Best Crispy Onions Recipes

PIZZA WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS AND CRISPY BACON

Steps:

• Place a pizza stone on the middle rack of the oven and preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
• In a medium size saute pan, add olive oil and heat over medium heat. When the oil is hot, add the bacon and cook until the bacon is very crispy and all of the fat is rendered. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and drain on a paper towel-lined plate. Remove all but 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat from the pan and discard. Place the pan over high heat. Add the onions to the hot bacon fat and cook until the onions are well browned, about 8 to 10 minutes, stirring often. Remove to a paper towel lined plate.
• In a small bowl, combine the mascarpone and farmer's cheeses. Season with nutmeg and black pepper. Reserve.
• On a lightly floured surface, stretch or roll the dough as thinly as possible, about 14 to 15-inch circle. Evenly spread the mascarpone mixture over the dough. Sprinkle with the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, bacon, thyme, and sauteed onion. Bake until the pizza crust is nicely browned, about 8 to 10 minutes.
• Remove pizza from the oven, transfer to a cutting board, cut into slices and serve immediately.
• In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast and honey in 1/4 cup warm water.
• In a food processor, combine the flour and the salt. Add the oil, the yeast mixture, and the remaining 3/4 cup of water and process until the mixture forms a ball. (The pizza dough can also be made in a mixer fitted with a dough hook. Mix on low speed until the mixture comes cleanly away from the sides of the bowl and starts to climb up the dough hook).
• Turn the dough out onto a clean work surface and knead by hand 2 or 3 minutes longer. The dough should be smooth and firm. Cover the dough with a clean, damp towel and let it rise in a cool spot for about 2 hours. (When ready, the dough will stretch as it is lightly pulled).
• Divide the dough into 4 balls, about 6 ounces each. Work each ball by pulling down the sides and tucking under the bottom of the ball. Repeat 4 or 5 times. Then on a smooth, unfloured surface, roll the ball under the palm of your hand until the top of the dough is smooth and firm, about 1 minute. Cover the dough with a damp towel and let rest 1 hour. At this point, the balls can be wrapped in plastic and refrigerated for up to 2 days.

IRON CHEF HOT DOG WITH ONION AND PEPPER RELISH AND CRISPY RED ONIONS

Steps:

• For the relish: Bring the red wine vinegar plus 1/4 cup water to a gentle simmer in a medium saute pan over medium heat. Add the sugar, mustard seeds and coriander seeds. Simmer until the liquid reduces to a syrup consistency and the seeds become tender, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a medium bowl.
• Heat the oil in the same pan over medium heat until it smokes lightly. Add the onions and red pepper and cook over high heat until slightly tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Season with salt. Remove from the heat and add to the reduced vinegar mixture along with the hot sauce and pickles. Stir to blend, then transfer to a bowl and refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to 48 hours.
• For the crispy onions: Heat the oil to 350 degrees F in a medium pot.
• Stir together the flour and paprika in a medium bowl, then add the onion slices and toss to coat. Test the oil by dropping in one onion slice. It should fall to the bottom, begin to bubble, rise to the top and fry gradually. Prepare a baking sheet fitted with a kitchen towel, and get a slotted spoon ready. Shake the excess flour off half of the onions and drop them in the oil. Gently swirl them with the spoon so they fry more evenly on all sides, until they are golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove them with the spoon and lay them out on the kitchen towel to cool. Sprinkle with salt. Repeat with the remaining onions.
• For the hot dogs: Boil or pan-fry? Your choice. (See Cook's Note.) If you want to boil the dogs, place the dogs in a pan with enough simmering water to cover them and gently cook over medium-low heat until fully hot, 8 to 10 minutes. To pan-fry, add them to a little hot oil in a medium saute pan over medium heat until they are golden brown on all sides, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Toast the buns in the toaster or a hot (350 degree F) oven until golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Spread a layer of mustard down the length of the dogs and place them in the buns. Top with hearty helpings of the relish and even layers of the onions all the way down the bun.

