How To Make Crispy Deep-Fried Onions (Air fryer Option)
Learn how to make crispy, golden-brown deep-fried onions at home using just 2 ingredients.Perfect for adding a flavorful crunch to biryani, korma, pulao, dal,soups or salads.
Ingredients
- 500 g onion use yellow or red onion
- 2-3 cup oil for deep frying, use any neutral oil for frying
Instructions
CUT ONIONS FOR MAKING BIRISTA
- Start by peeling the onions and trimming off the root ends.
- It is best to cut onion into half lengthwise from stem side to root side. Rest one half on the chopping board, flat side down.
- Using a sharp knife, slice each half into half moons, thinly (but not very thin else they will break down in hot oil). Aim for uniform slices, about ? inch thick. This helps them cook evenly and become crispy.
- Gently separate the onion slices into individual pieces. This ensures that the onions are not clumping to each other which leads to steaming rather that crispy slices.
MAKE DEEP FRIED ONIONS
- Place a wide mouthed, deep heavy bottom pan (I use 8 inch cast iron skillet) or a kadai (indian wok works great too) on stove top. Pour enough oil so that the onion slices will submerge. Keep in mind that the larger your, the more oil you will need.
- Heat the oil over medium heat until it reaches around 350°F (175°C). You can test the oil temperature by dropping a small piece of onion into it—if it sizzles immediately, the oil is ready. Make sure that the onion should not be smoking or change color immediately.
- Add a portion of onion slices to the hot oil. Do not overcrowd else the onions will not crisp up. Gently stir the onions from time time using a slotted spoon to ensure even cooking and prevent clumping
- Deep fry the onions until they turn golden brown and crispy. This usually takes 6-8 minutes per batch, but the timing can vary depending on the thickness of the slices and the oil temperature.
- Use a slotted spoon to remove the fried onions from the oil and place them on a plate or tray lined with tissue paper or paper towels to drain excess oil. Avoid placing a freshly fried batch on top of a previously cooled batch.Keep in mind to remove the onions from the hot oil before they turn dark in color, as they will continue to brown for a few minutes after being taken out. Repeat the remaining batches.
- Allow the fried onions to cool completely. They will continue to crisp up as they cool. Once cooled completely, store them in an airtight container to keep them crispy. These deep fried onions are shelf stable for 6-8 weeks, however I prefer to store them in freezer to avoid oil getting smelly.Tip - If desired, strain the leftover oil and you could use the leftover oil in cooking savory dishes. Most of the times, I use the oil in cooking biryani.
AIR FRIED CRISPY ONIONS
- Place onion slices in a larger bowl, add 1 tablespoon of oil and massage gently to coat. Be careful not to use too much oil, just enough to lightly coat the onions.
- Set your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) and preheat for about 3-5 minutes.Spread the onions in a single layer on the air fryer basket in a single layer. For reference I used inbuilt air fryer in my toaster oven.
- Air fry the onions for 8-10 minutes, shaking the basket or mixing the onions after every 5 minutes in between to ensure even cooking. Gently stir the onions using a rubber spatula in between.
- Reduce the temperature to 320F (160C) and air fry again for total of 8-10 minutes, mixing every 4-5 minutes using a spatula.Please keep an eye on them towards the end of the cooking time, as they can quickly go from crispy to burnt.
- Once the onions are golden brown and crispy, remove them from the air fryer basket and spread on a paper towel lined tray to cool. They will become crispier and darketr as they cool down. Store in an airtight container to keep them crunchy.
Video
Notes
- Use fried onions while layering biryani and pulao.
- Grind them with yogurt or crush with hands and use while making sauces for paneer korma or chicken korma.
- Birista onions are delicous topping for dal, soups and salads.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!