These easy Crispy Onion Strings are the perfect topping for sandwiches, salads, and soups….or delicious all on their own!
So. We have an interesting thing going on around here. A thing with Myla, and her adorable 2 year old ways, and specifically, her adorable (or not so adorable) 2 year old language.
As it turns out, Myla has a real tendency to mix up certain sounds – specifically at the beginning of words. So Baby Gabe is Baby Babe and food is shood and truck is cuck. All of which are fine and good and just require a little bit of interpretation. But then, there’s the fact that she replaces all her s’s with f’s….at the start of words….and suddenly we have a bit of a problem.
Because suddenly, every time anything is stuck in any way, she’s yelling, “f*@%!”….usually on repeat….until you figure it out and help her get un-stuck. And suddenly, every time we’re at Trader Joe’s, she’s so excited about getting a sucker at the checkout that she’s literally walking around the store saying, “f*@%er! f*@%er!” which, as you would imagine, is not quite what anyone expects to hear coming from a sweet little 2 year old.
I honestly don’t know whether to be mortified or find it hilarious. I guess a combination of the two!? And the fact that f*@% has become a regular household word….well, what can we do? Some things are just beyond our control. But you know what’s not beyond our control? Having Crispy Onion Strings – just like the ones you get at a restaurant. I honestly shied away from trying to make these for years. Because frying makes me nervous…and I knew that baking them just wouldn’t be the same. But I finally reached a point where I needed some crispy onion string goodness to top my salads and sandwiches at home! And you guys….I don’t regret it. They’re crispy and flavorful and totally not hard to make. A little dangerous, yes. (Dangerously delicious!) But no more dangerous than a 2 year old who walks around yelling obscenities! At least the Crispy Onion Strings won’t get any sideways glances!

Ingredients
- 1 large onion I used red, but vidalia would work well too
- 2 c. buttermilk
- 1 c. flour
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. pepper
- 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp. cumin
- 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
- oil for frying
Instructions
- Slice onion into thin rings.
- Place in container with buttermilk; cover and refrigerate 1-2 hours.
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine flour and seasonings.
- Heat oil in a medium saucepan to 375 degrees.
- Remove a handful of onions from buttermilk, dip in flour mixture (shake to remove excess) and place in hot oil .
- Fry until golden brown; remove from oil and place on paper towel-lined plate.
- Season with salt as desired.
Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious says
Hilarious anecdote….I would burst out laughing in the store if I heard that!
The strings….uh….fings….look great!
Cathy Trochelman says
Haha – yep – they’re definitely “fings” in Myla’s world! Most people do laugh, but of course there are always those few….
Jocelyn (Grandbaby cakes) says
These are seriously like my fave thing ever!!!
Jessica | The Novice Chef says
My husband hates anything that resembles an onion… however… LOVES onion rings… Weirdo! 😉 I could totally get him to eat these! They look delicious!
Melanie | Melanie Makes says
Wishing I could reach through my screen for a few – or the whole bowl! – of these!
Sabrina says
I love onions! These are a perfect side to a simple sandwich!
Megan @ With Salt and Wit says
I love these! They are one of the best appetizers ever!
Lauren @ Hall Nesting says
My 2 YO son does the same thing with SH** when he wants you to sit so I understand. haha I need to make these ASAP
Cathy Trochelman says
Haha – you feel my pain! 🙂
Allyson says
#1, these are AMAZING! #2, this story is hilarious!!!
Delilah says
Our favorite restaurant serves onion strings on their burgers which we ask for on the side. Hubs loves them so I had to go searching on Pinterest. Can’t wait to try them for hockey playoffs. My 2 yr old’s (now 32) favorite book was Fox In Socks. You know where that is headed! Used to crack us up but we prayed she would not say it in public.