onion rings without milk
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Onion Rings Without Milk

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Onion rings are incredibly easy to make and require so little ingredients. To me, they are even easier than making the French fries!

A few nights ago I was craving something salty and crispy. Onion rings came naturally to my mind. I opened up the fridge and guess what, there was no milk! Can I make onion rings without milk actually?

I usually use milk to make onion rings batter, and I thought I would give up. Luckily, I am a stubborn one, so I decided to make these with something besides milk. 

I remembered people use beer to make the onion ring batter, but as I wanted to make this recipe kid-friendly I made it with plain water.

Of course, there are adults who do not like the taste of the beer, so if you fit into this category or are just an adult who does not have any milk or beer in the fridge, then you are in the right place. 

The onion rings are a super popular snack and even people who do not like raw onions, love these. There is just something special in the mix of sweet onions and crispy breadcrumbs coating that is comforting and, my oh my, they are my genuine comfort food. 

I like to serve onion rings alone or as a delicious side dish with burgers, fried chicken, or fried fish. I also like to serve them warm with some cold dip, such as ranch dressing. 

Tips for Making Onion Rings

Below are my best tips for making the absolute best onion rings.

Choosing and Slicing the Onions

This recipe starts with onion slicing. I find the ideal onion slices are ¼-inch thick. I tried smaller slices once and they broke during the frying, and the thicker ones are not properly cooked.

Once you slice the onions into rings, you have to separate each. Although they are fairly thick, you should be careful with this step as the onions may break.

Once the onions are separated, place them aside and cover with an aluminum foil. This is not a mandatory step, but as you know, onion has that particular smell. This step will ensure your house does not smell too much. 

I suggest you stick with sweet onions, such as Vidalia or Walla Walla. The sweet onions have more sugar in them and are pleasing even when cutting.

These onions will not make you cry. The sweet onions are not pungent like the classic ones. The sweet onions have less sulfur and are ideal for onion rings. 

Finding the Right Batter Consistency

To make the batter, you will just have to mix flour, spices, and water. At this point, you can play with the spices you want. I used paprika, basil, salt, and pepper.

The batter I made has a pancake batter density, and I find that is the best. This batter will stick nicely to the onion rings, without dripping.

Any batter that is thinner will just slide from the onion. If you make a thick batter, your onion rings may be too firm and with too much crust after frying. 

Can You Bake Onion Rings Instead of Frying?

Yes, these onion rings can be baked. You will follow the steps as the recipe says and just arrange the coated onion rings onto the baking sheet, lined with parchment paper.

Bake the rings for 10 minutes at 450F. Flip them and cook for 5 minutes more. Serve as desired. 

Tips for Crispy Onion Rings

Some like to dip their onion rings into the milk, but as this is a milk-free recipe, you can soak the onion rings in ice-cold water. Allow the onions to chill for 10 minutes before draining and drying off completely. 

How to keep the batter from falling off the onion rings: Use cold batter and hot oil. Also, make sure to shake any excess batter before coating it with the breadcrumbs. 

For extra crispy onion rings, you should double-coat the onion rings. If you want to do so, you will have to make the double batter and use more breadcrumbs. It is a bit messy but so worth it.

If you want to skip the double breading, here is what you can do: arrange the paper towels on a cooling rack. Place the onion rings on the paper towels and allow them to drain and cool. This will ensure you have a crispy finish.

If you place them on a plate, the grease may collect on a plate and therefore they will not crisp properly.

How to Make Onion Rings Without Milk

Step 1

Gather your ingredients.

Peel the onions and cut into ¼-inch thick rings. Separate each ring.

onion rings without milk, step 1

Step 2

In a bowl, combine flour, basil, paprika, and salt and pepper, to taste.

Add water and mix until you have a smooth batter.

Heat 1-inch of oil in a skillet.

Place breadcrumbs on a shallow plate.

onion rings without milk, step 2

Step 3

Dip the onion rings into the batter and coat with the breadcrumbs.

Fry in heated oil until golden brown.

Arrange on a paper-lined wire rack to drain.

onion rings without milk, step 3

Step 4

Serve and enjoy! 

onion rings without milk
Onion Rings Without Milk

Onion Rings Without Milk

Yield: 20 onion rings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes

These crispy onion rings are made without milk and are so delicious!

Ingredients

  • 2 sweet onions
  • ½ cup flour
  • 2/3 cup water
  • 1 tsp paprika powder
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1 cup breadcrumbs
  • Grated parmesan, optional (you can mix it with the breadcrumbs)

Instructions

  1. Peel the onions and cut into ¼-inch thick rings. Separate each ring.
  2. In a bowl, combine flour, basil, paprika, and salt and pepper, to taste.
  3. Add water and mix until you have a smooth batter.
  4. Heat 1-inch of oil in a skillet.
  5. Place breadcrumbs on a shallow plate.
  6. Dip the onion rings into the batter and coat with the breadcrumbs.
  7. Fry in heated oil until golden brown.
  8. Arrange on a paper-lined wire rack to drain.
  9. Serve. 
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 5 onion rings
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 224Total Fat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 310mgCarbohydrates: 45gFiber: 3gSugar: 10gProtein: 7g

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