Healthy alternative to onion rings?

brianthebard

Can anyone suggest how I might go about making a healthier alternative to onion rings? I love them and think I probably wouldn't need any cheat meals ever again if I could make something that tasted like them and was half decent for me. I was thinking onion bajhi or something like that but I've never made them. How would you get around the deep fat frying? Thoughts appreciated.

Eviledna

Bake them!
The key here is to use a beaten egg to bind the coating to the onion, and the coating could be anything from breadcrumbs and spices to gram/chickpea flour.

Just get your onion rings, dip in beaten egg, then dip in coating, then transfer to a baking tray and spray with spray oil. Cook at 200 degrees for ~15mins, depending on thickness. Then just count the calories for the coating!

Coating ideas...1 slice of bread whizzed in a food processor with some fresh basil, salt,pepper, crushed chillis, oregano and some grated light cheese.
Or for low-bajis, chickpea flour with cumin, black onion seeds, cumin, ground and fresh corriander...and some chilli!!

Be warned...chickpea flour can be hard on the tum...even leading to rumbly explosions at bedtime! Warn your OH...:o

brianthebard

sounds awesome and much simpler than I expected, thanks.

rubadub

Eviledna wrote: »

Just get your onion rings, dip in beaten egg, then dip in coating, then transfer to a baking tray and spray with spray oil.

This sounds great, will try it later.

Eviledna wrote: »

Be warned...chickpea flour can be hard on the tum...even leading to rumbly explosions at bedtime!

This could be since it is so high in protein, protein shakes are none to make people fart.

Gram flour is amazing stuff, surprised it is not more popular, I made a post on it here
Gram flour: 20.7% protein, GI of only 8, €1.92 per kilo

How would you get around the deep fat frying?

I just pan fry them, I mix up gram flour, curry powder and water/milk and an egg (can be left out). I either make up a batter and add the onions, or else fry the onions first and then pour batter over them. You end up with a giant bahji type thing, I heat up some curry sauce from a jar and just tear bits off and dip it in them.

I am a fan of chicken balls. My alternative is cutting up chicken really fine and frying in a saucepan, I spread it evenly around the pan and then I pour my gram flour batter over then, with or without onions, I then cover with a lid and it sets the mixture and just needs flipping once. Then you have a giant chicken pancake.

Gram flour can have a weird taste that some might not like, I do not like it much on its own ( I would not like a plain gram flour pancake.), i.e. the curry or other spices can overpower its own odd flavour, or you could use a blend of gram and other flours, wheat or oat.

Eviledna

You can even make shortbread with the stuff if flour is out of the question!

Btw, Brianthebard, it's possible to soften your onion rings in the microwave beforehand if you like them very soft inside! Before you dip and egg them, pop them in the microwave for...maybe 1min...with a spray of oil, in a covered dish. Will help them cook faster too!