STEAK SANDWICHES WITH CRISPY ONIONS

Steps:

• Cut onion into 1/4-in. slices; separate into rings. Place in a large bowl or shallow dish. Add buttermilk; turn to coat. Refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight., In a small bowl, combine cilantro, parsley, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper. Remove 2 tablespoons herb mixture; stir into mayonnaise. Refrigerate until serving. Stir 1/2 cup olive oil into remaining herb mixture. Reserve 2 tablespoons oil mixture for serving. Place remaining oil mixture in a large bowl or shallow dish. Add beef; turn to coat. Refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight., Drain beef, discarding marinade. Grill beef, covered, over medium heat or broil 4 in. from heat until meat reaches desired doneness, 7-9 minutes on each side (for medium-rare, a thermometer should read 135°; medium, 140°; medium-well, 145°)., Meanwhile, drain onion rings, discarding marinade. In a shallow dish, combine flour, taco seasoning and remaining 2 teaspoons salt. Roll onion rings in flour mixture. In an electric skillet or deep-fat fryer, heat 1 in. of oil to 375°. Fry onion rings, a few at a time, until golden brown, 1 to 1-1/2 minutes on each side. Drain on paper towels; keep warm., Remove steak to a cutting board; brush with reserved 2 tablespoons oil mixture. Brush bread with remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil. Grill bread over medium heat until toasted, 30-60 seconds on each side., Spread mayonnaise mixture over 1 side of each toast. Thinly slice steak. Top 6 slices of toast with steak, fried onions and, if desired, arugula and tomato slices. Top with remaining toast.

GREEN BEAN AND MUSHROOM CASSEROLE WITH CRISPY FRIED ONIONS

Steps:

• Make the casserole:
• Preheat oven to 425ºF. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper. Arrange mushrooms and 2 thyme sprigs in a single layer on prepared baking sheets. Drizzle with oil; season with 3/4 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. pepper. Roast mushrooms, stirring once and rotating pan halfway through, until lightly golden, crisp-tender, and liquid is evaporated (watch carefully as cook time can vary between types of mushrooms), 25-35 minutes. Remove sheets from oven and reduce oven temperature to 375ºF.
• Meanwhile, cook green beans in a large pot of boiling generously salted water until crisp-tender, 3-5 minutes. Drain in a colander and rinse under cold water to stop cooking. Drain well, then layer on a rimmed baking sheet with paper towels and pat dry. Wipe pot dry.
• Melt butter over medium-low heat in same pot. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, 5-8 minutes. Stir in flour and cook, stirring occasionally, until aroma is mildly nutty, 4-6 minutes. Add 3 Tbsp. cream and stir well to combine. Repeat twice, then stir in remaining cream, broth, bay leaves, and remaining 2 thyme sprigs. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally and scraping sides of pot, until sauce is the consistency of slightly thickened cream and coats the back of a wooden spoon, about 20 minutes (do not over-reduce). Discard thyme and bay leaves. Stir in zest, 1/2 tsp. salt, and 1/4 tsp. pepper.
• Arrange beans and mushrooms in 3-qt. baking dish. Pour cream sauce over; stir to evenly coat. Bake casserole until sauce is thickened and bubbling around the edges, about 20 minutes.
• Make the fried onion topping:
• Pour oil into a large wide pot or high-sided skillet to a depth of 1/2". Heat over medium-high until hot but not smoking (about 350°F on a deep-fry thermometer). Line a rimmed baking sheet with paper towels.
• Whisk cornmeal, cornstarch, paprika, coriander, and cumin in a large shallow bowl. Toss onion rings in cornstarch mixture to coat.
• Working in batches, fry onion rings, stirring and turning occasionally, until golden and crisp, 2-3 minutes. Using tongs or a slotted spoon, transfer to prepared sheet to drain. Season with salt and pepper while hot.
• Bake the casserole:
• Arrange beans and mushrooms in a 3-quart baking dish. Pour cream sauce over; stir to evenly coat. Bake at 375ºF until sauce is thickened and bubbling around edges, about 20 minutes.
• Top casserole with fried onions and serve warm.
• Do Ahead
• Onions can be fried 1 day ahead. Let cool. Arrange in a flat layer on a paper towel-lined rimmed baking sheet, cover loosely with foil, and store at room temperature.
• Green beans and mushrooms can be cooked 3 days ahead; keep chilled in separate airtight containers. Let come to room temperature before using.

