You know those times when you are just in the mood for something fried. Something delicious that you normally don’t partake in on a regular basis. Well, I was in the “fried” mood the other night and decided I wanted needed fried onion rings. Did I have onions? Only 1, did I have buttermilk? Nope! Did I have enough flour? Just Barely! Regardless of what was in my kitchen or not, I had my mind now set on onion rings and darn it- onion rings is what I was going to have. The husband was quite shocked when he walked into the house on a Tuesday night to the smell of something being fried. Typically if I decide to fry something I do it on the weekends but again like I said, I was in the mood!
So considering I didn’t have buttermilk, which everyone knows buttermilk is a must in frying, I decided to mix things up a bit and try something new. I combined 1 1/2 cups of milk with 1 1/2 cups of club soda, salt and pepper. Yes, I realize that no where will you find club soda hanging out in the list of ingredients to fry something but Believe Me- It Worked! That with a cornmeal and flour based coating infused with dashes of lemon pepper and kosher salt, these onion rings are by far the best you will have.
The batter was just perfect. Thick enough to give you a nice crunch factor but not too much as to get soggy on you. A lot of times the batter on onion rings lose their crispness as they sit and cool but not these babies.
For a split second I realized I was cooking for just myself 🙂 and thought that since my 2 year old doesn’t like onions that he might would like fried squash instead. I searched the internet for fried squash and to my amazement there were not many recipes to be found out there. They all consisted of frying up zucchini but not squash. My heart was broken for this wonderful veggie and regardless of what the internet did or did not say I said- Fried Squash It Was Going To Be! They were amazing! A nice sweet touch to the onion rings and the batter was perfect for both veggies so there was nothing going to waste! Perfect for the kids and I will be putting up that recipe on my Belleicious Kids blog today. I haven’t mentioned my kids blog in a while and for those of you who have no idea what I am referring to-I started a kids blog at the end of last year to share recipes I make for my picky 2 year old son. I have not been very good at updating it since the summer began but I have a lot of yummy recipes just waiting to be posted so stay tuned and if you haven’t visited the site please do! I would love to have you!
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Fried Onion Rings and Squash
Ingredients:
6 cups vegetable oil for deep frying
1 large sweet onion, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch thick slices
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1 1/2 cups club soda
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups cornmeal
1 cup of egg beaters
2 tsps kosher salt
1 tsp lemon pepper
1 tsp cajun seasoning
Directions:
Heat oil in heavy pot or deep fryer until oil temperature is 370 degrees F.
Divide onion slices into rings and cut squash into small strips. Pour milk, club soda and 1 tsp salt into a bowl and add the onions and squash. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours. Meanwhile combine the flour, cornmeal, 1 tsp salt, lemon pepper and cajun seasoning in a large pie plate or bowl. Put the egg beaters into a large pie plate or bowl as well. Working in small batches of three, dip rings from the milk into the flour then into the egg then into the flour again. Transfer rings to hot oil and fry, stirring, until rings are golden brown, about 2 minutes. Carefully transfer rings to paper towels to drain. Coat and fry remaining rings in same fashion. Serve immediately.
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Can you believe that I have never made homemade onion rings??? I’ve been living under a rock!! A must do.
Oh, I just made them yesterday. Great snack! I ate a lot and left some for my hubby. It’s a good thing that you note: SERVE IMMEDIATELY. If they get cold they are no longer crunchy and delicious. So, yes: serve immediately after frying. :)))
I literally never fry anything but you are so tempting me this morning with this yumminess. Hungry now. 🙂
Have a fantastic weekend!
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I love fried onion rings. I can’t help it! Being from the South, the Sonic onion rings were always so tasty. However, your recipe looks delicious. Can’t wait to try them!
Some days you just need a fried fix, lol great idea to use club soda, kinda like a beer batter..and the squash looks amazing!! have a great weekend!!
These sound wonderful!!! Hope you are doing well!!
They look fabulous! I love frying zucchini. My husband is even okay with it replacing a meat for dinner!
If it works, go with it! Both the onion rings and squash look and sound delicious. I do have a big red onion. Wonder how that would work?
Hope you have a delicious weekend!
Best,
Bonnie
you’re really smart i think, doing it your own way and making your won substituitions. They do look very crispy and crunchy to me. have a nice weekend!
Yum! These would be very dangerous for me to make, I’m sure I wouldn’t be able to stop eating them!
I love how I can almost taste and fell how crispy these onion rings and squash are through these wonderful pictures you took. I know you house was a very house after that meal. The combo is Heaven. Have a great weekend girl!
One word… AMAZING!
yumm…
Your photos are beautiful 🙂
Your onion rings and squash look wonderful. I’ll have to try this – the batter (after being cooked) looks just perfect!
This would be perfect with the drinks I will be having. Actually I might attempt to make these during the weekend – thanks for the idea. Have a great weekend
Sometimes fried food can be awesome…pickles are my favorite! But I’ve actually had fried squash before and it totally rocks- love how you made your ingredients work! Hope you’re feeling well! Hows your peanut to be doing?
I am doing great girl! How are you and the baby! Adjusting well?It takes time but I know you are a fabulous mommy!
