Tobacco Onions - An Onion Side Dish Recipe | Greedy Gourmet (2024)

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- By Michelle Minnaar
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A ridiculously tasty side, tobacco onions are so much more than a standard onion dish. Like onion rings but with a whole new level of flavour, just one mouthful and you’ll be hooked.

Tobacco Onions - An Onion Side Dish Recipe | Greedy Gourmet (1)

They’re certainly as addictive as their namesake, but without the downside. So, fry up these bad boys and dig in. Once you get a taste you’ll be reaching for more.

Items you’ll need for this recipe

  • Deep fat fryer – deep frying the onions will get them extra crispy.
  • Deep frying pan – you could also use a deep frying pan.
  • Vegetable oil – vegetable oil is the best oil to use for this recipe.
  • Mixing bowl – you’ll need two mixing bowls: one for coating the onions in flour and the other to prepare the spice mix
  • Plain flour – you’ll need to dust the onions in flour to get that nice crispy texture.
  • Paper towels – you’ll need to use paper towels to remove excess grease.
  • Cayenne peppercayenne pepper gives these crispy tobacco onions an earthy flavor.
  • Sweet paprika – sweet paprika also brings a nice earthy spiciness.
  • Garlic granules – add some garlic granules to make this crispy side extra tasty.
Tobacco Onions - An Onion Side Dish Recipe | Greedy Gourmet (2)

Recipe for tobacco onions

This tobacco onion recipe is so simple you’ll be wondering why you’ve never tried it before. Well, better late than never!

A smokin’ side dish that’s made up of a few simple ingredients, crispy tobacco onions go perfectly on the plate alongside steak, burgers, chops – pretty much any kind of rich tasty meat dish will be taken to new heights by tobacco fried onions.

Making this recipe is so simple. It’s just a matter of heating the oil in the fryer - or saucepan if you haven’t got one - finely slicing the onions, coating them in the delicious seasoning mix and deep frying them until crispy and golden brown.

Tobacco Onions - An Onion Side Dish Recipe | Greedy Gourmet (3)

What are tobacco onions?

So, they look and sound great, but what are they? They are crispy deep fried onions, seasoned with a few spices, salt, pepper and sometimes garlic.

Why are they called tobacco onions?

The name was coined as far back as the 1980s by famous chef Dean Fearing. While working at the Mansion restaurant on Turtle Creek in Dallas, Texas, he named the recipe because the curly, brown, dried onions looked like dried tobacco leaves.

How do you store tobacco onions?

If you have leftovers, you can keep them in the fridge for around 3–5 days. Just keep them in an airtight container, for extra freshness.

How do you reheat tobacco onions?

To reheat leftovers, preheat the oven to 190°C / fan 170°C / 375°F / gas mark 5. The heat for 10-15 minutes, or until properly heated through.

What goes well with tobacco onions?

  • Sous vide beef cheeks – a melt in your mouth beef recipe that will taste amazing with this side dish.
  • Beef fillet with garlic and mushroom butter – another mouthwatering side that will taste incredible with these smoky onions.
  • Minted lamb burgers – a supremely tasty burger dish that will taste even better with smoky fried onions on the side.
  • Lamb noisettes with rosemary sauce – a stunning lamb dish that would pair fantastically well with this smokin’ side.
  • Butternut and chickpea burger – pair this crispy side with a delicious butternut and chickpea burger for an incredible vegetarian meal.
  • Roast marrow - to add some greens to your plate.
  • Parmentier potatoes - no one can say no to herby, crispy potatoes!
  • Rosemary potatoes - hasselback new potatoes cooked with olive oil, garlic and rosemary until golden and crispy.
  • Salt and pepper chips - Crispy homemade fries tossed with a flavorful blend of salt, pepper, and other seasonings, perfect for a delicious snack or side dish.
Tobacco Onions - An Onion Side Dish Recipe | Greedy Gourmet (4)

More onion recipes

  • Caramelised onions – an amazing dish with a rich, sweet flavour.
  • Balsamic onions – this sweet tangy side goes with everything from cheese to pate, or as a delicious burger topping.

