Onion rings in batter

Ingredients:

• 2 large sweet onions, cut into 1.2cm rings.
• 2.5 cups of flour
• 0.5 cup cornstarch
• 2 tsp paprika
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon finely grated lime zest
• 1.5 cups of milk
• 1 glass of sparkling mineral water
• 1 large egg
• Vegetable oil, for deep-frying

Preparation:

1. Preheat the oven to 100°C (212°F). Position a rack over a baking sheet. Place a large, deep saucepan over medium heat and fill with 5 cm of vegetable oil. Heat to 190°C (375°F).
2. Separate the onion into rings and place them in a large bowl. Dredge them in 0.5 cups of flour. Place the onion rings on a wire rack and let them rest for 15 minutes.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together the remaining 2 cups flour, cornstarch, paprika, cayenne pepper, lime zest, and 1.5 teaspoons salt. Add the milk, mineral water, and egg, and whisk to combine.
4. Cook in 3-4 batches. Dip a small number of onion rings into the batter and immediately add to the hot oil. Fry for 2-3 minutes, turning once, until crisp and golden brown. Bring the oil back to a simmer between batches.
5. Sprinkle the rings with coarse salt. Serve immediately. dipping sauce to your taste, or transfer to a wire rack and place in the oven to keep warm until time to serve.