Marinated Fried Onion Strings

Crispy, golden, and full of flavor, these Marinated Fried Onion Strings are soaked in a seasoned buttermilk marinade, coated in spiced flour, and fried until perfectly crunchy. Serve them over burgers, salads, steaks, or enjoy them on their own for a deliciously addictive bite.

Ingredients

For the Marinade:

• 1 large onion, thinly sliced into strings

• 1 cup buttermilk

• 1 tsp hot sauce (optional but great)

• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

• ½ tsp garlic powder

• ½ tsp onion powder

• ¼ tsp smoked paprika (Queen G’s Texas kitchen style)

• Pinch of black pepper

  For the Coating:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour

• 1 tsp salt

• ½ tsp black pepper

• ½ tsp smoked paprika

• ¼ tsp cayenne (optional for heat)

  For Frying:

• Neutral oil (like canola or vegetable), enough for shallow frying

Directions

1. Slice your onion into very thin strings (a mandoline works great). Place them in a bowl or Ziploc bag. In a separate bowl, whisk together all the marinade ingredients.

   Pour over the onions and toss to coat.

   Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, up to overnight for max flavor.

2. In a shallow bowl, mix together flour, salt, pepper, paprika, and cayenne.

3. Remove the onions from the marinade and shake off excess liquid, but don’t dry them completely. Toss the onions in the seasoned flour until well coated.

4. Heat about 1 inch of oil in a skillet or heavy-bottomed pan to 350°F (175°C). Working in small batches, fry the onion strings for 2–3 minutes or until golden brown and crispy. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate. Lightly sprinkle with extra salt if needed.

   Serve immediately—on top of burgers, steaks, salads, or just straight from the plate.