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    Home » Recipes » Appetizers

    Crispy Cajun Onion Strings with Spicy Dipping Sauce

    By Chula King · July 17, 2021 · Updated March 8, 2022 5 Comments

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    Crispy Cajun Onion Strings

    Crispy Cajun Onion Strings with Spicy Dipping Sauce are as easy to make as they are addictive to eat. The Onion Strings are amazing on their own and delicious when piled high on a juicy burger or as a crunchy topping for your favorite casserole. The Spicy Dipping Sauce is equally amazing and perfect for not only the Onion Strings, but also as a condiment for your favorite burger or sandwich.

    Crispy Cajun Onion Strings

    Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

    Table of Contents

    • Why You Should Make These Onion Strings
    • Ingredients for Crispy Cajun Onion Strings with Spicy Dipping Sauce
    • Making the Spicy Dipping Sauce
    • Preparing the Ingredients for the Crispy Cajun Onion Strings
    • Frying the Crispy Cajun Onion Strings
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Other Cajun Appetizer Recipes

    Why You Should Make These Onion Strings

    There are a lot of reasons that you should consider making these delicious Crispy Cajun Onion Strings: 

    First, you probably already have the required ingredients, so why are you waiting?

    Second, the onion strings are super simple to make, requiring only four simple steps: 

    • Cut the onions very thinly
    • Soak the onions in seasoned buttermilk
    • Coat the onions in seasoned flour
    • Fry the onion strings to crispy perfection

    Third, the onion strings are a perfect appetizer for any occasion, especially when paired with the Spicy Dipping Sauce.

    Fourth, turn an ordinary burger into an extraordinary masterpiece with a heaping topping of the onion strings.

    Finally, take your steaks, pork chops, salads, casseroles, baked potatoes, etc., to the next level with a sprinkling of onion strings on top.

    Ingredients for Crispy Cajun Onion Strings with Spicy Dipping Sauce

    I used the following ingredients for the Crispy Cajun Onion Strings: Sweet onions, buttermilk, Cajun Seasoning, all-purpose flour, cornmeal, Kosher salt, and peanut oil for frying.

    Ingredients for onion stings.

    For the Spicy Dipping Sauce, I used sour cream, mayonnaise, Cajun Seasoning, lemon juice, Creole mustard, hot sauce, and garlic.

    Ingredients for Spicy Dipping Sauce

    Making the Spicy Dipping Sauce

    First, I made the Spicy Dipping Sauce since it needed time in the refrigerator for the flavors to blend.

    I added all of the ingredients in a bowl and whisked to combine everything. Then, I covered the bowl with plastic wrap and put it in the refrigerator. It doesn’t get much easier than that!

    Whisking ingredients together for spicy dipping sauce.

    Preparing the Ingredients for the Crispy Cajun Onion Strings

    The first thing that I did was to peel the onions and thinly slice them using my mandoline slicer. I could have also used my food processor or a sharp knife.

    Cutting onions with mandoline.

    Then, I separated the rings and put the onions in a large bowl. Next, I added some of the Cajun Seasoning to the onions and gave them a toss.

    Adding cajun seasoning to onions.

    Finally, I added the buttermilk and stirred to combine all of the ingredients. I let the onions sit in the buttermilk mixture for about 30 minutes.

    Adding buttermilk to the onions.

    While the onions were “marinating”, I combined the flour, cornmeal, salt, and Cajun Seasoning in a bowl.

    Then, I decided that it would be easier to coat the onions if I put the flour mixture in a Ziploc bag, which I did. If I had thought about it before, I would have just put all of the ingredients in the Ziploc bag to start with!

    Adding cajun seasoning to remaining dry ingredients.

    Frying the Crispy Cajun Onion Strings

    When it was time to cook the Crispy Cajun Onion Strings, I heated the oil to 375°F.

    Once the oil had reached temperature, I removed some of the onions from the buttermilk and let the excess liquid drip off. Then, I placed them in the flour mixture in the Ziploc bag and gave the bag a shake to coat the onions.

    Transferring the onions to the flour mixture in Ziploc bag.

    Next, I removed some of the onions from the flour mixture and gave them a shake to remove the excess flour. I added the onions to the hot oil and cooked them for 2 to 3 minutes until they were golden brown.

    Cooking the onion strings in hot oil.

    When the onions were golden brown, I removed them from the hot oil and transferred them to a paper towel lined plate so that they could drain. Then, I repeated the process until all of the onions had been cooked.

    Draining the onion strings on paper towels.

    I served the Crispy Cajun Onion Strings with the Spicy Dipping Sauce. They were incredible – crispy crunchy with just the right amount of seasonings.

    The Spicy Dipping Sauce was out-of-this-world good. Even the Master Taste Tester was impressed! Yum!

    Cajun onion strings with spicy dipping sauce.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can low fat sour cream be used in the Spicy Dipping Sauce?

    You can definitely use low fat sour cream in the dipping sauce. In fact, that’s what I use!

    What is the purpose of buttermilk in this recipe?

    The buttermilk actually serves two purposes. First, it serves to tame the sharp taste of the onions. Second, it helps to bind the flour mixture to the onion strings.

    Is there a substitute for buttermilk?

    If you don’t have buttermilk, you can make your own by adding 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice to 1 cup of milk.

    Can I use any type of onion in this recipe?

    My preference is to use sweet onions because of their milder taste. However, you can use any yellow or white onion. Remember, though that white onions tend to have a sharper taste than yellow onions.

