I had these delicious onions many years ago. I don't recall what they were called on the menu, but to me they looked like deep fried chrysanthemums.

The onions were some of the most delicious I had ever tasted. Needless to say to I did try to make them. I managed to figure out the ingredients but could not figure out an easy way to make the onion look like a blossom so I created spicy dicey onion rings instead.

INGREDIENTS

3 large yellow onions, 1/4 to 1/2 inch slices
2 cups Bisquick or self-rising flour
1 tblspn chili powder
2 tspn cayenne pepper
2 tspn paprika
Salt to taste
1 bottle vegetable oil

DIRECTIONS

You will need a large heavy sauce pan for deep frying or an electric deep fryer

1. Separate the onions into rings, removing the small inner rings of the onions* and set aside.

2. In a large bowl mix the flour, chili powder, cayenne, paprika, and salt.

3. Dip onion rings in ice cold water, then dredge a few at a time in the flour until all are floured. Shake off any excess flour. Let onions sit for 5 minutes and repeat dredging process.

4. Pour 2 to 3 inches of oil into a heavy saucepan or deep fryer and heat oil to almost smoking point. Fry a few onion rings at a time until they are golden. Drain on paper towels. Repeat and fry the remaining onion until all are cooked. Let rest for a few minutes.

Onion rings will be crisp and golden on the outside, moist and sweet on the inside. Serve as sides with fried fish or shrimp. Also very good with hamburgers.

Make 5 to 6 servings

When done right, these onions will not be greasy, still they should be treated as a once in a while goody.


*Use the remaining onions for a nice onion omelet.
*Chili sauce makes a nice dip for these onion rings.

Check out The Santa Monica Farmers' Market Cookbook: Seasonal Foods, Simple Recipes and Stories from the Market and Farm. Available from Amazon.