Easy Homemade Baked Onion Ring Recipe

This is a great recipe I found and wrote down when I discovered the homemade potato chips recipe from Cooking Light. I am not a huge fan of BBQ flavoring and their recipe was for barbecue-flavored onion rings so I tweaked the recipe to my own tastes but will add the ingredients at the end of the recipe as an option. As in so many snack foods, it is possible to make your own and save on the calories and fat. I find these to be a delicious accompaniement to sandwiches, burgers or just plain snacking!

RECIPE FOR ONION RINGS - Makes 12 servings

INGREDIENTS

• 6 tablespoons flour
• 2 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
• 4 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 2 pound Vidalia, Bermuda or other sweet onions – cut in 1/4-inch thick slices and separated into rings (about 4 large)
• 3 cups dry breadcrumbs, divided
• Cooking spray

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat oven to 450 degrees.
2. Combine flour, sugar, (and spices below if desiring BBQ flavored onion rings) salt and eggs in a large bowl.
3. Dip onion rings into flour mixture.
4. Place 1/4 of the onion rings to a zip-lock plastic bag. Zip closed.
5. Add 3/4-cup breadcrumbs, shaking bag to coat the onion rings.
6. Repeat procedure with remaining onion rings and remaining breadcrumbs 3/4 cup at a time (so 4 batches in total).
7. Arrange onion rings in a single layer on baking sheets coated with cooking spray.
8. Lightly spray the onion rings with cooking spray.
9. Bake at 450 for 5 minutes.
10. Rotate the pans on racks and bake 5 more minutes.
11. Turn the onion rings over, lightly spray again with cooking spray and bake 5 more minutes.
12. Rotate the pans again and bake 5 more minutes or until crisp.

FOR BBQ FLAVORING ADD TO DRY INGREDIENTS

• 2 teaspoon chili powder
• 2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice

Approximately 190 calories per 1/2 cup of onion rings.

The lowly onion is credited with the following health benefits:

• Cancer fighter
• Antimicrobial for bacteria forming in the colon - it is reportedly a deterrent against colon tumors
• Promotes airflow and guards against bronchitis, asthma and lung infections
• Fights atherosclerosis and is reported to have many coronary and circulatory benefits
• They are cholesterol-free and low in calories
• Evidence suggests that the onion may be effective against such things as the common cold, heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and other diseases