Crispy Sourdough Discard Onion Rings – Fried In Beef Tallow

ByLaRee Colburn

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There is nothing better than crispy onion rings, but sourdough onion rings fried in beef tallow?  Let me just tell you right now, they are one of the best things you will EVER eat!!  I wanted to make onion rings one day and had this crazy idea that onions breaded in sourdough discard might be good, and I was right!!  Whenever I make these, I cannot make enough of them.  And they are even really good leftover, believe it or not!!  The sourdough discard can be seasoned with your favorite spices, and they cook up on the onions in a beautiful, crunchy crispy ring.  Once you eat sourdough onion rings, you’ll never want to eat regular onion rings again.  There’s something about the subtle tang of the sourdough starter fried in beef tallow and the onion that is unforgettable.  We like to serve these alongside a juicy burger with fresh pickles in the summertime.  It’s literally the best!!

plate of sourdough onion rings by towel
delicious plate of sourdough onion rings

Cooking With Beef Tallow

I use beef tallow in place of most all other oils in my kitchen.  It has a very high smoke point so it’s perfect for frying, baking or roasting almost anything.  It’s also a healthy fat which is much better for you than seed oils like canola oil or vegetable oil.  It’s also a fat that we can produce on our own homestead from our home raised beef so it’s not only high quality, but it’s low cost as well.  Learn how to render your own tallow here.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • This recipe is quick and easy to throw together.
  • These are the best onion rings you’ll ever eat.  Better than any restaurant!
  • These onion rings can be seasoned many different ways
  • Leftover fries?  No problem, they are delicious cold or they reheat beautifully in the oven.
  • A great way to use up extra discard
  • These onions rings make the perfect side dish for any recipe

Ingredients

  • Onions – I like to grow a large amount of sweet onions in my garden every year, and then use them to make these delicious onion rings all year long. These onion rings are good when made out of yellow onions, red onions or white onions.  Just use whatever you have.
  • Sourdough starter discard – it’s really the same thing and I try to keep a lot of it in my refrigerator.  Inactive sourdough starter or discard works the best, because active starter doesn’t stick to the onion rings as well. 
  • Beef tallow – if you don’t have any beef tallow you can use coconut oil.  Just be sure to use an oil designed for cooking at high temperatures.
    Seasonings of your choice – salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, ranch seasoning, etc.

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Tools

  • Mixing bowl
  • Cutting board
  • Sharp knife
  • Cast Iron Skillet

Favorite Sourdough Recipes:

How to Make This Simple Sourdough Onion Rings Recipe

Preheat your cast iron skillet over medium heat and add beef tallow to skillet until it’s approximately 1/2 inch deep.

Using a cutting board and a sharp knife, slice the onions crossways and then separate the onion slices into rings.  

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slicing up onion rings

In a small mixing bowl, combine sourdough discard and spices.  It should be the texture of a thin pancake batter.

adding sourdough starter to bowl

Dip each onion ring into the sourdough batter and place ring into the pre-heated skillet with the hot oil.

dipping onion rings into sourdough batter

Fry until they are golden brown on the first side, approximately 5 minutes.  Adjust your heat as necessary to regulate the temperature of the oil.

Using a fork or a spatula flip the onion rings over and fry on the second side.

frying sourdough onion ring in beef tallow

Once the onion rings are fried to a golden perfection, remove them to a platter.

Continue frying more onion rings until you have fried them all.  Make more onion ring batter as needed.

Serve alongside your favorite burgers or hot dogs with ketchup or ranch dressing.

Store leftover onion rings in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.

sourdough onion ring up close

Tips

  • If you don’t have access to beef tallow, use coconut oil or avocado oil.
  • You will actually get quite a few onion rings out of an onion.
  • Use any of your favorite seasonings in the sourdough discard, just make sure it has salt.
  • It’s best to cut your onions into thicker rings, so you will have substantial onion rings.
  • If you have leftover sourdough starter from a baking project, make these sourdough onion rings

More Recipes Like This

sourdough onion ring up close

Sourdough Discard Crispy Onion Rings – Fried In Beef Tallow

There is nothing better than crispy onion rings, but sourdough onion rings fried in beef tallow?  Let me just tell you right now, they are one of the best things you will EVER eat!!  I wanted to make onion rings one day and had this crazy idea that onions breaded in sourdough discard might be good, and I was right!!  
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Serving Size 4 people

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Just enter your email and get it sent to your inbox! Plus you’ll get new recipes and homesteading tips from us every week!

Equipment

  • 1 mixing bowl
  • 1 cutting board
  • 1 sharp knife
  • 1 cast iron skillet

Ingredients

  • 1 large Onion
  • 1 cup sourdough discard
  • 1/2 tsp. garlic salt
  • 1/2 tsp. pepper

Instructions

  • Preheat your cast iron skillet over medium heat and add beef tallow to skillet until it's approximately 1/2 inch deep.
  • Using a cutting board and a sharp knife, slice the onions crossways and then separate the onion slices into rings.  
  • In a small mixing bowl, combine sourdough discard and spices.  It should be the texture of a thin pancake batter.
  • Dip each onion ring into the sourdough batter and place ring into the pre-heated skillet with the hot oil.
  • Fry until they are golden brown on the first side, approximately 5 minutes.  Adjust your heat as necessary to regulate the temperature of the oil.
  • Using a fork or a spatula flip the onion rings over and fry on the second side.
  • Once the onion rings are fried to a golden perfection, remove them to a platter.
  • Repeat steps 4 through 7 until you have fried the remaining onion rings.  Make more onion ring batter as needed.
  • Serve alongside your favorite burgers or hot dogs with ketchup or ranch dressing.
  • Store leftover onion rings in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Notes

  • If you don’t have access to beef tallow, use coconut oil or avocado oil.
  • You will actually get quite a few onion rings out of an onion.
  • Use any of your favorite seasonings in the sourdough discard, just make sure it has salt.
  • It’s best to cut your onions into thicker rings, so you will have substantial onion rings.
  • If you have leftover sourdough starter from a baking project, make these sourdough onion rings

I'm a homeschool Mom of 5, living out my dreams of growing a simple, sustainable life on our Nebraska homestead. I'm passionate about gardening, preserving, cooking from scratch and baking with sourdough. I enjoy milking Jersey cows and making our own dairy products. Come along with me as I share with you the skills you'll need to be successful at homesteading and frugal living.

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