Crispy Baked Onion Rings

I am a French-Fry and potato girl. If you dare put a plate of fries down in-front of me, you better believe they will be gone. Instantly.  And don’t even ask CH about my “fries-sharing abilities”, they don’t exist.   But, every once in a while, I get into a conundrum and cannot decide between fries and onion rings.  Usually, fries win.  But when the question is asked at home now, onion rings stand a fighting-chance with this recipe.  I served this alongside a roast beef dinner last week (with broccoli and mashed sweet potatoes), and they were perfect.

Crispy, golden and healthy onion rings –  yes please.  The trick, which I have come across in many recipes (and featured in Cook’s Illustrated) is the use of potato chips.  Yes, you heard that right…potato chips (and anything with potato chips in the recipe is a winner for me, just so we are clear!).

They take a few minutes to assemble, but I enjoyed the process, and the result, is even better.

Ps – A recommendation – go visit PreventionRD‘s blog.  She features amazing recipes, with a focus on health.  One of my personal favorite blogs – so go show her some love.

Enjoy!

*Note – I halved the original recipe and the sauce in the picture is simply a mix of ranch dressing and Frank’s hot sauce 🙂

Baked Onion Rings

Yield: 4 servings (about 12 rings each).
Prep Time:  20 minutes
Cook Time:  15 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 large onions
• 2 cups (2 oz) kettle chips (I used Miss Vickies)
• 1 cups panko bread crumbs
• 6 TBSP (95 ml) of low-fat buttermilk (or regular milk)
• 1 eggs
• 1/3 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper
• 1 tsp smoked paprika

Directions:

Preheat oven to 450 F.

Slice onions into 1/2-inch thick rings. Season the onion rings with salt and pepper.

In a food processor, pulse together the panko and chips and transfer to a shallow dish. Season with salt, pepper, and paprika.

Place the flour in a second shallow dish. In a third shallow dish, whisk together the egg and buttermilk.

Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and place a wire rack on top. Spray the wire rack with non-stick spray.

Dip each onion ring in flour, then the egg/buttermilk mixture, and lastly in the chips/panko to coat. Continue this process with each of the onion rings and place on the wire rack.

Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until golden.

Recipe Adapted Slightly From PreventionRD, who adapted from How Sweet It Is and Pink Parsley, as originally seen in Cook’s Illustrated