GOLDEN COUSCOUS WITH APRICOTS & CRISPY ONIONS

Steps:

• Boil a kettle. Tip the couscous into a large bowl, crumble in the stock cube, then add the turmeric, cinnamon and apricots, and season well. Pour over 500ml boiling water, give everything a quick stir, then cover with cling film and leave for 5 mins.
• Put half the sliced onions in a bowl with a good pinch of salt and the sugar, pour over enough boiling water to cover and leave to steep for 10 mins. (This will remove some of the onions' acidity and turn them a beautiful bright pink colour.)
• Heat enough oil to come about 5cm up the side of a deep saucepan. Once hot, fry the remaining onions in batches for 1-2 mins until golden and crispy. Drain on kitchen paper and sprinkle with salt.
• Use a fork to fluff up the couscous. Drain the steeped onions and stir through the couscous with the lemon zest and juice, olive oil and herbs. Tip onto a serving platter or bowl and scatter with the crispy onions and mint leaves.

CREAMY BLACK DHAL WITH CRISPY ONIONS

Steps:

• Soak the beans in cold water for 4 hrs (or overnight, if you like).
• Melt the butter or ghee in a large pan, then add the onions, garlic and ginger, and cook slowly for 10-15 mins until the onions are starting to caramelise. Stir in the spices, coriander stalks and 100ml water. Pour into the slow cooker (or leave in the pan if cooking on the hob). Add the passata and whole red chilli. Drain the beans and add these too, then top up with 400ml water. Season well, set the slow cooker to Low and cook for 5-6 hrs (or cover and cook for 2 hrs over a very low heat on the hob).
• Once cooked, the dhal should be very thick and the beans tender. Stir in the cream, check the seasoning and serve in bowls with naan bread, rice or in a jacket potato, with your choice of toppings. To freeze the dhal, cool completely, then divide into containers or sandwich bags. Freeze for up to 2 months, defrost and heat thoroughly before eating.

CRISPY ONIONS

Steps:

• Preheat the deep fat fryer, a stovetop fryer or high sided pot with the recommended amount of oil to 360 degrees. Combine the flour and paprika evenly in a flour sifter and sift into a large bowl. Add the thinly sliced onions to the flour and toss and shake well to coat the onions evenly in seasoned flour. Put the onions into a strainer and shake off any excess flour so that what remains is the thinnest coat possible. Cooking in small batches, put the coated onions in a fryer basket and carefully submerge in the hot oil. Shake the basket to insure even frying and remove from the fryer when the onions have cooked to a deep golden, but not dark brown, color. Continue in this manner until all the onions have been cooked. Season each batch with salt as it's removed from the fryer. Drain on paper toweling.;

CREAMY MASHED POTATOES WITH CRISPY BROWN ONIONS

Steps:

• Fill a large mixing bowl with cold water. With a swivel-bladed vegetable peeler, peel each potato and remove any "eyes," then cut it in quarters with a sharp knife and put in the bowl of water.
• Put the potatoes in a large pot and add cold water to cover them. Salt the water. Over high heat, bring the water to a boil, skimming off foam that rises to the surface; then reduce the heat to maintain a simmer and cook the potatoes just until tender enough to be pierced easily with a skewer or a sharp knife tip.
• While the potatoes are boiling, prepare the onions: In a deep-fryer or a deep, heavy saucepan, heat about 3 inches of oil to 375 degrees F. Lightly dust the onion rings with flour and carefully drop them into the hot oil, cooking them in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding. Fry them until golden, 3 to 5 minutes, removing them with a slotted spoon or wire skimmer to drain on paper towels. Season lightly with salt and keep warm.
• When the potatoes are done, drain them immediately. Using a ricer or a food mill, puree the potatoes into a mixing bowl. Add the nutmeg, 8 tablespoons of the butter, and the hot cream. With a wooden spoon, stir them into the potatoes. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper.
• Mound the potatoes in a heated serving bowl. Put the remaining butter in a saucepan or skillet and, over medium-high heat, melt it and continue cooking just until it turns golden brown. Lightly season the butter with salt and immediately drizzle it over the potatoes.
• Pile the crispy onions on top of the mashed potatoes. Garnish with parsley and serve immediately.

