Pakora Fried Onion Rings With Kefir-Cucumber Raita

• For the pakora-fried onion rings:
• 4 yellow onions (medium)
• Olive oil, for blending
• 1 1/2 tablespoons Kosher sea salt
• 2 cups chickpea flour
• 1/2 cup Parmesan (grated) or nutritional yeast
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 pinch cayenne
• Vegetable oil, for frying
• For the kefir-cucumber raita:
• 1 cup kefir
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3/4 cup chopped cucumber
• 1 splash lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon minced ginger

1. To make the kefir-cucumber raita, mix together all of the ingredients. Set aside.
2. Carefully peel onions: Throw away the paper and set the skins (the thicker outer layer normally discarded) aside. Cut the onions crosswise into 1/4- to 1/2-inch thick slices.
3. Optional: Bring a small part of water to a boil. Add the thick onion skins and cook until soft and pliable. If you cooked the onion skins, drain them.
4. In a blender, puree soft the onion skins with a splash of olive oil and a pinch of salt until smooth.
5. In large mixing bowl, stir together chickpea flour, Parmesan, salt, baking soda, pepper, and cayenne.
6. Stir the onion skin mixture into the pakora batter. If you need to, add water to make the batter the consistency of a thick pancake batter.
7. Pull apart the onion slices into rings, then mix into the batter and let sit for approximately ten minutes. Pour a couple inches of vegetable oil into a heavy-bottomed pan or wok and heat over medium-high.
8. Once oil is hot, add the pakora-battered onions to the pan and cook until golden-brown. Nik of A Brown Table suggests transferring the fried onions from the pan to a paper towel-lined plate with a slotted spoon to help drain any excess oil.

onion, yellow onions, olive oil, kosher sea salt, chickpea flour, parmesan, baking soda, freshly ground black pepper, cayenne, vegetable oil, kefir, olive oil, cucumber, lemon juice, garlic, ginger

Taken from food52.com/recipes/42275-pakora-fried-onion-rings-with-kefir-cucumber-raita (may not work)