Crispy Cheese Onion Rings with Blooming Onion Sauce

Ingredients

• 1 large sweet onion, Vidalia if available
• 8 oz sharp cheddar, shredded
• 8 oz Monterey Jack or mozzarella, shredded
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• ½ tsp smoked paprika
• ½ tsp black pepper
• Pinch of cayenne, optional
• ½ cup mayonnaise
• 2 tbsp ketchup
• 1 tbsp prepared horseradish
• ½ tsp paprika
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ¼ tsp onion powder
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• Pinch cayenne, optional

Steps

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
3. Slice the onion into ½-inch thick rounds.
4. In a bowl, combine the cheddar, Monterey Jack, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, black pepper, and cayenne, if using.
5. Make small cheese piles, about ¼ cup each, on the parchment.
6. Place one onion slice on each cheese pile.
7. Cover each onion slice with another ¼ cup of the cheese mixture.
8. Bake 20–25 minutes, until the cheese is deep golden brown around the edges.
9. Let cool 5 minutes before removing. The cheese crisps as it cools.
10. For the sauce, whisk together the mayonnaise, ketchup, horseradish, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and cayenne, if using.
11. Refrigerate the sauce while the onions bake.

Notes

• Sweet onions work much better than yellow onions.
• Monterey Jack keeps the cheese from becoming oily.
• Parchment paper works much better than foil.
• Let them cool before moving them or they'll fall apart.