THE ROAST BEAST MASTER WITH CRISPY ONIONS AND CREAMY HORSERADISH SAUCE

Steps:

• For the horseradish sauce: In a bowl, mix the mayonnaise, sour cream, horseradish, honey and Dijon. Season with salt and pepper.
• For the onions: Pour the buttermilk over the onions and let them sit for about 30 minutes.
• Heat 3 inches of oil to 350 degrees F in a medium Dutch oven.
• Whisk together the flour, cayenne, paprika and some salt and pepper. Remove the onions from the buttermilk and toss them in the flour until thoroughly coated. Fry in batches until the batter is golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Let drain on paper towels and season with salt while hot.
• For the sandwich build: On the toasted onion rolls, begin with a slice of Cheddar, pile the meat high, add as many crispy onions as the sandwich will hold and schmear the top bun with a healthy portion of horseradish sauce.

GRILLED CRISPY DUCK STUFFED WITH APPLES AND ONIONS

Steps:

• Cut apples and onions into quarters. Remove seeds from apples and set aside. Rinse duck with cold water and pat dry. Discard giblets and organ meats. Trim all loose fat from the inner cavity. Stuff cavity with apples and onions. Sprinkle duck liberally with salt and pierce skin in several places with a fork.
• Place the duck, breast side up, in a roast holder (which is placed in a drip pan for gas grill) in the center of the cooking grate. Cook 1 1/2 to 2 hours, piercing the underside of the duck every 30 minutes to remove excess fat. When the duck juices run clear, and the internal temperature is 170 to 180 degrees F, remove from grill and let rest for 15 minutes. Remove apples and onions from duck cavity and place on cooking grate to crisp. Serve duck with the grilled apples and onions while still warm.

CRISPY SEARED SNAPPER OVER PICKLED ONIONS WITH TOMATO-BACON FONDUE, YELLOW TOMATO COULIS AND MALANGA TUMBLEWEED

Steps:

• Onions: Thinly slice the onions, and place in a non-reactive dish. Combine the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Pour over onions and let stand for 24 hours.
• Fondue: Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
• Cook the bacon until crispy and fat is rendered. Reserve the bacon and the fat separately. Combine the tomatoes, garlic, 2 ounces of the reserved bacon fat. Roast until the tomatoes are almost dry. Place in the blender, add the goat cheese and puree. Strain through a fine chinois and reserve.
• Yellow Tomato Coulis: Quarter the yellow tomato. Coat with olive oil, salt, and pepper and roast for 20 minutes. Remove and puree in a food processor. Season with salt, pepper, and lemon juice. to taste. Reserve Malanga Tumbleweed: Peel malanga and cut into thin ribbons on a turning slicer. Preheat a deep fryer or a deep pot of oil to 350 degrees F. Fry the malanga until crisp and remove to a paper towel-lined plate. Reserve.
• Basil Oil: Blanch and shock the basil. Wring out in a clean, dry towel. Place in a blender with oil and puree for 1 minute. Let stand for 1 hour and strain. Reserve.
• Season the fish with salt and pepper and lightly dust with flour. Saute, skin side-down, in a very hot pan until skin is crispy. Turn the fish over and finish in the oven.
• Place pickled onions in the center of a plate. Rest 1 piece of fish across the onions, allowing them to peek out. Drizzle with the fondue, coulis, and basil oil. Sprinkle the bacon around the fish and top with fried malanga.

LENTILS WITH WILD RICE & CRISPY ONIONS (KOSHARI)

Steps:

• To make the tomato sauce, in a nonaluminum saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and saute until soft and lightly golden, about 6 minutes. Add the garlic and saute for 1 minute longer; don't let the garlic brown. Stir in the tomato sauce, vinegar, red pepper flakes and salt. When the mixture just begins to bubble, reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• In a saucepan, bring the water to a boil. Add the wild rice and 1/4 teaspoon of the salt. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer until the water is absorbed and the rice is tender, about 45 minutes.
• In a saucepan, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and saute until soft and lightly golden, about 6 minutes. Add the garlic, cumin and cinnamon and saute for 1 minute longer; don't let the garlic brown. Add the stock, lentils and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to low, cover partially and simmer until the lentils are tender but still firm, about 30 minutes.
• While the rice and lentils are cooking, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a nonstick frying pan over medium heat. Add the sliced onion and saute until brown and crispy, about 30 minutes.
• To serve, reheat the tomato sauce gently over medium heat. On a serving platter, spread the lentils in a layer; top with a layer of the rice. Pour the tomato sauce over the rice and top with the onion rings. Garnish with the cilantro.

