Happy National Onion Ring Day!

Some of you may not be aware that today is National Onion Ring Day! Onion rings are a type of fast food commonly found in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and some parts of Asia. They generally consist of a small ring of onion (whose ring-like structure lends itself well to this mode of preparation) dipped in batter or breading and then deep fried; a variant is made with onion paste. Whole onion rings make for better presentation through a variety of sizes, both big and small.
The exact origins of the onion ring are unknown, but in 1933 a recipe for deep-fried onion rings that are dipped in milk then dredged in flour appeared in a Crisco advertisement in The New York Times Magazine.

I love a great onion ring. There are so many ways to enjoy an onion ring. It is a perfect fried alternative to the french fry with your hamburger or sandwich, it can top a steak or a pulled pork sandwich or you can have them all by themselves with a tasty dip as a snack. They are great! And now they have their very own day to shine. To celebrate I whipped up a batch of my Crisp Onion Rings to accompany my Roast Beef Sandwich for lunch. Delish! How will you celebrate the Onion Ring?  

Crisp Onion Rings

Ingredients

• 1 cup buttermilk
• 2 large yellow onions, peeled and cut into 1/8-inch thick rings
  
• 3 TB dried oregano
• 3 TB paprika
• 1 TB garlic salt
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• Peanut or vegetable oil, for frying
• Salt and Pepper

Directions

In a bowl, combine the buttermilk and the onion rings and press to coat. Marinate, covered, in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.

In a medium pot, heat the oil to 360 degrees F.

In a shallow bowl or large dish, combine the flour with spices and salt and pepper.  Dredge the onions in the seasoned flour, coating each ring evenly. Shake off any excess flour and carefully place the rings in the hot oil. Fry until golden brown, turning to cook evenly and prevent sticking, about 3 minutes per batch. Remove from the oil and drain on paper towels. Season the fried onion rings with additional salt and repeat with the remaining ingredients.

Enjoy! ;)