    What’s the best oil to use in frying the onion strings?

    I like to use peanut oil because of its high temperature tolerance. However, you could also use regular vegetable oil or canola oil. I would recommend against using olive oil since it doesn’t tolerate high heat as well as the other vegetable oils.

    Can you reheat the leftovers?

    Leftover onion strings can be reheated in a preheated 350°F oven for about 5 minutes or until hot.

    Other Cajun Appetizer Recipes

    If you’re a fan of Cajun appetizers, you should definitely check out these amazing recipes:

    • Cajun Sausage Bites with Spicy Dipping Sauce
    • Cajun Pork Boulettes with Spicy Dip

    I first posted this amazing recipe on February 14, 2019 for a Valentine’s treat. Since then, it’s become a family favorite. This is the same great recipe with updated photographs and text.

    I hope you liked this recipe for Crispy Cajun Onion Strings with Spicy Dipping Sauce as much as I do. If so, please consider rating it and leaving a comment. Also, if you’d like to receive notifications of new posts by email, enter your email address in the Subscribe box.

    Thank you so much for visiting Pudge Factor. I hope you’ll come back!

    Recipe

    Crispy Cajun Onion Strings with Spicy Dipping Sauce

    Chula King
    These amazing onion strings can be served as an appetizer, as a side dish, on top of a juicy burger, or as a crunchy topping for your favorite casserole. The Spicy Dipping Sauce is a perfect accompaniment.
    5 from 12 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Resting time 1 hour hr
    Total Time 25 minutes mins
    Course Appetizer, Side Dish
    Cuisine American, Mardi Gras
    Servings 6 servings
    Calories 621 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    Spicy Dipping Sauce

    • 1 cup (8-ounces) sour cream (See Tip 1)
    • ½ cup (4-ounces) mayonnaise
    • 1 Tablespoon Creole mustard
    • 1 ½ teaspoons Cajun Seasoning (See Tip 2)
    • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
    • 1 clove garlic, minced
    • ÂĽ teaspoon hot sauce, or more to taste

    Crispy Cajun Onion Strings

    • 2 large sweet onions (See Tip 3)
    • 2 cups buttermilk
    • 1 Tablespoon Cajun Seasoning, divided (See Tip 2)
    • 2 cups (10-ounces) all-purpose flour
    • 2 Tablespoons cornmeal
    • 2 teaspoons Kosher salt
    • 6 cups vegetable oil (See Tip 4)

    Instructions
     

    Spicy Dipping Sauce

    • Whisk together all dipping sauce ingredients in a bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to blend. Yield: 1 ½ cups.

    Crispy Cajun Onion Strings

    • Peel the onions, and thinly slice. (See Tip 5)
    • Separate the rings in a bowl. Add 1 teaspoon of Cajun Seasoning; toss to coat. Add buttermilk; stir to combine. Allow to sit for at least 30 minutes and up to 1 hour.
    • Combine flour, cornmeal, remaining 2 teaspoons of Cajun Seasoning, and salt in a Ziploc bag. Toss to combine all ingredients.
    • Heat oil to 375°F. Working in batches, remove some of the onions from the buttermilk; allow excess buttermilk to drip off. Add to Ziploc bag with flour; toss to coat. Remove onions from Ziploc bag. Shake off excess flour. 
    • Add coated onion strings hot oil. Fry for 2 to 3 minutes or until the onions are golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Repeat with remaining onions.
    • Serve alone or with Spicy Dipping Sauce. Yield: 6 servings. (See Tip 6)

    Notes

    1. I used reduced fat sour cream.
    2. For the Cajun Seasoning, I used Emeril’s Essence which I always keep on hand.
    3. I like to use sweet onions in this recipe because of their milder taste. However, you can use any yellow or white onion.
    4. I used peanut oil for frying the onion strings. However, you could also use vegetable oil. I wouldn’t, however, recommend using olive oil since it’s not a high temperature oil.
    5. I used a mandoline to slice the onions. 
    6. Onion strings can be kept warm in 225°F oven until ready to serve. Leftover onion strings can be reheated in 350°F oven for five minutes, or until hot.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 621kcalCarbohydrates: 49gProtein: 9gFat: 43gSaturated Fat: 24gCholesterol: 30mgSodium: 1043mgPotassium: 387mgFiber: 2gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 515IUVitamin C: 6.1mgCalcium: 174mgIron: 2.5mg
    Keyword Crispy Cajun Onion Strings, Crispy Onion Strings, Fried Onion Strings
    Tried this recipe? Tag me today!Mention @PudgeFactor or tag #pudgefactor

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    Filed Under: Appetizers, Vegetables

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Will Bolio says

      July 18, 2021 at 9:19 pm

      Can’t wait to try this..sounds delicious!

    2. Sandy Vidlak-Gore says

      August 29, 2021 at 3:56 pm

      5 stars
      I love onion rings but these crispy onion strings were outstanding!

    3. Chula King says

      August 30, 2021 at 12:25 pm

      So glad you liked them!

    4. C. Robertson says

      August 31, 2021 at 6:42 pm

      These are great!! I’ve been looking for onion rings with this kind of coating.

    5. Chula King says

      September 01, 2021 at 9:52 am

      They’re one of my favorites!

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    Chula King is an award-winning photographer and videographer behind Pudge Factor. She’s a professor by day and foodie by night, showcasing her favorite tried and true recipes.

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