Perfect dip accompaniments

  • pakora sauce
  • harissa aioli
  • cucumber raita
  • chilli and lime yoghurt dip
  • tzatziki
  • cacik

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📖 Recipe

Tobacco Onions - An Onion Side Dish Recipe | Greedy Gourmet (5)

Tobacco Onions

★★★★★5 from 1 review
  • Author: Michelle Minnaar
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Diet: Vegetarian
Print Recipe

Description

Tobacco Onions comprise a sliced large onion soaked in buttermilk. Drenched in a spicy flour mixture it is then fried until golden and crispy. Perfect for dipping!

Ingredients

UnitsScale

Instructions

  1. Soak the onion rings in the buttermilk for at least 30 minutes, preferably 1 hour if time permits.
  2. Drain the onions in a colander.
  3. Mix the flour, sugar, chilli, garlic, coffee, cumin, coriander and salt in a large mixing bowl.
  4. Heat the oil in a large, heavy bottomed pot to 190°C/375°F using a kitchen thermometer. You can test it by placing the end of a wooden spoon into the oil. If bubbles form around the stick and float up, it’s ready.
  5. Toss multiple onions rings at a time in the flour mixture and lower them gently into the bubbling oil and push the onion away from you to prevent dangerous splattering.
  6. Fry until crispy and golden brown, which would take about 2-3 minutes.
  7. Lift the onions out with a slotted spoon and drain on kitchen paper towels.
  8. Continue to fry the onions in batches until everything is finished. Tip: you can keep the fried onions warm by placing in the oven at a low temperature.
  9. Serve immediately with ketchup or your favourite dips, such harissa aioli. Enjoy!

Notes

  • Find the absolute largest onion you can find, roughly weighing about 450g (1lbs). If you can’t get hold of one, use two medium ones.
  • For a gluten-free version, use rice flour instead of all-purpose flour.
  • You can reuse the buttermilk for other applications, such as for a marinade base or for tenderizing purposes.
  • If you have a wok, you can use it instead of the pot.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Category: Side Dish
  • Method: Deep Fry
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: tobacco onions, crispy onion rings, spicy onion rings, onion side dish, deep friend onions

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Reader Interactions

Comments

    Make my day! - Share your thoughts...

  1. Dan

    Made these for the first time last. Delicious, better than restaurant.

    Reply

  2. Rob

    I had never thought to use onions this way, taste was absolutely flawless thanks Michelle

    Reply

    • Michelle Minnaar

      Thanks Rob! Try them with burgers or potatoes, both work very well with these!

      Reply

  3. Keira Ball

    WOW. Quick and tasty dish.

    Reply

Tobacco Onions - An Onion Side Dish Recipe | Greedy Gourmet (2024)

FAQs

Why are they called tobacco onions? ›

They are originally known as 'tobacco onions' due to the strands of onion resembling tobacco. They are the perfect complement to any meal and can also be eaten as a snack.

How many calories are in a tobacco onion? ›

Table of Nutritional Information
100g contains:1/4 (19g) of a pack contains:
Energy: kJ/kcal2270/ 546431/ 103
Fat39.7g7.5g
of which saturates2.8g0.5g
Carbohydrates43.1g8.1g
6 more rows

What can I do with a ton of green onions? ›

Green Onion Recipes
  1. 1 / 34. Make Scallion Pancakes. ...
  2. 2 / 34. Add Scallions to Mashed Potatoes. ...
  3. 3 / 34. Toss Scallions into Kimchi Fried Rice. ...
  4. 4 / 34. Make Scallion Fried Eggs. ...
  5. 5 / 34. Top off Potato Soup. ...
  6. 6 / 34. Upgrade Your Typical Tuna Salad Sandwich. ...
  7. 7 / 34. Make These Easy Garlic Noodles. ...
  8. 8 / 34.