CRISPY BAKED POTATOES WITH SPRING ONIONS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 140C/120C fan/gas 1. Bake the potatoes for 2 hrs until soft to the middle (alongside the pork is fine).
• Toss the potatoes with the olive oil, most of the spring onions, thyme and plenty of seasoning in a slightly-too-small roasting tin. Use the back of a fish slice or similar to squash the potatoes into a flat-ish compact cake. Chill until ready to finish, for up to a day.
• Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7 (when the pork comes out). Drizzle the spuds with a little more oil and roast for 30-40 mins until golden and crisp. Mix the salad cream and soured cream, drizzle over, then scatter with remaining spring onions and more seasoning, and serve.

CRISPY PORK WITH ASPARAGUS AND PICKLED ONIONS

Steps:

• For the pork: Marinate the pork in the orange juice, lemon juice and garlic in a baking dish in the refrigerator overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 280 degrees F. Remove the pork from the marinade, transfer to a baking dish and cover with foil. Roast until tender, about 4 hours. Let cool until firm.
• Heat the oil in a deep fryer or large pot. Combine the flour, cornstarch, salt and pepper in a shallow bowl. Dredge the pork in the flour mixture and fry until warmed through and crispy, 4 to 5 minutes.
• For the pickled onions: Bring the vinegar to a boil in a small saucepan. Add the sugar and stir to dissolve. Pour over the red onions in a heat-proof bowl. Let stand until room temperature and then refrigerate overnight.
• For the asparagus: Heat the butter and garlic in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the asparagus and saute until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• For the pesto: Puree the basil, olive oil, pine nuts and garlic in a blender. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and fold in the Parmesan and season with salt and pepper.
• For plating: Put the asparagus on a plate. Add the crispy pork and top with the pesto and pickled red onions.

CRISPY FRIED CHICKEN AND ONIONS

Steps:

• Whisk the mustard and 2 cups water in a large bowl or wide pot until smooth; add the thyme sprigs. Add the chicken and onion, turning to coat well. Firmly press down so the chicken is just covered in the marinade. Cover and refrigerate 2 to 4 hours.
• Fill two 12-inch cast-iron skillets with about 2 1/2 inches oil each. Heat over medium heat until a deep-fry thermometer registers 350 degrees F.
• While the oil heats, make the breading: Put 3 cups flour in a large bowl. Remove 1/3 cup of the chicken marinade and add to the flour; stir until clumpy. Whisk in the remaining 2 1/2 cups flour, the baking powder, paprika, dill, cayenne, 1 tablespoon salt and 2 teaspoons black pepper. Working with a few pieces at a time, remove the chicken and onion from the marinade, letting the excess drip off, and dredge in the flour mixture, pressing with your hands to coat. Transfer to a rack set over a rimmed baking sheet.
• Carefully add about 5 pieces chicken to each skillet, then adjust the heat to keep the oil temperature between 300 degrees F and 325 degrees F. Fry, turning the chicken occasionally, until golden and crisp on the outside and no longer pink inside, 15 to 16 minutes. (A thermometer inserted into the chicken should register 160 degrees F for breasts and 170 degrees F for legs and thighs.) Remove with tongs and transfer to a clean rack set over a rimmed baking sheet; season with salt. Return the oil to 350 degrees F and fry the remaining chicken. Fry the onion 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Transfer the chicken and onion to a platter.

MATZO BREI WITH CREAMED SPINACH AND CRISPY ONIONS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a medium skillet over high heat until hot.
• Reduce the heat to medium; add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 8-10 minutes.
• Season with salt and pepper, to taste, and transfer to a bowl with a slotted spoon.
• Reserve the skillet and oil in which the onions were cooked.
• Meanwhile squeeze the spinach well, a handful at a time to remove all the water and set aside.
• Break up the matzos slightly and soak them in a bowl of cold water for 1-3 minutes; don't let them get too soggy!
• Drain the matzos and combine them with the eggs, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
• Reheat the oil remaining in the reserved skillet with the butter over medium-high heat until hot.
• Add the matzo mixture and cook, stirring constantly, until eggs are scrambled and the matzo has begun to crisp, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in the spinach and cheese and cook until just heated through.
• Top each portion with a mound of the onions.

