these today for my family with turkey burgers and Ina's potato salad recipe. I followed Ina's recipe exactly. I did... howeaver "double dip" the onion rings. Instead of just coating the onion rings once in the dry flour cornmeal mixture. I returned them back into the buttermilk wet mixture and then back into the dry flour cornmeal mixture again before deep frying them in the 350 degree vegetable oil. The batter was thicker on the onion slices and amazingly crisp and delicious. I have never had a better onion rings! Ina, thank you! Cheers to the BEST SHOW on the Food TV network! We love you! Read more
recipe Cornmeal-Fried Onion Rings
Jeffrey Saint Louis, MO 01-23-2010
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Follow the Recipe People
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

To those "Food Critics" that want to give suggestions to modify certain ingredients because something was too salty beacuse... you used table salt in the Onion Ring recipe...you must need glasses as the recipe clearly states KOSHER SALT!!! I can't imagine anyone using table salt anymore after the Fabulous INA has introduced her fans to KOSHER SALT!!! I love these Onion Rings they are the best i have ever made.Read more