Buttermilk Onion Rings With Grilled Tomato Aioli Dipping Sauce Food

BUTTERMILK ONION RINGS WITH GRILLED TOMATO AIOLI DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine buttermilk, flour, cayenne and salt in a large bowl until smooth. Soak the onion rings in the batter for 2 hours in the refrigerator. Using side burner. Heat oil in a large saucepan to 375 degrees F. In batches, remove onion rings from batter and dredge in the seasoned flour mixture. Fry for 3 to 4 minutes or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels and season immediately with salt.
• For the aioli: place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Season with cayenne and salt.

ROASTED TOMATO AND ONION DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F.
• Place the halved tomatoes, onions, and garlic cloves on a baking sheet. Drizzle with half the olive oil and sprinkle with thyme, salt and pepper. Toss to coat well. Place the tomatoes cut-side down, and cook for 2 hours turning the tomatoes after 1 hour. After the second hour, remove the baking sheet, and set aside the unpeeled garlic. Place the rest of the vegetables and the pan juices in a food processor or blender. Add a tablespoon or two of water to the pan to scrape up any bits of flavor stuck onto the baking sheet and add to the food processor. Squeeze out the soft flesh of the roasted garlic into the food processor and add the remaining olive oil. Pulse the mixture until chunky, or puree until smooth, depending on desired consistency. Taste the sauce and season with salt, and pepper, if necessary.

BISTRO STEAK WITH BUTTERMILK ONION RINGS

Steps:

• For vinaigrette, steak, and sauce:
• Whisk hazelnut oil and 1 tablespoon vinegar in a small bowl; season with salt and pepper. Set vinaigrette aside.
• Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season steak with salt and pepper and cook 6-8 minutes per side for medium-rare. Let rest 10 minutes.
• While steak rests, cook butter and shallot in same skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until shallot is softened and starting to brown, about 4 minutes. Add thyme and peppercorns. Cook, stirring occasionally, until mixture is fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add remaining 1 tablespoon vinegar and 1/2 cup water and simmer until flavors meld and sauce is thick enough to coat a spoon, about 2 minutes. Remove sauce from heat and whisk in mustard; season with salt and pepper.
• For onion rings and assembly:
• Fit a medium saucepan with thermometer; pour in oil to measure 3". Heat over medium-high heat until thermometer registers 350°F.
• Meanwhile, mix buttermilk and vinegar in a shallow bowl. Place flour in another bowl or baking dish; season with salt and pepper. Toss onion rings in flour mixture, shaking off excess, and transfer to a wire rack. Working in batches, dip in buttermilk mixture, letting excess drip back into bowl; toss again in flour.
• Working in 2 or 3 batches and maintaining temperature of oil, fry onion rings until golden brown and crisp, about 3 minutes per batch. Let drain on paper towels; season with salt.
• Toss watercress with reserved vinaigrette. Thinly slice steak against the grain. Serve steak with sauce, watercress, and onion rings.

BUTTERMILK BATTER-FRIED ONION RINGS

Steps:

• Cut onions into 1/2-inch slices, and separate into rings.
• Set aside.
• Whisk together flour and next 4 ingredients until smooth.
• Pour oil to a depth of 2 inches into a Dutch oven; heat to 375°.
• Dip onion rings in batter, coating well.
• Fry, a few rings at a time, until golden.
• Drain on paper towels.
• Serve immediately.

BUTTERMILK ONION RINGS

Steps:

• Peel the onions and slice them crosswise into 1-inch-thick slices. Separate each slice into individual rings and then remove the papery thin membrane covering the inside of each ring.
• Heat the oil in a heavy-bottomed medium stockpot over medium heat, or in a tabletop deep fryer, to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with paper towels and set aside.
• While the oil is heating, put the buttermilk in a large baking dish and season liberally with salt and black pepper. Divide the flour between 2 large baking dishes and season each dish liberally with salt and pepper and 1/4 teaspoon of the cayenne.
• Working in batches, dredge some of the onion rings in one of the dishes of flour and tap off the excess. Dip the rings in the buttermilk, allow the excess to drain off, and then dredge the rings in the second dish of flour, making sure to coat the rings evenly. Tap off the excess and transfer the batch of coated rings to the hot oil. Fry the rings, turning once or twice, until golden brown and tender, about 4 minutes. Remove with a mesh skimmer and drain on the baking sheet lined with paper towels. Season immediately with salt. Repeat until all of the onion rings have been cooked. Serve hot.
• SHOESTRING ONION RINGS
• If you're not into big onion rings, make crispy, crunchy, thin onion rings, which are great on their own or mounded on top of the Cheyenne Burger (page 39).
• Peel 2 large Vidalia onions and cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Separate each slice into individual rings and then remove as many of the papery thin membranes covering the inside of each ring as you can. Proceed as for Buttermilk Onion Rings, above.

BUTTERMILK ONION RINGS

Steps:

• Cut the onions in 1/4" slices. In a glass dish, soak the onions in the buttermilk for 30 to 60 minutes.
• In a brown paper sack, combine the flour, cornmeal, salt, onion powder, chili powder, and if needed, sugar. Drain the onions lightly and dredge them in the seasoned flour.
• Pour at least 4" of oil into a heavy saucepan. Heat the oil to 375°. Fry the onions, in batches, for 2 to 3 minutes, or until golden. For the crispiest results, drain on paper towels and spread on a serving plattter rather than piling them into a basket, where they could become soggy. Serve immediately.