Crunchy Sourdough Onion Rings (with Sourdough Discard!)

Crispy, crunchy, and a great use for your sourdough discard, these Sourdough Onion Rings are a perfect snack! You'll be making these delicious onion rings again and again after you try them!

Sourdough recipes are some of my favorite to make. There are so many different recipes you can make that are beyond bread! You can make sourdough zucchini muffins as well as sourdough discard cornbread. The possibilities really are endless when it comes to using your sourdough discard.

Dip these crispy onion rings in sriracha aioli or cilantro lime aioli! It's a delicious snack to make any time of the year and it's surprisingly easy to make! Don't throw your sourdough discard out, make onion rings with it!

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• It's a great use for your sourdough starter! To me, that sourdough discard is like gold! I love baking with it because I spend so much time feeding and taking care of it, I don't want to just throw it out. This is a great recipe to use that amazing sourdough discard starter!
• They are so crispy! There's nothing worse than a soggy onion ring, but these are so crispy! The sourdough discard helps keep the onion rings really crispy and delicious!
• They are easy to make! If you are new to deep frying, this is a great recipe for you. These onion rings are pretty fool proof as long as you don't overcrowd the pan. More on that later!

What is Sourdough Discard?

So what is sourdough discard exactly? Sourdough discard is the portion of your sourdough starter that you are not feeding. When you are "feeding" your starter to make Dutch oven sourdough bread with, you add equal parts flour, water, and starter to a mason jar and let it rise.

You can't feed your entire starter, as it doubles and sometimes triples in size, and that's a lot of starter to have on hand! If you are new to sourdough, be sure to check out how to feed and maintain a sourdough starter post all about how to keep your sourdough starter happy.

With your sourdough discard, you can make lots of delicious recipes! I love making sourdough brownies for desserts, sourdough discard cinnamon rolls for breakfast, and sourdough chocolate chip cookies for a special treat!

Ingredients to Gather

• Sourdough discard. This means it should be right out of the refrigerator and not fed for a while.
• Seltzer water. It might seem strange to add seltzer water to onion rings, but it's actually a very common ingredient when frying. Depending on the thickness of your sourdough starter will depend on how much seltzer water you should add.
• Spices. Paprika, salt, and garlic powder are what we are using. Feel free to add some extra spices like crushed red pepper flakes or chili powder.
• Flour. The flour helps the crunch on the onion rings.

Be sure to check out the printable recipe card for full recipe information on ingredients and quantities.

What Type Of Oil Is Best To Fry In?

When frying onion rings, it's best to use an oil with a high smoke point. This will ensure that it can withstand the high temperatures required for frying without burning or smoking too much.

Vegetable oils like canola, sunflower, avocado oil, or peanut oil are great choices due to their neutral flavor and high smoke points, which make them perfect getting really crispy, golden onion rings.

Oils like peanut oil can add a subtle nutty flavor to the onion rings, enhancing their overall taste. Chick fila actually fries their recipe ingredients in peanut oil.

The choice of oil really depends on personal preference. When I fry, I like to use an avocado oil. Olive oil has a low smoking point, so it's not a great option for frying. It's best for sautéing.

How To Make Sourdough Onion Rings

Step 1: In a shallow bowl or baking dish, add the flour, salt, paprika, and garlic powder. Mix well to combine.

Step 2: Mix the sourdough discard and a splash of seltzer in one shallow baking dish. The batter should look like a thin pancake batter. Set that aside.

Step 3: Cut the onions into thick slices and separate the slices on your large cutting board. Make sure to cut the onions about a ¼ inch thick.

Step 4: Add the avocado oil or vegetable oil to the Dutch oven. You'll want at least 2 inches deep. Place a thermometer in the Dutch oven to keep track of the temperature of the oil. You want the oil to reach 375 degrees F.

Step 5: Dip the onion rings in the sourdough mixture. Remove any excess sourdough discard.

Step 6: Dip it into the flour mixture. Then place the onion ring in the oil.

Be very careful when placing the onion ring in the oil. Do not let the oil splash. Cook for 1-2 minutes until golden brown and then flip the onion ring. Cook for another 1-2 minutes and then remove the onion ring from the Dutch oven. Place it on a paper towel like baking sheet and sprinkle with salt.

Tips and Tricks

• Make sure the oil comes up to temperature. It should be at least 375 degrees F. If the oil is not hot enough, the onion rings will get soggy. Too hot and the onion rings will burn but not cook the onions on the inside.
• A candy thermometer is great to make sure the temperature is correct, but if you don't have a thermometer, don't worry! Add a little bit of flour to the oil. If it starts to bubble, the oil is ready.
• The batter should look like thin pancake batter. If your sourdough discard has been fed recently, you might need a little more seltzer than that of a batter that has not been fed in a while and is very thin.

Storage Info

These onion rings are best fried and served. They won't reheat well because they will lose their crispy texture. You can make each of the ingredients ahead of time and then right before you are ready to serve, fry the onions right before you are ready to serve.

Sourdough Onion Rings FAQs

More Sourdough Recipes