Herby Onion Rings

• Peel the onions and slice them into thick rings, about 1 cm wide. Carefully separate the rings and set them aside.
  2 large onions
• If you prefer a milder flavour, soak the rings in cold water for 10 minutes, then drain and pat dry.
• In a mixing bowl, whisk together the plain flour, cornflour, baking powder, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Stir in the chopped parsley, chives, and thyme.
  150 g plain flour, 1 tbsp cornflour, 1 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp salt, ½ tsp ground black pepper, 1 tsp garlic powder, 2 tbsp fresh parsley, 1 tbsp fresh chives, 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
• Gradually add the cold sparkling water, whisking until you have a smooth batter with the consistency of double cream.
  200 ml cold water

Deep Fry

• Heat the oil in a deep saucepan or fryer to around 170–180°C. If you don’t have a thermometer, drop a little batter into the oil—it should sizzle and float immediately.
  Vegetable oil
• For extra crispness, lightly dust the onion rings in plain flour first. Dip each ring into the herby batter, allowing any excess to drip off.
  plain flour
• Carefully lower the battered onion rings into the hot oil in small batches. Fry for 2–3 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden brown and crisp.
• Remove the Herby Onion Rings with a slotted spoon and drain on kitchen paper. Season lightly with extra salt while hot.
• Serve the Herby Onion Rings straight away for the best crunch.

Air Fry

• Preheat the air fryer to 190°C for about 3 minutes. Arrange the Herby Onion Rings in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure they are not touching or overlapping. Good air circulation is key to achieving an even, crisp coating, so cook in batches if necessary rather than overcrowding the basket.
• Air fry the Herby Onion Rings for 8–10 minutes, turning them halfway through cooking. After flipping, give them another light spray of oil to encourage even browning. They should be golden, crisp on the outside, and tender inside when done. If they need a little more colour, return them to the air fryer for an extra 1–2 minutes.
• Once cooked, remove the Herby Onion Rings from the air fryer and season lightly with salt while they are still hot. Serve immediately, as air-fried onion rings are at their best straight from the basket. This method is ideal if you want a slightly lighter version of Herby Onion Rings without sacrificing their herby flavour and satisfying crunch.