While deep frying is definitely a warranted cooking method, sometimes you don’t want to use that much oil, and/or you aren’t frying a large amount of anything.

It’s this time when I “fake” the deep fry, and use a cast iron pan, and shallow fry in avocado oil. You only need enough oil to come up about 1/4 of an inch to the sides of your pan.

This is the perfect method to fry something like onion rings, which aren’t particularly thick, and only need a few minutes per side to fully cook.

Ingredients:

1 red onion, thinly sliced in rounds

1 cup flour

1 cup beer, I use an ipa

1 tsp salt

1 tsp paprika

1 tsp trader joes onion salt

1/2 tsp white pepper

avocado oil

finishing salt

Directions:

Heat enough avocado oil to come up 1/4 inch from the bottom of your cast iron skillet, on medium high. You’ll know when it’s ready, when you drop a bit of the batter into the oil and it starts bubbling.

In a large bowl combine flour, beer, and spices.

Coat onion rings in batter.

Working in batches, “fry” each ring, turning over once the first side is golden brown. Remove rings when throughly golden brown about 3-5 minutes total, and let drain on paper towel, sprinkling with finishing salt.