Hush Puppies are small, savory, deep-fried balls made from a cornmeal-based batter. They are frequently served as a side dish with seafood and other deep-fried foods or as an appetizer with a dipping sauce.

The first recorded use of the word “hush-puppy” dates to 1899. The name is often attributed to hunters, fishermen, or other cooks who would fry some basic cornmeal mixture and feed it to their dogs to “hush the puppies” during cookouts. Another legend dates the name even earlier to the Civil War, in which Confederate soldiers would toss fried cornbread to silence the barks of their dogs.

Hush Puppies

Hush Puppies make great appetizers, especially when served with an interesting dipping sauce like Cajun Remoulade. They are often served with fried catfish and tartar sauce.

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Course: Appetizer, BBQ, Hand Food, Side Dish, Street Food

Cuisine: American, American South, North American

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 20

Total Time: 30

Servings: Hush Puppies

Author: My Hungry Traveler

Equipment

Deep pot, deep fryer, or wok
2 bowls

Ingredients

1½ cup All-purpose flour
1½ cup Cornmeal
2 tbsp Baking powder
1 tbsp Baking soda
2 tbsp Sugar
2 tsp Kosher salt
4 stalk Scallions, chopped
2 large Eggs, beaten
1½ cups Buttermilk
½ tsp Cayenne pepper
4-6 cups Canola oil

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

Prepare – Preheat oil to 350°F (175°C) over medium-high heat in a large pot or wok,
In a large bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, baking soda, cayenne, sugar, and salt. In another bowl, whisk buttermilk, eggs, and chopped scallion. Pour wet ingredients over dried ingredients and stir together with a wooden spoon until just combined. Let batter sit on counter for an hour or-so.
Cook – Carefully drop balls of 1 tbsp of batter into the hot oil. Without crowding, cook for about 3-4 minutes until golden brown on the outside and soft on the insides. Stir occasionally and flip once. Remove to drain on paper towels. Repeat until all the batter is gone, making sure oil is back to temperature before adding more batter.