Southern Hush Puppies (Print)
Enjoy crispy, golden Southern hush puppies. Tender cornmeal fritters, ideal as a side for fried fish, barbecue, or summer meals.
# What You Need:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 1 cup yellow fine or medium grind cornmeal
02 - 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
03 - 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
04 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
05 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt
06 - 1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar
07 - 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
08 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
→ Wet Ingredients
09 - 1/2 cup buttermilk
10 - 1 large egg
11 - 2 tablespoons melted unsalted butter
→ Vegetables & Aromatics
12 - 1/2 cup finely diced yellow onion
13 - 2 tablespoons finely chopped chives or green onions
14 - 1 small jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped
→ For Frying
15 - Vegetable oil, for deep frying
# How To Make It:
01 - In a large mixing bowl, thoroughly whisk together the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, baking soda, kosher salt, granulated sugar, cayenne pepper, and black pepper.
02 - In a separate bowl, beat together the buttermilk, egg, and melted unsalted butter until the mixture is well combined.
03 - Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredient mixture and stir gently with a spatula just until the components are combined. Take care not to overmix the batter.
04 - Fold in the finely diced yellow onion, chopped chives or green onions, and the finely chopped jalapeño (if using). Allow the batter to rest undisturbed for 5 minutes.
05 - In a heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven, heat approximately 2 inches of vegetable oil to a temperature of 350°F (175°C).
06 - Using two spoons or a small ice cream scoop, carefully drop tablespoon-sized portions of the batter into the hot oil. Fry the hush puppies in batches to avoid overcrowding the pot.
07 - Fry the hush puppies for 2 to 3 minutes per side, turning them as needed, until they achieve a deep golden brown color and a crisp exterior.
08 - Remove the fried hush puppies from the oil using a slotted spoon and transfer them to a plate lined with paper towels to drain any excess oil. Serve immediately while hot.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- They're surprisingly easy to whip up for a last-minute gathering, making you look like a kitchen wizard.
- That perfect balance of crispy exterior and fluffy, flavorful interior is truly addictive, a guaranteed crowd-pleaser every single time.
02 -
- Overmixing the batter is the quickest way to tough hush puppies; a gentle hand is truly essential here.
- Maintaining a consistent oil temperature prevents greasy, soggy fritters or burnt exteriors with raw centers.
03 -
- Make sure your diced onion is very fine; larger pieces can prevent the hush puppies from cooking evenly or make them fall apart in the oil.
- Don't overcrowd the pot when frying; it drops the oil temperature too quickly and results in soggy fritters instead of crispy ones.