Healthy baked onion rings coated with blue cornmeal. No oil, gluten-free, and vegan, perfect to satisfy that "fried & fast" comfort food craving!
Bring on the onion rings! I couldn't even remember the last time I had an onion ring. We're talking years and years and years, even before I was diagnosed with Celiac. But a few months ago I was hit with a random major craving for these rings of deliciousness. Of course the only way to satisfy such a craving, following my dietary needs and wants, a homemade creation would have to do.
If I'm going to be completely honest here, I don't even remember where exactly I even ate onion rings to begin with. Obviously I've had onion rings before, during my childhood, but for the life of me I'm not sure where or when. Onion-Ring-Memory-Loss? All I know is, they were the traditional fried kind. So to make my homemade version, I was going off of the taste-remembrance of my craving and the "healthy cooking skills" I know. This could have been a major failure for my high expectations or, somehow, a cooking success. Either way, these onion rings were going to happen.
I was also assuming onion rings were battered in either panko or cornmeal. Lucky for me, I had this lovely bag of blue cornmeal I had yet to ever open and thought this would be the perfect time to put the corny goodness to use. Blue cornmeal may just rank pretty high up there in the corn category. I love the color (obviously), but it's more purple than blue. I've baked with this cornmeal since and those recipes had a nice purple color, no so much blue. Why is it than anytime a food is given the title of "blue", it tends to be purple? Just like blueberries 😛
Now, if you're going to eat a batch of onion rings, there must be tons of dipping action going on. Sure you could use these to top a burger or something, but the best way is the simple act of the dip. And sure, you could even get fancy with some special aioli or green goddess, but I think you know the dip I'm going to be suggesting here. Ketchup! Even if you decide to use a variety of dips, bbq, mustard, the ketchup option should take center stage on your plate in the largest blob! Just like fries, I couldn't imagine NOT having ketchup to accompany them. Let's just put this out there, if you want to get me a present and really have no idea what to get, just buy me a bottle of quality ketchup 😉
It's not that I'm ever trying to hide the glory of the food I'm eating with ketchup, I just feel ketchup enhances the flavor, texture, and savor, of just about anything you put it on. Anything. Except maybe cereal. That would be rather gross. Haha! But really, ketchup is a must for onion rings and truly enhances the experience ten-fold to provide the greatest culinary comfort experience to all the senses and the soul! To all you ketchup haters...I don't know what to say. But you are being deprived of one lovely complementary sauce 😉
Besides onion rings, have you ever had a bloomin' onion? The quintessential appetizer and game-day snack? I'm actually pretty sure I've never eaten some myself, but I did contemplate creating that instead on actual onion rings. But then I don't think the ring craving would be satisfied, so I scraped that idea for later 😉 Rings are more satisfying and easier to cut for a first time onion creation anyway. Or...at least I had hoped. But they were easy and smelled delish, not just while they were baking, but while I was dipping them in the batter and cornmeal! I guess that was my "endowment" for all the tears I shed during the very oniony process 😉 (It's all worth it...trust me!)
Blue Cornmeal Baked Onion Rings
Blue Cornmeal Baked Onion Rings
Healthy baked onion rings coated with blue cornmeal. No oil, gluten-free, and vegan, perfect to satisfy that "fried & fast" comfort food craving! Snacking, tailgating, or as a dinner side dish!
- Cook Time: 12 mins
- Total Time: 12 mins
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Side Dish, Snack, Appetizer
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 2 Large Sweet Onions
- ¼ Cup Arrowroot Starch
- 1 Cup Unsweetened Almond Milk
- 1 Cup Blue Cornmeal
- 1 Tsp Dried Parsley
- ½ Tsp Garlic Powder
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450°F.
- Peel and slice your onions in about ¼ inch rings, set aside.
- In a bowl, whisk together the arrowroot starch and almond milk, set aside.
- In another bowl, whisk together the blue cornmeal, parsley, and garlic.
- Prepare 1 or 2 baking sheets, lined with parchment paper. Create an easy set up on the counter of onion rings, batter, cornmeal, and baking sheets to make the process easy and fluid.
- Dip the onion rings in the arrowroot and milk batter, transfer to the cornmeal mix and coat, then place on the baking sheets and repeat for the rest of the rings.
- Bake the coated rings for 6 minutes. Flip them; bake for another 6 minutes. Remove and serve right away! (With ketchup!)
Are you craving onion rings yet? Really, I'm not even a big onion fan. Cooked, soft, just for flavor in a dish and I'm good. But things like raw red onions on salad? Too strong for me! I take them off! The flavor is lovely, but they kill the stomach...and the breath 😛 However, these baked onion rings made with the sweet vidalia onion don't do that. So I'll gladly eat my onion rings and ketchup and savor this lovely comforting corny-coated delicacy!
So tell me:
+ When's the last time you've had onion rings?
