Beer Battered Onion Rings and Buttermilk Ranch Dressing

We’re looking down the barrel at Father’s Day so it’s time to start thinking about beer and bow ties and burly dudes with beards bouncing babies on their laps, right?

It’s hard for me to pin down the right Father’s Day celebration.  My dad is unique, he likes classic literature, pie, gossip, and emojis.  It’s like… what do you get the man that already has everything?  Seriously.

Mother’s Day celebrations seem easier.  I’m pretty sure most moms just want a mimosa and a little peace a quiet.  Dads are more of a wildcard.

Can onion rings be the answer?  I’m pretty sure the answer is HECK YES, because I’ve never seen anyone (beard or not) walk away from homemade onion rings and ranch dressing.

Let’s start with Buttermilk Ranch Dressing because onion rings must be dipped, on the real on the reg.

I mean… we can do it for the dads.

We’re mixing up a pretty simple ranch dressing.  The base: mayonnaise and buttermilk.

Sure, some people have a mayonnaise aversion, but it really does add a lot of the distinctive ranch-y flavor to the dressing.  Buttermilk masks and loosens any overpowering mayo flavor.

Fresh herbs are key!  I used fresh parsley, fresh mint, and a big handful of chopped green onion.  We mustn’t forget the garlic, salt, pepper, and hot sauce.  I like how the vinegar in the hot sauce cuts through the creaminess.

It’s great to make the dressing before the onion rings.  The flavors need time to settle in the fridge.

Onion rings are super easy to make.  Like… it could be a problem, they’re so easy.

Flour is combined with cornstarch.  Onions are sliced thick.  Beer is cracked open!

Seasoning is key.  I chose salt, pepper, and chili powder.

We’re making a beer batter!

I chose a blonde beer and slowly drizzled it into the dry ingredients, first creating a smooth paste then creating a thickish batter.

Think: pancake batter consistency.

The onions go for a beer batter bath followed promptly by a hot oil bath.

Fried!  We’re so bad.  We’re so good.

Chilled Buttermilk Ranch Dressing, extra flakey sea salt, lemon wedges, more black pepper, and freshly fried onion rings!

Call everyone and pull up a stool!

These onion rings are tender, lightly coated, crispy, and flavorful.  The beer adds a welcome depth and bite to the batter.  I hope that these delicious rings meet up with a grilled hot dog in your near future.  A perfect summer (and conveniently dad-pleasing) treat!