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The Best Onion Rings

After cooking the onion rings, keep them warm in a 200°F oven while you finish the remaining batches.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    serves 4 to 6

Ingredients

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cumin
Pinch of cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon coarse salt, plus more for seasoning
3/4 cup buttermilk
3/4 cup beer
1 large egg
4 cups peanut oil
2 large white onions (about 2 pounds), sliced crosswise 1/2 inch thick and separated into rings

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Combine the flour, cumin, cayenne, and 1 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. Slowly whisk in the buttermilk, beer, and egg until smooth. Let the batter stand 15 minutes.

    Step 2

    In a large saucepan, heat the oil over medium-high heat until a deep-fry thermometer registers 375°F. Working in batches, dip the onion slices in the batter, turning to coat. Gently drop the slices into the hot oil. Cook, turning the rings once, until golden brown, about 2 minutes. (Adjust heat between batches as necessary to keep oil at a steady temperature.)

    Step 3

    Use a slotted spoon to transfer the rings to a paper-towel-lined baking sheet to drain. Season immediately with salt.

The cookbook cover with a blue background and fine typeface.
Reprinted with permission from The Martha Stewart Living Cookbook: The New Classics by Martha Stewart Living Magazine, copyright © 2007. Published by Clarkson Potter, a division of The Crown Publishing Group. Buy the full book from Amazon.
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