As a self-professed expert on onion rings, eating not making, I have to say these look perfect. I like your improvisation on the batter. The substitute for buttermilk, lemon or vinegar, just wouldn’t have done the same thing. These look amazing.
Love fried squash!
You are so resourceful in the kitchen. Very impressive.
Genius! These look amazing!
omg- i love the recipe- club soda ! genious!
I tell you there is not a time that I would turn down fried onion rings and these look great. They look so crunchy and good.We all love fried squash also so I think these two items will be on my to cook list real soon!!
I love Fried Onion Rings and these looks scrumptious!!!! I can feel the crunch through you pictures. God you are a really really awesome cook, I can feel the deliciousness just by looking girl.
Onion rings- how I love thee! I love how u improvise all the time and it turns out fantastic! Club soda is now on my list
These look and sounds delicious! Way to go with improvising on the club soda. I love a great success like that.
I had no idea that you need buttermilk as a must. Onion rings are one of my fav and whenever I crave for it , i make it with flour, egg mix 🙂 should mix butter milk next time.
Looks nice and crunchy. I recently saw the technique of adding instant potato flakes to the batter and its promises to create very crisp rings. Go to try that too.
P.S. – Can’t wait to see what you make for monthly mingle 🙂 concur yeast my friend!
This is such a good idea! I’m too scared to try frying. I love fried food, but I fear creating a huge mess! My mom swore she’d kill me if I ever tried to deep fry anything in the kitchen, so I’m going to wait until I visit my grandmother to make these. She has a deep fryer 🙂
That looks like one crispy coating! YUM.
We absolutely adore onion rings! And yours look so good! The squash looks delicious as well! These would be a hit in my house, for sure! Thanks for sharing, have a lovely weekend!
What a fabulous dish to satisfy a craving. I will check out yours kids blog. My 18 month old certainly challenges me and my cooking and “catering to her every whim” skills, daily.
Heavenly onion rings – well done on an outstanding result!
Have a happy weekend.
🙂 Mandy
Very creative. I would imagine the fizz in club soda worked much like the fizz in beer. I would have a hard time deciding whether I liked the onion rings or the squash best.
Sam
great substitution for the buttermilk – this looks GREAT!
Yum! My littlest loves onions rings. These look fabulous!
I love onion rings and haven’t made them in years. I am pretty picky about my batter and yours looks perfect – crunchy! I cannot wait to try – great idea on the substitution!
Uhoh, you’re really tempting me here with those onion rings! I only recently discovered that I like them, and now I don’t know what I was missing for so many years. These look delicious!
Oh I do love onion rings and only eat them once a year!!! But this is sooo tempting and delish! I’m envious now.
What a fantastic improvised meal. Great idea to use club soda!
This looks ah-maz-ing! It’s sooo at the top of my list to make!
I love love love onion rings but i have never made my own. i’m so scared of frying 🙁
Yours look fantastic, now I’m craving some …
Oh yum! I haven’t had fried onion rings in forever and you just gave me a serious craving, lol. They look so crispy and light, just perfect.
Fried squash!! Brilliant idea! I am so gonna love this! Thanks for sharing dear!
Oh this looks so good! My kids don’t like onions either – but they do like onion rings. I’m printing this one out…if they’re the best onion rings ever, I’m definitely going to make them. 🙂
That’s so funny they dOnt like onions but do like the rings! Kids are crazy! I meant it- I swear this makes the best ones ever! So hope u get around to trying them
oh, this looks delicious!! anne
YUM!!! These look amazing. I have never actually fried anything…I usually leave tasks like that for the professionals 🙂 You make it sound easy enough though. I may have to give the fried squash a try (I LOVE squash and am not a huge fan of onions)
You are very resourceful when you have a craving! And, oh my, these turned out beautifully! I use club soda to replace water in meat balls, but would have not thought to use it in this manner! Great recipe!
Club soda in meatballs is genius! Never would have thought of that! So glad you said something- promise u will lOve these rIngs- they r awesome
Love both onions and squash- although not sure if I have had fried squash before! Sounds abd looks fantastic!
So glad I just found your blog! I’m your newest follower and your recipes are amazing. Can’t wait to try these rings and squash. Excellent improvising. Hope u can come visit soon!
Loving the cornmeal! I am so making this tomorrow at lunch time!
i love onion rings and this looks really good! 🙂
Delicious! they look so perfect and crispy. You continue to amaze me
I’ve never made onion rings at home, but it’s a lot healthier than outside onion rings (you never know how old the oil is etc). I can kill a big plate of this right now… your photos make me crave for this!
The corneal batter with the club soda sounds like the perfect combo for some terrific onion rings! I am looking forward to trying it- however, I have a lot of sparking water left over. Do u think I cOuld use that instead?
I think improvising is the key to a successful dinner sometimes! Love this batter and the fried squash.
this looks so yummy and so impressive! thank you for sharing this with us and have a great day.
Can I use this batter with zucchini and or seafood? Looking for one right now and this looks great.
I love your creativity!
those onion rings look heavenly
[…] using. Speaking of substitutes for buttermilk, we’re still impressed with this example of kitchen improv over at Kitchen Belleicious. Warning it will make you even hungrier. Advertisement […]
My husband will love this! Thank you.