Crispy Onion Straws Recipes

ONION STRINGS

Steps:

• Begin by peeling the onions and slicing very thinly, use a mandoline slicer if you can. Separate the onion slices and place them in a shallow baking dish and pour the buttermilk over the top. Press the onions down so they're submerged as much as possible and let them soak on the counter for at least an hour. If necessary, stir them around a bit halfway through the soaking process.
• In a bowl, combine the flour, salt, black pepper and cayenne, and set aside.
• Pour 1 to 2 quarts canola oil in a pot or Dutch oven. Heat to 375 degrees F, or until a pinch of flour sizzles when sprinkled over the pot.
• Using tongs, remove a handful of onions from the buttermilk and immediately dunk into the flour mixture. Coat the onions in the flour mixture, and then tap them on the inside of the bowl to shake off the excess.
• Plunge the onions in the hot oil. With a spoon, fiddle with them a bit just to break them up, and watch them! They'll be ready to remove from the oil in no time flat.
• When they're golden brown (this should take just a minute or two), remove them from the oil and place on a paper towel-lined plate.
• Repeat with the remaining onion slices and serve immediately.
• Pile these on top of a juicy grilled hamburger - to die for!

VIDALIA® ONION STRAWS (ONION STRINGS)

Steps:

• Pour buttermilk into a bowl. Place onion slices into buttermilk, cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Whisk flour, cornmeal, salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and paprika together in a bowl. Working in batches, remove onions from buttermilk, letting any excess liquid drip off, place onions in flour mixture and toss to coat. Shake any excess flour mixture off onions.
• Cook onion rings in the preheated oil until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer rings with a slotted spoon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.

ONION STRAWS (FRENCH FRIED ONIONS)

Steps:

• With a mandolin, good slicer or a very sharp knife, slice the onions very thin. If you use a knife, you should be able to see it through the onion slice. Place in a baking dish and cover with buttermilk for at least one hour.
• Combine dry ingredients and set aside. Heat oil to 375 degrees F. in a deep fryer. If you don't have a deep fryer, use a Dutch oven or deep pot; add oil and heat to 375 using a candy thermometer to determine the temperature of the oil. Remove the thermometer when the temp reaches 375.
• When ready to cook, grab a handful of onions, cover well with the flour mixture, shake off the excess, and plunge the onions into the hot oil. Fry the onions in batches so the oil will stay hot. Fry for a few minutes and remove them when they turn golden brown. Drain on paper towels.
• Repeat until all the onions are cooked. Serve immediately or store in an air tight plastic container to add to other dishes when needed. Cooked onion straws can be kept at room temperature for up to a week.