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Crispy Guinness beer battered onion rings with a sprinkle of garlic and Parmesan and served with your favorite dips on the side. What could be better to help celebrate St Patrick’s Day!

beer battered onion rings on a tray with ketchup and ranch

Making beer battered onion rings isn’t that difficult but preparation is important. Every ingredient has to be ready at hand and because most of us don’t own a restaurant sized fryer, you have to work fast. The potential for a messy kitchen that smells like fryer oil is high but I think its well worth it once in a while to create these crispy beer battered onion rings, especially as they’re made with Guinness!

The Guinness helps create a deep, dark brown batter and the malty flavor really comes through. The batter isn’t too thick so that important crispy texture is there with every bite. I like to mix a little garlic powder with some grated Parmesan and sprinkle it over the onion rings as they come out of the fryer.

FAQ’s about making beer battered onion rings

What’s the best onion to use?

Sweet onions will provide the best flavor but can sometimes be hard to find. White or yellow onions will work just fine.

What’s the best oil to fry with?

Because you need an oil with a high smoke point, these are probably your best choices. Canola, peanut or vegetable oil

Why are my onion rings soggy?

The first thing I’d check is the oil temperature. The oil has to be at 375 F for the batter to cook quickly and evenly. If the oil temperature is too low, the batter will soak up the oil and become heavy and inedible.

Why won’t my batter stick to the onion ring?

All it needs is a light shake in some seasoned flour. Make sure to tap off any excess flour before dipping deep into the batter. Let the excess batter drip back into your bowl before placing into the hot oil.

beer battered onion rings with ketchup

This post has been updated.

more St Patrick’s Day recipes

 

Guinness Beer Battered Onion Rings

Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 4 minutes
Total Time: 24 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 375kcal
Author: Gerry Speirs
Crispy Guinness beer battered onion rings with your favorite dips and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese
Print Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 quarts of canola oil
  • 1 large onion
  • 2 cups all purpose flour, divided
  • 1 ½ tsp baking powder
  • 2 tsp Cajun seasoning
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon cracked black pepper
  • 1 ¾ cups Guinness beer
  • 2 tbsp finely grated Parmesan
  • 1 tsp garlic powder

Instructions

  • Using a deep frying thermometer, heat the oil in a deep pot until it reaches 375°
  • In a bowl, whisk together the 1 ½ cups of the flour, baking powder, Cajun seasoning, salt and pepper.
  • Add the beer to the flour mixture and whisk until all of the lumps have disappeared. It should be resemble a pancake batter consistency.
  • Peel the onion and slice into thick rings. Set the smaller inner rings to the side incase you don't want to use them.
  • Have a baking tray beside your pan lined with paper towel to absorb any grease.
  • Place the remaining ½ cup of flour in another bowl.
  • Once the oil is at the correct temperature, dip one ring at a time into the flour and tap to shake off the excess flour.
  • Dip the onion ring into the batter and coat completely. Tap the onion ring on the side of the bowl to shake of any excess batter.
  • Gently drop the onion ring into the oil and repeat until you have no more room left in the pan. don't overcrowd or they may stick together 3-4 max depending on the size.
  • Cook the onion rings for about 1-2 minutes each side or until golden brown always making sure to adjust the oil temperature to maintain 375°.
  • Using tongs, transfer the cooked rings from the oil to the paper towel and let them drain for a few minutes.
  • Repeat the process until you have cooked as many as you need.
  • Season them with some more salt and sprinkle some of the Parmesan on top.
  • Serve warm with your favorite dipping sauces.

Notes

Check the temperature of the oil frequently especially before adding more rings to cook, and adjust the heat to keep it at or around 365 degrees.
You can keep the cooked onion rings warm in a low set oven until you’re ready to serve them.

Nutrition

Calories: 375kcal