This richly flavored recipe is how to make onion rings sauce. After over a decade of food services management and speaking with restaurant staff across the Midwest and Southeast, this has been my selection of ingredients to use for the best onion rings dipping sauce. It only took a couple of years of adjustments to finalize (as I love onion rings).
This is how to make onion rings sauce in about 3 or 4 minutes. It will remind you of some of the most popular dipping sauces available. It is extremely easy and fast to make.
To have the perfect side or appetizer of onion rings with dipping sauce, see below for our recipe for how to make onion rings homemade. You can make this onion rings sauce in advance as it stores well in the fridge. It will be ready and less effort when you decide to make the onion rings.
Is this good with fried mushrooms? Not really. That’s why I made a separate fried mushrooms dip. I only recommend this dipping sauce recipe for the following foods, although you can venture out further, of course.
fried onion rings
fried onion petals
deli sandwich spread
burgers
Others have suggested various onion ring sauce recipes for these uses, as well:
as a steak sauce (but there’s no Worcestershire Sauce in this recipe so, for flavor, I don’t recommend it)
French fries
See below for the recipe for onion rings homemade as well as other dips or sauces.
The Ingredients and Storage of Onion Rings Dipping Sauce
Why don’t you have salt as an ingredient? It isn’t desired in this case. The actual onion rings recipe already has enough salt.
Many alternate recipes use Worcestershire Sauce. Why don’t you? When offering taste tests during the tweaking periods, everyone liked the one without it a lot more. For recipes that do use Worcestershire Sauce, those might be the reason that some people say onion rings sauce is good as a Steak Sauce. In reviewing the contents of one of the most popular brands, Worcestershire Sauce includes anchovies, molasses, and vinegar.
Is this onion rings dipping sauce good on a blooming onion? Absolutely! As that represents fried onion “petals”, it’s kind of like a giant onion ring but just cut differently and not fully separated.
I want to plan ahead for onion rings and am trying to reduce steps. How far in advance can I make this onion rings sauce? I recommend no sooner than 3 days ahead. And then store it tightly sealed in a food container in the fridge. It can last a total of about 5 or more days, depending on your frequency of usage of the fridge.
Wikipedia has a good article on other sauces for onions here.
This homemade recipe for a marinade for steak is easy to make as it is literally just a matter of mixing the ingredients together. I am amazed at the cost savings compared to buying a pricey marinade in the store. And, you don’t need to store it because it’s so simple. Just make it when you need it. And, you can easily compare these flavors with those experienced during fine dining. You’ll be in full control of its contents and how you cook your steak after its rested in this rich marinade.
This marinade is incredible and best suited for steaks but can be also used for other cuts of beef such as roasts. It makes a little over a cup, which is right for about 2-3 pounds of steak. Use the "Recipe RESIZER" for larger or lesser amounts.
⅔Tbsp.minced garlicAlternate: ½ this qty if using garlic powder.
Instructions
To make the marinade, combine all ingredients in a container (bowl or food storage bag). Optionally, you can cut a few deep slits into the meat, if thicker than ¾-inch.
Add the meat to the container used for the marinade. Cover or seal it.
Refrigerator Option: Place the marinating meat in the fridge (minimum of 45 minutes to a maximum of 24 hours) for cooking the same or next day.Freezer Option: Place it in the freezer for cooking in the future (no need for any waiting time before freezer placement). On the day before cooking, you can place it in the fridge for natural thawing and continued marinating.
Steak Tips (can marinate for 45 minutes to 2 hours)
Sirloin Tip Roast
Vegetables for Fajitas (along with the selected meat)
Marinade Containers
Besides plastic food storage bags, bowls, or containers, you can opt to use a marinade container. The advantage is that the long-term storage of a marinade might leave a stain in your other plastic storage containers. Often, the marinade containers already have a darkened color.
The ingredients for marinade for steak involves a good number but it serves extremely well for your planned steak dinners. You don’t add salt since the soy sauce is included. There are a lot of unique ingredients in this recipe. It has always 100% been a favorite of our guests for a number of years. They are amazed at the flavor and can’t compare any fine dining measurement of beating it.
So, after you’ve made this simple steak marinade, you either pour it over the raw steaks or you add the steaks to the marinade. Either way, you then cover it and put it in the fridge. If you’re wanting to cook it soon, consider when to preheat your grill to save time. When you’re marinating wait time has passed, you can then remove the steaks and cook them. You don’t pat them dry but you do let the marinade drain off enough.
You can also use them for your recipe’s vegetables such as fajitas. I often will combine the steak and veggies in a single food storage bag or bowl.
Meat and veggies in marinade in food storage bag
I usually put them on a platter or baking sheet and carry them out to the grill. They will initially flare up because of the oil in the marinade. Also, they will cook much darker than usual due to the soy sauce. It will be hard to tell when it’s done because of its dark colors but you can base it on your cooking skills or use of a meat thermometer.
What’s the shortest and longest times for using this marinade?
