What Are Onion rings and How Can I Use Them?
Here's everything worth knowing about onion rings and how to pick them, what they are, how to store them, and what to use instead, plus 21 recipes to cook tonight.
What are onion rings?
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, while those made from a paste offer quantity through consistent size. Consumers of whole onion rings run the risk of pulling the onion out of the batter if they fail to cut it all the way through with their teeth, while onion rings made of onion paste break apart easily but oil absorbency diminishes the onion taste.
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.
| In Chinese: | 洋葱圈 | |
| British (UK) term: | ||
| en français: | rondelles d'oignon | |
| en español: | aros de cebolla |
Recipes using onion rings
There are 21 recipes that contain this ingredient.
Chicken a la goose
Czech beer-braised chicken with caraway and onions, roasted until golden. Dark beer creates rich gravy in this Central European comfort dish. Serve with red cabbage and dumplings.
Tikka Chicken
Chicken pieces marinated in spiced yogurt with ginger, garlic, turmeric, and coriander, then grilled on skewers until charred and tender. Authentic Indian chicken tikka at home.
Pastrami Sandwich
Added sliced Provolone, which I melted over the top under the broiler and made the sandwiches in pita pockets. Delicious!
Gyro Sandwiches
Greek gyro sandwiches blend ground beef and lamb with oregano, thyme, and garlic into thin patties, then tuck into pita with homemade cucumber-yogurt sauce and sliced onion. Street food classic done at home.
Simple Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole
Instead of frozen veggies we used fresh broccoli and cauliflower and steamed them part way. We also used swiss cheese instead of cheddar and the results were surprisingly good.
Green Beans Deluxe
Green bean casserole made in the microwave with canned green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and crispy French fried onion rings on top. The classic holiday side dish ready in just 15 minutes.
Chicken Casserole Ala Ruth
Layers of tender broccoli, chicken breast, and melty Velveeta smothered in creamy mushroom soup, topped with crunchy water chestnuts and golden fried onion rings. Retro casserole comfort at its finest.
Burger Casserole
Stacked hamburger patties layered with melted American cheese and onion rings, baked in a casserole dish with a splash of milk. A retro weeknight dinner the kids will love.
Salad Supreme
Warm ham salad with a cooked vinegar dressing tossed with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, and green pepper. Topped with American cheese strips and sliced hard-boiled eggs.
Easy Antipasto Chicken
Chicken is coated with Italian dressing, then baked with assorted vegetables. It's an easy and tasty dish that's also good for you.
Green Bean Casserole
Classic three-ingredient green bean casserole with French-style green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and crispy fried onion rings. The original Thanksgiving side dish.
Simple Mushroom Quiche
Quick mushroom quiche made with canned mushrooms, sour cream, Worcestershire sauce, and Swiss cheese. Mix, pour, and bake for an easy weeknight dinner or brunch with minimal prep.
Salad with Picante Dressing
Sirloin steak salad with rice, corn, black olives, cherry tomatoes, and a spicy picante-lime dressing. A Tex-Mex main dish salad with serious substance.
Three Ingredients Green Bean Casserole
Add a green look to your kitchen with this scrumptious casserole made from cream of mushroom soup and green beans.
Greek Potato Salad
Greek potato salad with a creamy yogurt-feta dressing, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, oregano, and rosemary. A lighter Mediterranean twist on potato salad with no mayonnaise.
Philadelphia Cheese Steak Sandwich (Lower Fat)
Lower-fat Philly cheesesteak with thinly sliced flank steak, sauteed peppers and onions, and reduced-fat cheddar on hoagie rolls. Broiled until bubbly in 20 minutes.
Crab Pie
Savory crab pie baked in a flaky crust with layers of sauteed onions, celery, and melted cheese in a creamy egg custard. Swap in shrimp, tuna, or salmon for easy variations.
Northwest Seafood Cioppino
Northwest seafood cioppino simmers white fish, shrimp, and oysters in a tomato-herb broth with onions, garlic, and basil. Pacific Northwest take on the Italian-American fisherman's stew.
Emeril's Favorite Pastrami Sandwich
Emeril's pastrami sandwich: pastrami simmered in beer and whole-grain mustard, piled on grilled rye with charred onion rings. Ready in 20 minutes, one serious sandwich.
Quiche Lorraine avec Ver De Terre
Quiche Lorraine with earthworms (ver de terre), Swiss cheese, bacon, and onion rings in an egg custard. A novelty bug-eating recipe for the adventurous eater.
Chinese Green Bean Casserole
Chinese green bean casserole with crunchy bean sprouts, cream of celery soup, and crispy fried onions on top. Four-ingredient potluck side that lands somewhere between Midwest holiday classic and chop suey night.
