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Homemade Hush Puppies are such a great complement to any main entree. Whether you’re having catfish, salmon, or barbecue, these little bundles of fried joy are just the thing to round out the meal.
Heck, you could make a bowlful and eat them in place of popcorn they’re so good. Of course, piled up beside some of our Instant Pot Baked Beans or as a side to a seafood boil, you can’t go wrong.
While you may not have thought about it, hush puppies have quite an interesting history. The term“hush puppy” came to be because cooks would take a bit of leftover cornmeal and mix it up and fry, then feed it to the dogs to quiet them down or “hush the puppies.”
What are hush puppies made of?
The main ingredient in hush puppies is cornmeal. The cornmeal is combined with flour then seasoned, and an egg and milk is added to create a batter that will hold together when fried.
For this recipe, we’re using flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, salt, garlic powder, Cajun seasoning, cayenne pepper, black pepper, an egg, milk, white vinegar, and butter.
You can make hush puppies without the seasonings, if you’re at a campsite and don’t have any spices. They just won’t be as tasty.
Are hush puppies the same as cornbread?
You may think that you could just mix up a batch of cornbread batter and fry it for hush puppies – the two have similar ingredients – and you’d be right.
Hush puppies really are just fried cornbread. However, hush puppies are seasoned. Sometimes people even add onion or jalapenos to the mix. Of course, jalapenos are nothing new for cornbread (Mexican cornbread, anyone?).
Truth be told, you can also cook cornbread batter in a skillet to make what are called hoecakes, but that’s a different recipe for a different time.
What do you serve hush puppies with?
Hush puppies have long been popular with seafood and fried freshwater fish. They also go great with barbecue.
In some Southern restaurants, hush puppies are a side that can be ordered with your entrée, no matter what you’re eating.
If it goes well with cornbread, chances are it will go well with hush puppies as well. And a good dip never hurts.
How do you make hush puppies?
You first want to combine your, cornmeal, flour, and seasonings so that everything is well distributed. You can then add the egg, milk, and vinegar and stir until well combined.
Add your butter and incorporate. Once the batter is done, heat oil in a large pot to 365 degrees. You can then use a small cookie scoop to gently drop the batter into the oil. Cook for 2 – 3 minutes.
It’s important you don’t overcrowd the pan. If the temperature of the oil drops too much, the hush puppies will soak up a lot of grease.
Once golden brown, use a metal strainer to remove from the oil and place on a paper towel-lined plate. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce and enjoy.
Homemade Hush Puppies
Ingredients
- 1 cup Flour
- 1 cup Cornmeal
- 2 tbsp Sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
- 1 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1 tsp Cajun Seasoning
- 1/4 tsp Cayenne Pepper
- 1/4 tsp Black Pepper
- 1 Egg Large
- 1 cup Milk
- 1 tbsp White Vinegar
- 4 tbsp Butter Cold and cut into small cubes
Instructions
- In a large bowl combine flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, salt, garlic powder, cajun, cayenne, and black pepper. Add the egg, milk, and vinegar and stir until combined.
- Stir in cubed butter until well incorporated.
- Place a large skillet over medium-high heat and add about 2 inches of oil. Preheat the oil to 365 degrees.
- Using 1-2 teaspoons scoop, take, and drop spoonfuls of the batter into the hot oil. Cook until they are golden brown for about 2-3 minutes. Do not overcrowd the pan.
- Using a metal strainer or slotted spoon, remove the hush puppies from the oil and place them on a paper towel-lined plate.
- Serve with your favorite sauce on the side.
