What's On The Side: Baked Onion Rings

Though once again it's snowing outside, we saw no reason to put off our plans to do a little grilling. Porkelope burgers were on the menu as the main course, and I decided tonight would be the perfect occasion to try out a recipe for baked onion rings I had seen on a recent episode of Everyday Food. I made a couple of substitutions to recipe -- opting to use Organic Golden Flakes Medley with Flax Cereal in lieu of the corn flakes and organic canola oil in place of the olive oil. I think next time I will add a bit more salt, but otherwise I think they did turn out rather well!

Baked Onion Rings adapted from Everyday Food

makes 2+ servings

6 slices bread (we had some wheat bread on hand)

1 1/2 cups Organic Golden Flakes Medley with Flax Cereal

1 egg

1/2 cup reduced-fat buttermilk

1/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

freshly ground pepper

fine sea salt

1 medium yellow onion

2 tablespoons canola oil

1. Preheat an oven to 300 degrees.

2. Place the slices of bread on a baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes, flipping halfway through.

3. Remove the bread from the oven and let cool for a few minutes. Increase the oven temperature to 450 degrees.

4. Tear the bread into small pieces and place in a food processor. Process until fine bread crumbs are formed.

5. Pour the crumbs into a clean bowl.

6. Place 1/2 C of the bread crumbs back into the food processor. Add in the cereal. Process until coarse crumbs form. Pour into a shallow bowl.

7. In another bowl, whisk together the egg, buttermilk, flour, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper.

8. Cut the onion cross-wise into four sections. Remove the smallest rings, and then pop out the remaining rings.

9. Dip each ring into the liquid mixture, and allow excess to drip off. Then dredge the ring in the dry crumb mixture. Place on a plate. Continue the process until all rings are prepared.

10. Pour 2 T canola oil on a rimmed baking sheet. Place the baking sheet in the 450 degree oven for 2 minutes.

11. After two minutes, remove the baking sheet from the oven, and tilt it to cover the entire surface with the oil. Be sure not to pour the oil on yourself!

12. Place the prepared rings on the baking sheet. You should hear them sizzle a little bit.

13. Place the rings in the oven for 8 minutes. After the time is up, remove from the oven and use tongs to flip each ring over. Put back in the oven and continue baking for another 8 minutes.

14. Remove the onion rings from the oven and serve immediately!