Crispy Onion Food

CRISPY ONION

Steps:

• Slice the shallots VERY THINLY-- cut them in half and julienne your way through-- Heat oil in frying pan-- chuck the shallots in the very hot oil until they turn brown and crunchy-- be sure that there's significant colour change but careful that they don't burn!
• Drain the shallots, place on a plate over paper towel to take out excess oil, and sprinkle with salt.
• When they cool, store in an airtight jar.

CRISPY ONION BLOSSOM

Steps:

• For the onion: Trim the stem end of the onion by slicing off 1/2 inch. Peel off and discard any onion skin. Trim the root end of the onion to remove any hair or dirt. Put the onion on a cutting board root-end up. Leaving 1/2 inch uncut around the root end, make 4 vertical cuts evenly spaced around the onion. Continuing this action, make 3 cuts in each quadrant of the onion to create 16 "petals" evenly spaced around the onion root.
• Put the onion stem-side up in a medium bowl and sprinkle with some salt and pepper. Mix the buttermilk and hot sauce in a measuring cup and pour over top of the onion. Allow the onion to rest in the buttermilk mixture for 30 minutes.
• For the dipping sauce: Meanwhile, whisk together the mayonnaise, horseradish, mustard, lemon juice and Cajun seasoning in a small mixing bowl. Set aside. (See Cook's Note.)
• For the breading: Use a mixing bowl that is wide enough to accommodate the onion blossom, and be sure to have a plate that fits over the bowl. Whisk together the flour, cornstarch, dried parsley, Cajun seasoning and ground mustard. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper.
• Pour the vegetable oil into a large, heavy-bottomed stockpot. Preheat the oil to 375 degrees F over medium-high heat (the oil will drop in temperature when the onion is added, so adjust the heat as needed to maintain 360 degrees F). Line a baking sheet with paper towels.
• Remove the onion from the buttermilk mixture and allow any excess to drip off. Crack the eggs into the buttermilk mixture and whisk to combine.
• Place the onion into the seasoned flour, root-end up. Put the plate on top of the bowl to cover the opening, then invert the bowl and plate, holding them together and gently shaking to ensure that the onion is evenly coated in the seasoned flour. Invert again right-side up and remove the plate. Lift the onion out and shake to remove any excess flour.
• Place the onion into the egg mixture root-side down, being sure that it is fully submerged. Remove the onion and allow any excess liquid to drip off. Place the onion back into the seasoned flour and repeat the shaking process for a second time to ensure that all petals are evenly breaded.
• Carefully lower the breaded onion, root-side down, into oil. Fry until evenly golden brown and crispy, 5 to 6 minutes. Lift the onion out of the hot oil and place on the lined baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt and serve immediately with the dipping sauce.

CRISPY ONIONS

Steps:

• Preheat the deep fat fryer, a stovetop fryer or high sided pot with the recommended amount of oil to 360 degrees. Combine the flour and paprika evenly in a flour sifter and sift into a large bowl. Add the thinly sliced onions to the flour and toss and shake well to coat the onions evenly in seasoned flour. Put the onions into a strainer and shake off any excess flour so that what remains is the thinnest coat possible. Cooking in small batches, put the coated onions in a fryer basket and carefully submerge in the hot oil. Shake the basket to insure even frying and remove from the fryer when the onions have cooked to a deep golden, but not dark brown, color. Continue in this manner until all the onions have been cooked. Season each batch with salt as it's removed from the fryer. Drain on paper toweling.;

CRISPY ONION RINGS

Steps:

• Put the onions in a large bowl and cover with milk. Let soak for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, using a fine-sieve over a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, 2 teaspoons salt, chili powder, and cumin, if using. Stir in the beer until a smooth batter is formed. Set aside.
• Drain the onions and transfer to a paper towel-lined baking sheet. Blot the onions with paper towels until dry.
• In a large, wide heavy-bottomed pot, pour in the oil to a depth of about 2 inches. Place over medium heat and heat to 400 degrees F. (The oil must be heated to 400 degrees F. since the temperature drops oil to about 375 degrees F. when the onions are added.)
• Working in batches, transfer about 8 to 10 of the onions to the batter and mix to coat well. Using tongs, pull several of the onions out of the batter, and let any excess batter fall back into the bowl. Carefully add to the oil and fry, flipping once, until golden brown and crispy, about 3 1/2 minutes per batch. Using the tongs, transfer to a dry paper towel-lined baking sheet to drain. Sprinkle with salt to taste. Repeat with the remaining onions. Serve immediately.