+ What would you dip your rings in? Ketchup. 🙂
*Recipe linking up for the week! Allergy Free Wednesdays, #RecipeOfTheWeek,#StrangeButGood, Real Food Friday, Gluten-Free Fridays,Tasty Tuesdays, Savoring Saturdays, Healthy Vegan Fridays, Tasty Tuesdays, Meatless Mondays, Lena’s Tasty Tuesdays, Waste Not Want Not!*
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akansasfarmmom
I don't mind fried food for an occasional treat, but I hate the mess. I will be trying your baked onion rings in the near future.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Fried food is one of the worst things you could ever eat, haha!
Audrey @ Unconventional Baker
What a yummy and easy recipe, Rebecca. I can't stop browsing through all the posts I missed on your blog now because they all sound so delicious. Adding this to my to-try list as well 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Hahahaha, browse away 😉 The deliciousness is always waiting! xoxoxo
Shellie Bowdoin
Love, love onion rings and these look healthier than the fried kind.
Shellie
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Look healthier? Haha, they are!
Sherry
We have onion rings all of the time. I'm not a ketchup fan, so I eat them plain.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, well to each his own 😉
Christine | Mid-Life Croissant
i have to do this!! Baked is so much healthier. You have got to be the worlds most ardent ketchup fan. At least we know you're getting your lycopene!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Ketchup is the greatest culinary invention 😉
Donna Wirthlin
Looks great and I love onion rings!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you!
Deborah Davis
So yummy! Who can resist this healthy and delectable party treat!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Sure!
Creatively Homespun
YUUM!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
🙂
Amberjane
I would never have thought of using blue cornmeal
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Beats yellow!
Miz Helen
What a great idea to use the Blue Cornmeal for the baked onion rings, sounds so good!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you!
Shanice
Awesome post!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks!
Sandy Sandmeyer
Thanks for sharing your recipe!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks!
Kristen @ The Endless Meal
This is brilliant! I love onion rings and I bet these are even better than the real thing. Yum!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, well I think so 😉 Thanks dear!
Akaleistar
Those onion rings look really good!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, thank you!
Stephanie
Looks delicious!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks!
Marla
Hi Rebecca,
These onion rings sound wonderful - a great alternative to the unhealthy store bought ones.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
For sure!
Kathy
These onion rings look crispy, just like fried.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yup! And no grease!
Sam @ PancakeWarriors
These sound delish - I bet they would be amazing on a veggie burger... my head is already spinning!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
You would indeed be correct 😉
Melissa@ vegan does it
I'm not really an onion person either, but occasionally I do like a good onion ring. And always baked, never fried. Looks delish and next time I have a craving I know where to go ????
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yes, yes 😉 Just when the random craving hits!
Bethany
These look really interesting! I love that they are baked and not fried!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Baked always wins 😉
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table
OMG! I love love love onion rings. This is brilliant. Totally pinning to try!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Woohoo! Thank you Laura!!! Do it!
Jen V.
I haven't had homemade onions rings in forever. I really should put them on my menu plan for next week. Your recipe sounds so good. I will have to pass it along to my friend who has celiac.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Please do!!! You're tummy will thank you 😉
Heather
Oh my these look amazing! I can't wait to try them out and then zing this recipe over to my mom - she's always looking for interesting recipes. 🙂 The last time I had onion rings...hmmm. Probably before my youngest was born! I get crazy heartburn during pregnancy, so nothing fried, greasy, acidic, salty...basically anything with flavor... is off limits when the bun's in the oven. BOOOOO. Good thing the result is an adorable baby 😉 Back to the point...it's been about 2.5 years! And, I, of course, agree that the only dipping sauce for this amazing food is KETCHUP! 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
And there's no grease or worry here 😉 Haha! Yay ketchup!!!!! Mare than just a "dip" 😉
Jess @hellotofit
I loooove onion rings - my dad used to take us to Fuddruckers for burgers and onion rings as a treat. Oh and a milkshake! And KETCHUP.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
OMG!!!! We used to go there!!!! Although...I don't know if I ever got onion rings 😛
Danielle @ Poor and Gluten Free
Oooh I love onion rings, and I love blue cornmeal - it has such a neat almost sweet flavour to it. These look AMAZING, I'd totally gobble them up with BBQ or plum sauce.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
That's the flavor! Yea! Blue cornmeal does taste a bit different from yellow!
kimmythevegan
I'm not a huge onion fan - but I like the sound of these, especially this lightened up version of onion rings. And so pretty!
I'm curious to see what your take on a bloomin' onion is 😉
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, I know...I need to try that next 😉
Katerina @ Diethood
I love onion rings! Those would be destroyed in minutes if I was standing over them! 😀
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Hahahaha, then I say make triple batches 😉
Sabrina
I love onion rings! I'm excited to try these and see how well they live up to the fried version!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, they do 😉
Farrah
I've been super-craving onion rings lately for no apparent reason--I've never tried making em' on my own before though because I fail at life at frying things. Baked sounds so much better, and these look awesome! :]
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yay for random cravings!!! Haha! Baked is always better...I would never fry anything anyway 😛
Joy @ Joy Love Food
We love onion rings at my house, your healthy baked version with the blue cornmeal sounds wonderful!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you!