I’ve made this marinade and others many times under many conditions and the absolute shortest time of waiting for ribeye steaks to marinate is 30 minutes. It’s not 20 or 15, it’s 30 minutes. And, even then, I will cut a few slits in each steak to ensure the marinade is thoroughly absorbed. With that said, the common minimal time for other steaks is 45 minutes because some beef cuts take longer to absorb the marinade than rib-eyes.
Now, no matter how long or short you wait, your steaks will have good flavor with this marinade. However, I’ve noticed a significant difference when waiting the shorter times vs overnight. I’ve also tested it for marinating for 2 days and it’s too long. Plus, the safety of raw meat for that long in a fridge (after the grocery store) is a consideration. In any case, marinating overnight is the longest time for maximum flavor and food safety.
You can read more about steak marinating and timings here at Steak University.
Do you save the marinade for using again?
If it’s from a day old marinade, then I never do. That’s because it contains raw meat juices and that would extend its usage too long. It’s a food safety thing. But, if I’m using it for steaks again, and if the marinade is from the same day, then I do if I’m going to then freeze those steaks.
What are some good recipes to use this Steak Marinade?
You can use this steak marinade recipe on regular steaks, fajitas, and beef kabobs (shish kabobs). There is a recipe below that mentions shish kabobs. You can optionally cut up your beef or steak meat and then marinate it. Then, after it’s marinated, add it into the bowl with the veggies and follow the recipe for shish kabobs.
This dry rub was designed to have sweet and spicy flavors when used with pork. You can nearly always replace a portion of a recipe to use this one. As an example, when you’re about to grill some country style pork ribs on the grill, use this rub on the raw meat in the beginning.
Other Pork Meat Ideas for this Dry Rub
Use this as a dry rub for pulled pork recipe. Or, use it as your dry rub recipe for pork tenderloin or even pork chops. Here are some other ideas that include pork ribs, pork shoulder, or pork roast. And you can use your pulled pork to make this great pulled pork sandwich with toppers.
Use this as your recipe for dry rub for pork roast
Next time your grill a pork roast, try this dry rub on it. Or, use it as a dry rub pork shoulder recipe
Save Time with a Dry Rub for Pork Recipe
While some prefer marinades over a dry rub, we can all agree that you’ll save a ton of time if you use this dry rub for pork recipe. Now, there are those also that are feeling that rubs are typically better anyway over marinades, e.g., in this article here from BonAppetit.com. Whichever side you’re on, we can all agree that we always aspire to balance the trade-offs between time-savers, better flavors, and everyone’s personal preferences.
Or, for some changes, try these popular already-prepared rubs from Amazon (affiliate links shown):
This is a South Carolina and Southern vinegar-based recipe. It was made for including those that normally don't like vinegar BBQ sauces, as it's sweetened. It serves extremely well on anything requiring a vinegar-base BBQ sauce such as pulled pork, ribs, and chicken.
Once you find a BBQ Vinegar Sauce recipe from Carolina you like, it’s good to stick with it for awhile. But, it’s also good to make small batches of it to tweak it to your taste (or for the taste of others you serve, is even better). Some will have their own special recipe for pulled pork and another tweaked one for ribs, and so on.
Other Additives for this BBQ Sauce Recipe Vinegar Based
You can also add in some other ingredients if you want to shift its special flavor around. As mentioned earlier, you night have some different additives you might like for certain types of meats. Here are some ideas of those other additives below. Keep in mind to start out slow on new additions. It’s very easy to ruin a batch of BBQ Sauce with too much of a new flavor you want to incorporate.
Kentucky Whiskey
For example, you can add a smidgen of Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey to it. Start out by using the whiskey amount that matches how much brown sugar you add. Then, up it as you go. Generally, you won’t want to exceed this amount by any more than 1/3 the amount of vinegar. Also, as you’re grilling, be extra mindful of the flammability of this ingredient when you’re brushing it on.
Yellow Mustard for BBQ Vinegar Sauce Recipe Carolina Based
If you ever tried and liked the golden BBQ Vinegar Sauce Recipe Carolina style, you might want to add in some yellow mustard. Just be sure you add that in after it’s cooled down a bit and just stir it in. The amount of this to start out with is going to be in the similar range as brown sugar used and up to double that amount. If that turns out well for you but you want more, it can then be increased further to your taste.
About BBQ Sauce Recipes
Below are some good recipes and content for a good solid foundation for how to make your own BBQ Sauce. It has info from us as well as other sites, which are all excellent. Also, here are some sources on BBQ Sauce Nutrition.
When you want to have some BBQ Sauce additions, here’s what to know. There are certain common ingredients that people will ask what to add add to BBQ Sauce that can enhance its flavor in a good way. The most popular flavors added are mustard, brown sugar, onion, and honey. Any yes, those are good to add to either tomato-based or vinegar-based BBQ sauces. Other variations might include some flavored vinegars, other spices, liquid smoke, or whiskeys. We are focusing on the most popular ones. They’re handy to know when you have that craving for a doctored BBQ sauce on your barbecued chicken or ribs.
Resources of BBQ Sauce Additions and Grilling
Here are some more articles and recipes related to BBQ sauces, their recipes, and grilling.
BBQ Sauce FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) and some homemade BBQ sauce recipes
