Fried Onion Strings

As you may have noticed, I'm a lot about desserts.  However, I do like other types of cooking as well.  I'm a huge fan of onion strings.  I find that the pre-packaged ones in the stores are a little over-priced for what they are.  Let's face it, onions are a pretty cheap product in and of themselves.  Plus I'm not a fan of buying pre-packaged foods.  If there's something I can make from scratch that you can buy packaged or bottled, I will learn to make it myself.  Such is the case for fried onion strings.

I love them!  I love them on salads, I love them on burgers, and I even love them as just as snack.  However, since Saturday nights are traditionally burger night in our house I thought I would try making them for burger night.  I like fried onions on my burger, my husband likes raw, but we both love fried onion strings. I couldn't believe how easy this was.

Now, they ARE deep fried in oil, so don't go thinking they are healthy, they are just healthi-ER than buying them out of a bag. And a lot cheaper since I always have onion and oil on hand.

This recipe was so easy, I'm also going to try doing the same thing to zucchini and eggplant.

Fried Onion Strings

Recipe by Fluudbloggler

Ingredients

• 2 cups canola oil
• 1/4 sweet white onion
• 1/2 cup white flour
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 3/4 cup whole milk or buttermilk*
• 1 tsp white vinegar (If you don't have buttermilk)

Cooking Directions

1. Slice 1/4 onion very thinly into strips.  As thin as you can slice them. 
2. If using buttermilk, go to next step, if not, put 1 tsp vinegar in whole milk (or table cream), wait 5 minutes.Voila! Instant buttermilk/sour milk.
3. Pour buttermilk/sour milk over onions, and let sit for at least 30 minutes, an hour is best.
   
4. Mix flour and spices until well blended.
   
5. Heat oil in a pan or deep fryer until hot.
   
6. With your hands put milky onions into flour mixture and mix until well coated.Do not just pour as you will get excess milk poured into the flour and you don't want that. 
   
7. To test if the oil is hot enough, put one piece of onion string in the hot oil, and if it starts to bubble and crisp, it is the right temperature.
8. In two batches, place coated onions into hot oil, and fry until browned.Note: When you first put in the oil, it will all bubble up and you can`t see the onions.  Do not worry about that.  Once the onions start cooking, they will float to the surface and you can see them clearly.
   
9. Place on paper towel, and continue with second batch.
10. Serve hot or cooled.