These Best Ever Hush Puppies are crispy on the outside, and light 'n tender on the inside. They have a delicious sweet cornbread, fresh jalapeño, and onion taste. Plus, the easy prep and cooking instructions are what make these fried golden rounds a 'best ever' quick bread recipe!
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Why Do They Call It A Hush Puppy?
It's been said that Hush Puppy got its name and origin from way back when. While fishermen were cooking their fresh catch of the day, they would fry up pieces of dough and feed them to their dogs to silence their annoying barking. Thus naming the fried cornbread rounds, hush puppies. Cute, huh?
I thought so!
Somehow, humans began consuming these little snacks, too. Well, whichever way the hush puppy was invented, I'm glad they have evolved into what they are today.
These little fried dough balls are so versatile. They aren't just for serving with fried fish but can be a delicious snack, appetizer, or side dish for other main meals.
However, the chances of getting a decent hush puppy can be a hit-and-miss adventure. It's been my experience that not every restaurant and fast food place offers consistent results.
But you can get them with this recipe. Part of the success is using corn meal mix, or the substitution for it highlighted below.
The ingredients
- white cornmeal mix - already contains leavening ingredients for easy prep
- granulated sugar - just the right amount of sweetness
- onion - flavorful small bits
- fresh jalapeno pepper - seeded to rid most of the heat
- egg - it moistens and holds things together
- buttermilk - adds moisture and tenderness to the dough
- canola oil - pleasant light taste and high burning point safe for deep frying
How to make these best-ever hush puppies
We are talking easy to prep here with only six ingredients plus oil for frying. Whenever my husband asks for them, I don't hesitate to stir up a batch. The thought of biting into a hot, tasty, crunchy, fried piece of cornbread urges me to do so.
Before you begin making the batter, finely chop the onion and jalapeño pepper. You can use a knife, but you get a fine texture easily by using the Food Chopper.
Now you're ready to make the batter. Combine white cornmeal mix, sugar, onions, and peppers in a bowl. Then add the egg and buttermilk and stir to blend well together.
At this time, you can add extra ingredients such as corn, chopped okra, cheese, seafood, or anything you can think of that's fitting.
Be careful not to overmix the batter. The cornmeal batter sits in the refrigerator for about a half-hour for best results, then the frying begins.
Fry the hush puppy batter with rounded teaspoonfuls on each side for 2 - 3 minutes. Drain them on a paper towel and let them cool some before biting into one.
Here's help from a few of my favorite appliances!
My first helper is this KitchenAid 3.5 Cup Food Chopper. The starter button is on the lid for easy access, and it has a powerful chop for such a little fella'. It's also light, easy to clean, comes with a BPA-Free bowl, and the cord wraps around it in a hidden slot for easy storage. I use it to process the onion and the jalapeno pepper for these quiet dough rounds.
Next is the T-Fal Ultimate EZ Clean Deep Fryer. It's the ultimate fryer made of stainless steel for easy cleaning, with an inner basket and an oil filtration container on the bottom. This fryer makes storing and reusing oil a simple task. And clean-up is a breeze! I just set the fryer to 375 degrees and the oil reaches the perfect temperature for frying. It's just right for consistent cooking results with these Best Ever Hush Puppies.
I love a right-handy tool, and these are two of my favorites. They often get used in our house, especially the Food Chopper. They make great gifts, too!
Tips and note
- Before handling the jalapeño pepper, use gloves, especially when removing the seeds and veins. You won't burn your skin with the hot oil in the pepper. I speak from experience! s
- To substitute 2 cups of White Cornmeal Mix, use 1 ½ cups regular white cornmeal, 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour, 2 tablespoons baking powder, and ½ teaspoon salt.
What to serve with hush puppies
Below is a list of recipes that pair well with these Best Ever Hush Puppies. But there are also condiments such as ketchup, mustard, and a variety of dipping sauces on the market.
At our house, we like this creamy Remoulade Sauce recipe. It has a slightly sweet taste made with fresh herbs and a bite of horseradish and spicy mustard. This creamy smooth tasting Homemade Ranch Dressing is also easy to make. And if you like a good southern Come Back Sauce for dipping, you'll love my Louisiana Comeback Sauce.
Here are a few more recipes to enjoy with these Best Hush Puppies:
- Easy Crab Salad
- Fish In Red Gravy
- Saucy Pork And Beans
- Barbecue Shrimp Bowl
- Shrimp and Corn Soup
- Classic Cabbage Rolls
- Shrimp And Crawfish Pasta
Recipe
Best-Ever Hush Puppies
These hush puppies are crispy on the outside, tender on this inside, and full of flavor. Mix up the basic quick bread recipe, refrigerate, cook them as is or with added ingredients, then fry them in a flash!
- Total Time: 38 minutes
- Yield: 32 hush puppies 1x
Ingredients
Basic Recipe
- 2 cups white cornmeal mix
- 1 ½ tablespoon granulated sugar
- ½ cup onion, processed in a food processor into small bits
- 3 tablespoons jalapeno pepper, chopped fine in a food processor (1 pepper)
- 1 egg
- ¾ cups buttermilk
- 64 ounces canola oil
Instructions
- Place cornmeal mix into a medium-size bowl.
- Mix in the sugar.
- Add onion and jalapeno pepper into the cornmeal mixture and stir until well combined.
- Add egg and stir in milk just until all of the ingredients are incorporated, don't over mix.
- Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Heat oil to 375 degrees in an electric fryer.
- Fry hush puppy batter by rounded teaspoonfuls for 2-3 minutes on each side or until golden and cooked through.
- Drain on paper towel.
- Let them cool for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
To substitute 2 cups of White Cornmeal Mix, use 1 ½ cup regular white cornmeal, 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour, 2 tablespoons baking powder, and ½ teaspoon salt.
After the batter is mixed, stir in a half cup of a favorite ingredient such as cut corn, seafood, cheese, chopped okra, and more.
Serve alone or with butter or a dipping sauce such as Homemade Ranch Dressing, Remoulade Sauce, or Louisiana Come Back Sauce.
The batter can be made up to 12 hours in advance.
- Prep Time: 35 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 minutes
- Category: side dish/appetizer
- Method: frying
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: best hush puppies, hush puppies, southern hush puppies
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