Onion Rings

Inspired by The Hooters Cookbook (Arnica)

I know they like things spicy at Hooters, and the recipe in the book called for a whopping 1 tablespoon of ground black pepper and 2 tablespoons of “your favorite hot sauce.” I ended up using the mix below, although it you want to give them a try, you can come up with your own spices and seasonings. Ideally you should use a sweet onion, such as Vidalia.

Servings servings

1 cup (140g) flour, plus more for dusting the onions
or 3/4 cup (110g) flour, plus 1/4 (35g) cornmeal
1 cup (250ml) beer
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon red pepper powder, (I used ancho chile powder)
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 medium onions, peeled and cut in 1/3-inch (1 cm) thick rings
Peanut oil, for frying the onion rings

Mix the flour (or flour and cornmeal) in a bowl and stir in the beer, black and red pepper, and salt. Cover, and let sit one hour at room temperature.
In a wide saucepan or skillet, heat about 2 inches (5 cm) peanut oil until it reaches 370ºF (180ºC.)
Spread some flour on a plate and working in batches, toss 5 or 6 of the onion rings in the flour, then dip each one in the batter, shaking off any excess, then dropping them one at a time into the hot oil.
Cook the onion rings for a few minutes, turning them with a slotted spon or other utensil with holes, until browned on both sides. Remove and set on paper towels, or on a wire cooling rack above paper towels, to drain. While warm, salt the onion rings with additional salt. Continue to fry the rest of the onions the same way. Eat immediately.