With This Ring . . .

I thee promise to enjoy our life to the fullest. One of our favorite appetizers to order at our local pub has to be onion rings. We could make a meal of them. Yum!

Today happens to be Nation Onion Ring Day. Yeah, that sounds like a great excuse to head on down to the Irish Pub, order a tower or 2 of beer battered onion rings and maybe have a pint or three.

Not far from where we live, there is a great Irish Pub. The food is amazing. While none of us are beer drinkers, we do like a few pints of Angry Orchard with our meals. Generally we order the onion rings to start, the go for beer battered cod or an Irish Burger.

Let me tell you, you haven’t lived until you’ve had a burger topped with shredded corned beef and Irish Cheddar.

While we love our little pub, the acoustics aren’t the greatest. It is loud. On a Friday or Saturday night, it can be deafening. Which is why I’ve made it my life’s mission to recreate our favorite menu ideas at home. These rings aren’t exactly like those we get at the pub, but they are pretty darn close and just as good. Enjoy!

Beer Battered Onion Rings with Dipping Sauce
Onion Rings
2 whole Vidalia Onions
2 cups Buttermilk
4 cups Vegetable Oil for frying

Trim ends from the onions. Peel and slice onions into rings. Break rings apart. place into a baking dish. Pour the buttermilk over the rings place in the refrigerator for 90 minutes.

While the onion rings marinate in buttermilk, make the dipping sauce.

Dipping Sauce
1/2 cup Mayonnaise
1/4 cup Ketchup
1 tablespoon Prepared Horseradish
1/2 teaspoon Smoked Paprika
1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce

In a mixing bowl, whisk Mayonnaise, ketchup, horseradish, paprika and Worcestershire Sauce. Taste, adjust as desired. Place mixture into a serving bowl.

Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Beer Batter
1-1/2 cups Self-Rising Flour, divided
1 teaspoon Smoked Paprika
1/2 teaspoons Garlic Salt
1/2 teaspoons Onion Powder
1/4 teaspoons Cayenne Pepper
1/4 teaspoons Black Pepper
1-1/4 cups Beer

When ready, heat oil in a deep fryer or deep pot to 375-degrees.

Place 1/2 cup of flour in a mixing bowl. Remove onion rings from the buttermilk, shake off excess and toss with the flour to lightly coat.

In another bowl, combine the remaining 1 cup flour, paprika, garlic salt, onion powder, cayenne pepper, and black pepper. Stir to combine. Pour the beer into the mixture and whisk to combine. Dip each ring in the batter. Lift from the batter with a fork, let excess batter drip back into the bowl while allowing ring to remain coated. Carefully place onion rings in the oil.

Let fry for about 30 seconds, turn and continue to fry until golden brown. Remove rings from the oil, drain on paper towels. Serve with dipping sauce and enjoy.