CREAMED PEARL ONIONS AND FENNEL WITH CRISPY SPICED BREADCRUMBS

Steps:

• Position rack in middle of oven and preheat to 400ºF. Brush a 2-qt. gratin or baking dish, preferably oval or rectangular, with 1/2 Tbsp. butter.
• Cut fennel bulb and stems into 1/4" pieces. Finely chop 2 Tbsp. fennel fronds; set aside.
• Combine onions, fennel bulb and stems, 1/4 tsp. salt, and 3/4 cup water in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium, cover, and simmer 5 minutes. Drain onion mixture, pat dry, and transfer to prepared dish.
• Bring cream and 1/2 tsp. salt to a boil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, then pour over onion mixture. Bake 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine orange zest, breadcrumbs, cheese, parsley, black pepper, red pepper flakes, reserved fennel fronds, 1/2 tsp. salt, and remaining 3 1/2 Tbsp. melted butter in a medium bowl.
• Remove onion mixture from oven and top with breadcrumb mixture. Return to oven and continue baking until breadcrumbs are deep golden brown and cream is bubbling around the edges, 25-30 minutes. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.

PALESTINIAN LENTILS AND RICE WITH CRISPY ONIONS

Steps:

• Soak lentils in water for 3 hours; drain.
• Soak rice in water for 1/2 hour; drain.
• Saute onions in a large skillet for about 15 minutes, or until very brown and crisp.
• Remove onions to a plate lined with paper towels to drain.
• Turn heat to medium-high and add lentils and rice to skillet; saute quickly in the browned-onion-flavored oil, adding cumin, salt and pepper.
• Add 3 cups of water and bring to a boil.
• Cover very tightly and then cook on very low heat for about 20 to 25 minutes.
• To serve, fluff up rice and lentils and top with the crispy browned onions.

KILLER STEAK BURGERS WITH BLACK PEPPER MAYO AND CRISPY ONIONS

Steps:

• Heat gas or charcoal grill. In large bowl, mix beef, steak sauce, salt, 1/2 teaspoon of the pepper and 1/2 cup of the onions. Shape mixture into 4 patties, 1/2 inch thick. In small bowl, mix mayonnaise and remaining 1/2 teaspoon pepper, set aside.
• Place patties on grill over medium heat. Cover grill; cook 11 to 13 minutes, turning once, until meat thermometer inserted in center of patties reads 160°F. During last 2 minutes of cooking, place buns, cut sides down, on grill until toasted.
• Spread mayonnaise mixture on cut sides of buns. Top with remaining 3/4 cup onions, the lettuce and burgers. Cover with top halves of buns.

RICE AND LENTILS WITH CRISPY ONIONS (MUJADDARA)

Steps:

• 1. FOR THE YOGURT SAUCE: Whisk all ingredients together in bowl. Refrigerate while preparing rice and lentils.
• 2. FOR THE RICE AND LENTILS: Bring lentils, 4 cups water, and 1 teaspoon salt to boil in medium saucepan over high heat. Reduce heat to low and cook until lentils are tender, 15 to 17 minutes. Drain and set aside. While lentils cook, place rice in medium bowl and cover by 2 inches with hot tap water; let stand for 15 minutes.
• 3. Using your hands, gently swish rice grains to release excess starch. Carefully pour off water, leaving rice in bowl. Add cold tap water to rice and pour off water. Repeat adding and pouring off cold tap water 4 to 5 times, until water runs almost clear. Drain rice in fine-mesh strainer.
• 4. Heat reserved onion oil, garlic, coriander, cumin, cinnamon, allspice, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and cayenne in Dutch oven over medium heat until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add rice and cook, stirring occasionally, until edges of rice begin to turn translucent, about 3 minutes. Add 2 1/4 cups water, sugar, and 1 teaspoon salt and bring to boil. Stir in lentils, reduce heat to low, cover, and cook until all liquid is absorbed, about 12 minutes.
• 5. Off heat, remove lid, fold dish towel in half, and place over pot; replace lid. Let stand for 10 minutes. Fluff rice and lentils with fork and stir in cilantro and half of crispy onions. Transfer to serving platter, top with remaining crispy onions, and serve, passing yogurt sauce separately.