Why do all recipes start with onions? ›

It's because onions really form the bedrock of our cooking. They are often the first thing that goes in the pan, and they are the flavor base for everything from chicken soup to a quick weeknight skillet pasta.

Do tobacco onions contain tobacco? ›

Tobacco onions are deep-fried crispy onion slices that have been seasoned with cayenne pepper for a darker color. There is no tobacco involved! They're served on burgers or with steak in lots of English and Irish pubs. They are also delicious on top of salads and soups.

Where do tobacco onions come from? ›

These moreish crispy onions, often referred to as 'tobacco onions' and made from freshly sliced onion, coated in seasoned flour and cooked in rapeseed oil. They are the perfect complement to many meals, salads or sandwiches and also be eaten as a snack.

Can you reheat tobacco onions? ›

How to Reheat: Place them on a rack on a sheet tray and bake them in the oven at 350° for 6 to 8 minutes or until crunchy and warm. The oil I prefer to use for frying is avocado oil. You can cook these onions until deep dark brown for intense roasted onion flavors.

Does tobacco have any nutritional value? ›

Tobacco is surprisingly nutritious—but it's also toxic in its pure state, which is why throughout its history, humans have been more interested in the plant as something to smoke rather than something to eat. Native Americans discovered the psychoactive effects of nicotine relatively early in human history.

Does tobacco have carbs? ›

The bulk of the processed tobacco leaf before fermentation consists of carbohydrates (about 50%) and proteins. Fermentation of cured tobacco causes the contents of carbohydrates and polyphenols in the leaves to diminish.

Can you eat the big green sprouts of an onion? ›

Unlike potatoes, where the mature plant is toxic to humans, all parts of an onion are safe to eat. So you don't need to worry when you see green sprouts poking out of your produce. In fact, you don't even need to remove them. Onion sprouts not the same as scallions or green onions, but they taste pretty darn similar.

Can you eat the green tops of growing onions? ›

If you find an onion with the long greens still attached (mostly in spring), don't throw those greens away! They have a lovely mild onion flavor and you can use them just as you would use a scallion. Chop them up and mix them with Neufchâtel cream cheese to spread on a cracker or add them to fresh salsa.

Why are green onions expensive? ›

Green onions often became rotten and the production decreased by 30-40%. Besides, in the rainy season, green onions easily get diseases, so people reduce cultivation compared to the dry season.

Why do chefs break an onion? ›

How do professional chefs chop onions? Smashing an onion is said to be one of the fastest ways to peel an onion. And when you work fast around this sharp-smelling vegetable, you're also lessening the chances of you crying over your chopping board.

Why do you soak onions before cooking? ›

Onions - soaking in cold water to soften the flavor

When preparing raw onions, soak in cold water before hand to remove some of the pungency and soften the flavor. However since soaking too long will dilute the flavor, soaking in cold water for 5 to 10 minutes is recommended. Squeeze out excess water before using.

What cuisine does not use onion? ›

The Jain cuisine is completely lacto-vegetarian and also excludes root and underground vegetables such as potato, garlic, onion etc., to prevent injuring small insects and microorganisms; and also to prevent the entire plant getting uprooted and killed.

Why is tobacco called tobacco? ›

The name tobacco was originally applied to the plant in error. In fact this term referred to the cane pipe, called a tabaco or tavaco, with two branches for the nostrils, which was used by the Native Americans for sniffing tobacco smoke.

What is the Devil's onion? ›

Allium diabolense, common name serpentine onion or devil's onion is a species of wild onion endemic to central California, where it is known from the Coast Ranges and the Transverse Ranges.

How did Bermuda onions get their name? ›

They are valued for their low sulfur content and mild flavor. As their name suggests, the Bermuda onion gained its popularity from the island of the same name, but the seeds were originally brought over from the Canary Islands before 1888. Varieties include Yellow Bermuda, White Bermuda and Crystal Wax.

What are 5 nicknames for tobacco? ›

Related Words
  • cancer stick.
  • cig.
  • coffin nail.
  • fa*g.
  • smoke.
  • tobacco.
Apr 8, 2024

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