CRISPY ONION FLOWERS

Steps:

• Heat oil to 375 degrees F in a deep-fryer or a large, heavy Dutch oven (oil should come no more than halfway up the sides of the pan).
• Combine flour and ranch dressing mix in a shallow bowl. Set aside.
• Cut about 1/2 inch off the tops of the onions and peel them. Cut 12 vertical slices until you almost reach the bottom of the onion (do not cut all the way through). Remove the center of each onion. Don't throw away!
• In a second bowl, mix tempura batter with chilled soda water. Don't over-stir; batter should be slightly lumpy. Dredge each onion in seasoned flour, shaking to remove excess flour. Dip in tempura batter and make sure to spread "petals" apart to get an even coating of batter.
• Carefully place 1 onion in fryer. Fry for about 2 to 3 minutes or until golden. Remove and carefully ensure that petals are separating, using a utensil to help spread them if necessary. Recoat onion with batter and return to oil for about another 5 minutes. Remove from oil and drain on paper towels. Repeat with remaining onions.
• Serve hot.
• To make the dip, mix all ingredients in a bowl, adding hot sauce to taste. Serve with onion blooms.

CRISPY ONIONS

Steps:

• Heat a large amount of oil in a deep heavy pot. Place a good amount of flour in a large bowl. Peel, wash, dry and trim the ends the onion. Place flat side down and cut into thin slices. Toss the onion pieces into flour and lightly coat. Place a mesh colander over a large pan and pour onion pieces in the colander to remove excess flour. Gently pour onion pieces into the hot oil and cook until cgolden brown, turning occasionally to keep browning even. Use a slotted spoon to quickly remove onions to a paper towel lined plate. Allow to cool. Onions will crisp-en as they cool.

CRISPY FRIED ONION RINGS

Steps:

• Mix flour, baking powder, paprika, seasoning salt and water. Stir until smooth.
• Slice onions 1/8-1/4" inch thick and seperate into rings.
• Drop onions into batter in bowl and stir gently with a spoon. This saves time, over dipping each ring separately into batter. Make sure all onion rings are coated with batter.
• Using a fork, drop one onion ring into fat to test temperature. Your onion ring should not cook too quickly or turn dark. If necessary, reduce temperature. You want your fried onion rings to puff up and turn golden brown, not overcook. If they over cook they will taste bitter.
• When fat is ready, gently drop onion rings into pot or place in fryer basket and lower into fryer.
• When onions rings are golden, using a slotted spoon lift into a metal strainer to drain. If using a fryer, simply lift the basket and allow your onion rings to drain.

CRISPY ONION CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a shallow bowl, combine the butter, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, garlic salt and pepper.
• Dip chicken in the butter mixture, then coat with onions.
• Place in a greased 9-inch square baking pan.
• Top with any remaining onions; drizzle with any remaining butter mixture.
• Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until chicken juices run clear.

CRISPY ONION & BREAD SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat a dry saucepan until hot and cook the onions for a few minutes, stirring occasionally, until they start to char, then add the butter. Sizzle for 5 mins until the onions are soft and the butter is light brown. Pour in the milk, then add the bay leaf and ground cloves. Season. Bring to the boil, then simmer gently for 5 mins.
• Turn off the heat, scoop out the bay and stir in the bread and cream. Tip into a blender or use a hand blender to blitz to a thick sauce. Return to the pan and heat, stirring until bubbling and thick. Can be made two days ahead, cooled, chilled and reheated with a splash more milk. Serve the sauce in a bowl, scattered with the onion seeds and crispy onions, if using.

MAKING CRISPY ONION RINGS

Steps:

• Whisk together flour, cornstarch, dry potato flakes, and cayenne pepper in a large bowl. Whisk in club soda to make a smooth batter.
• Place panko bread crumbs in a shallow bowl.
• Heat oil in a deep fryer or large saucepan to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Place a few onion rings at a time into the bowl of batter and turn to coat all sides with batter.
• Remove onion rings from batter and place into pan of panko bread crumbs; turn to coat completely with crumbs.
• Cook a few rings at a time in the hot oil until golden brown, about 2 to 3 minutes.
• Transfer to a cooling rack set over paper towels to drain. Season with salt to taste and serve.

CRISPY BAKED ONION CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°.
• In large plastic bag or bowl, combine Knorr® French Onion recipe mix and bread crumbs; set aside.
• Brush chicken on all sides with mayonnaise.
• Add chicken, one piece at a time, to plastic bag/bowl.
• Close bag and shake, or toss in bowl, until chicken is evenly coated.
• On baking sheet, arrange chicken and bake uncovered 20 minutes or until chicken is thoroughly cooked.