La Brea Bakery Sourdough Onion Rings

Posted by LladyRusty at recipegoldmine.com 3/28/02

Source: Williams-Sonoma - by Nancy Silverton, La Brea Bakery, Los Angeles, California

The proper oil temperature is essential for producing onion rings that are crispy outside and succulent inside. If the oil does not reach 370 F, the onions will absorb fat and turn out greasy. If the oil is too hot, the food will burn.

2 cups sourdough starter
1/2 cup cold sparkling water
1/2 teaspoon sea salt, plus more, to taste
3 large onions, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch slices
1 cup all-purpose white bread flour
Peanut or canola oil for deep-frying

Line a baking sheet with paper towels. Heat an oven to 225 degrees F.

Fill a large bowl with ice cubes and place a medium bowl on top of the ice. In the medium bowl, combine the sourdough starter, sparkling water and the 1/2 teaspoon salt and stir to mix. Separate the onions into rings, leaving the centers intact. Place the flour in a shallow bowl and toss the onions in the flour to coat.

In a deep fryer, pour in the oil and heat to 370 degrees F on a deep-frying thermometer. Dip the flour-coated onion rings, one at a time, into the sourdough starter mixture, then drop them into the hot oil. Fry in a single layer, turning if necessary, until they are golden brown. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the onion rings to the baking sheet and season with salt. Place the baking sheet in the oven and fry the next batch. Be sure the oil returns to 370 degrees F before adding the onions or they will be greasy.

Servings: 6