Cynthia @craftoflaughter
I have never made onion rings at home and I'm not sure why! I love that yours are baked, I'll have to try your recipe out! Thanks for sharing
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I hope you give it a try then!
T Austin
My son absolutely loves onion rings!! I'll have to give these a try for sure!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
You can feel good giving them too him now too!
Sonali- The Foodie Physician
I love making baked onion rings with panko but using that blue cornmeal is such a neat idea! My daughter would love the color 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, I wish they were bluer/purpler!
Nadia's Healthy Kitchen
I don't have much experience with onion rings. I did try them a few weeks ago when I was out with family. They were so greasy and heavy, put me right off! These however sound so light and delicious 😀 love that you baked them instead of frying 🙂 would love to try this recipe!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Totally try this baked homemade version!! The perfect "health" comfort food! So much better than anything fried!
Linda @ Veganosity
I need to make these for my onion ring obsessed husband. These look so much better than fried o rings.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
They are 100000x better 😉
Harriet Emily
I am obsessed with onion rings, they're so delicious! I love how you've made a healthy alternative, that's such a great idea! These look so delicious Rebecca! <3
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you so much dear!
Amber
Wow! These look so great! I love homemade onion rings!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you!
Andi
Wow! These are so interesting, I have never seen anything like these before. Are there local restaurants that serve these where you got your inspiration. They look so unique!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks!
Cakespy
I am an onion ring FIEND, and I live in the blue corn belt (kidding - but it is used a lot in New Mexican cuisine). OMG, these need to happen soon!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Let me know if you try them!
Sarah
I like onion rings but hate how greasy they are, can't wait to try these!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Zero grease here!
Michele @ paleorunningmomma
I had onion ring at diners mostly growing up, but they always made me so sick! I generally try to stay away from onions now, although cooked long and slow, like caramelized, is so yummy and easier on my stomach. I'd love to try a homemade crunchy version though - delish 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
O I know! I couldn't handle many of these...but o it was a lovely taste!
kristy @ the wicked noodle
omgosh, I ADORE onion rings and these look AMAZING!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you!!
Michelle Liew
Looks like one I might try!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
You should 😉
Sina @ Vegan Heaven
This is so creative, Rebecca! 🙂 I really need to try them!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
They would go great with those jackfruit sandwiches 😉
Trish
These look great! I try to avoid fried food and like that these are baked.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Baked is always the way to go!
Laura
So awesome!!! I have a recipe for baked onion rings that uses cornmeal, but I have never tried it with blue cornmeal. I think I'll have to give it a try. Thanks for the inspiration! (as always:)
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Blue is best 😉 Hahahaha! Thanks Laura!
Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner
Wow crazy creative! Can't remember the last time I had them either.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, well time to change that!
Shashi at RunninSrilankan
The last time I ate onion rings is when I brought home a packet of Alexia onion rings a few months ago - I've never had them coated with blue cornmeal before but it sounds wonderful, Rebecca! So creative!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Totally try some homemade ones! So much better!
Annmarie
I don't eat onion rings often but these do look yummy!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Well now you should!
Natalie | Feasting on Fruit
The ketchup!!!!! But see here I totally agree. The perfect, necessary, can't live without condiment! I wouldn't dream of dipping onion rings in anything else! "The largest blob" 😀 lol On my plate it would be the only blob! And I'm glad you finally see reason with the cereal example...ketchup is NOT meant for everything. We'll discuss this further on Wednesday I'm sure 😉
And the blue purple issue is funny though, it's like purple is the jealous color in the food world and just keeps stealing blue's spotlight. Purple you have carrots and potatoes and cabbage, leave blue alone!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Hahahaha! I think I should make a "tomato" based cereal which would mimic ketchup. Like a sweet tomato (ketchup) basil cereal..or wait...no.... GRANOLA! That would work!
Maybe since blue is associated with sadness, purple takes over since food can't ever be sad!
Natalie | Feasting on Fruit
Aww I love that explanation 🙂
Bianca @ ElephantasticVegan
First of all those look delicious! And yes.. they're definitely more purple than blue but I love the color. I think purple is prettier than blue anyhow 🙂 I've never had a blooming onion but they look so pretty. I only saw a version where they would be fried and I don't want to waste that much oil so either there's healthier version or I eat it ouside somewhere or never at all 😀 I love onion rings though.. the last time was 2 weeks ago when I was at a vegan burger place in Vienna and they had to-die-for onion rings.. but to be fair.. everything I tried there was to die for. I love to dip onion rings in garlicy sauces 😀
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Just like purple sweet potatoes, purple cauliflower, purple asparagus, etc 😉
Frying things is such a waste of oil! Hahahaha!
Sounds pretty bangin' 😉 A garlicy sauce sounds pretty nice too!
Jennifer F
Uh, I had onion rings last week with my dad . . . ya know, he wanted them and I was there to provide support! Yours look great!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, what kind of daughter would you be if not 😉
Rachel @ Athletic Avocado
omg I love onion rings! These look amazing!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks Rachel!