These crispy, golden brown french fried Vidalia onion ring strings make the best topper to burgers, and sandwiches, or tucked into wraps. They’re naturally sweet, salty, crunchy, and crispy, and they couldn’t be easier to make. Just be sure to fry up extra because it’s hard to stop eating them by the handful.
What Makes Vidalia Onions So Special
Famously sweet Vidalia onions are one of my favorite onion varieties to cook and eat. Below are just some of the reasons they’re so special.
- Vidalia onions are only grown in 20 counties in the state of Georgia, USA.
- There are only 20 counties in which Vidalia onions can be grown and carry the namesake “Vidalia”. Much like the Italian or European, IGP (Indicazione Geografica Protetta) or the “protected geographical information,” which is a seal guaranteeing the origins of a product that indicates the quality and characteristics one can expect upon purchase. Essentially, these protections let you know that what you’re buying is exactly what’s on the label and of the highest quality.
- These onions are grown in low-sulfur soil which is why they’re so sweet.
French Fried Vidalia Onion Ring Strings Ingredients
- Vidalia onions
- all-purpose or whole-wheat flour
- salt
- garlic powder
- white pepper, optional
- ground turmeric, optional
- neutral oil for frying
How to Make French Fried Vidalia Onion Ring Strings
- Prep the onion ring coating and preheat the oil. In a dutch oven or cast iron skillet, preheat 2 to 3 inches of oil to 350°F/176°C. In a medium bowl, mix the flour and seasonings to combine and set aside.
- Slice the onions. Using a mandoline (or sharp knife), slice onions very thinly and separate the pieces gently using your hands to create strings (or very thin rings).
- Coat the onions. Toss the onions in the flour mixture until completely covered. Gently shake the excess flour and place them (in a single layer) onto a wire rack or large platter while your oil heats.
- Fry the onion ring strings. Working in batches, drop the onions into the hot oil being sure not to overcrowd the pot or pan. Using chopsticks or a heatproof spatula, move the onions around in the oil and cook until golden brown (just a couple of minutes). Remove them to a wire rack or paper towel-lined platter and season with more salt if desired. Serve immediately and, Enjoy!
A Few Interesting Vidalia Onion Facts
- There’s less pyruvic acid in sweet Vidalia’s so you’re less apt to cry while cutting them.
- These onions were discovered during the Great Depression.
French Fried Vidalia Onion Ring Strings (2 ways)
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 Servings 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
These crispy, golden brown french fried Vidalia onion ring strings make the best topper to burgers, and sandwiches, or tucked into wraps. They’re naturally sweet, salty, crunchy, and crispy, and they couldn’t be easier to make. Just be sure to fry up extra because it’s hard to stop eating them by the handful.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 large Vidalia onion, peeled and sliced very thinly (380g)
- 1 cup all-purpose or whole wheat flour (113g)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt, or more to your taste (5g-8g)
- 1/4 heaping teaspoon garlic powder (1g)
- 1/8 teaspoon ground white pepper (omit if you don’t have it) (0.25g)
- 1/8 teaspoon ground turmeric, optional (0.25g)
- neutral oil for frying
Instructions
- Prep the onion ring coating and preheat the oil. In a dutch oven or cast iron skillet, preheat 2 to 3 inches of oil to 350°F/176°C. In a medium bowl, mix the flour and seasonings to combine and set aside.
- Slice the onions. Using a mandoline (or sharp knife), slice onions very thinly and separate the pieces gently using your hands to create strings (or very thin rings).
- Coat the onions. Toss the onions in the flour mixture until completely covered. Gently shake the excess flour and place them (in a single layer) onto a wire rack or large platter while your oil heats.
- Fry the onion ring strings. Working in batches, drop the onions into the hot oil being sure not to overcrowd the pot or pan. Using chopsticks or a heatproof spatula, move the onions around in the oil and cook until golden brown (just a couple of minutes). Remove them to a wire rack or paper towel-lined platter and season with more salt if desired. Serve immediately and, Enjoy!
Notes
- Cut the onions as close to the same size as possible so that they’ll fry evenly.
- Allow the floured onions to rest on a wire rack for a few minutes before frying to allow the coating to adhere.
- Place freshly fried onion rings onto a wire rack to drain before serving so they stay nice and crunchy.
- If you want to make the coating a bit thicker, use the following instructions for making a buttermilk-egg wash dipped onion ring version.
BUTTERMILK EGG WASH-DIPPED VIDALIA ONION RING INGREDIENTS
- use all of the ingredients for Vidalia onion recipe (above) Plus…
- 1 cup buttermilk (242g)
- 1 large egg
- extra flour for a 2nd coating
BUTTERMILK EGG WASH-DIPPED VIDALIA ONION RING DIRECTIONS
- Prep the onion ring coating and preheat the oil. In a dutch oven or cast iron skillet, preheat 2 to 3 inches of oil to 350°F/176°C. In a medium bowl, mix the flour and seasonings to combine and set aside.
- Prep the buttermilk egg wash. In another medium bowl, whisk the egg and buttermilk until well combined.
- Slice the onions. Using a mandoline (or sharp knife), slice onions very thinly and separate the pieces gently using your hands to create strings (or very thin rings).
- Coat the onions. Toss the onions in the flour mixture until completely covered. Gently shake the excess flour off and dip them into the buttermilk-egg wash to coat completely, then immediately dip them back into the flour mixture tossing to coat completely, and place the onion rings (in a single layer) onto a wire rack or large platter.
- Fry the onion ring strings. Working in batches, drop the onions into the hot oil being sure not to overcrowd the pot or pan. Using chopsticks or a heatproof spatula, move the onions around in the oil and cook until golden brown (just a couple of minutes). Remove them to a wire rack or paper towel-lined platter and season with more salt if desired. Serve immediately and, Enjoy!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Side Dishes
- Method: Deep Fried or Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
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