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My Hush Puppies recipe creates a perfectly golden brown, light, and airy bite of savory Southern deliciousness. It’s guaranteed to be the perfect snack or side dish for your fried fish dinner.
It’s always a pleasure to serve recipes that have been in my family for years. The great thing about this southern hush puppies recipe is you can make it ahead of time and when you are ready, pop them in the oven to keep them warm, and they’ll be perfect.
I cannot recall the first time I had a hush puppy, but I know I used to eat them like french fries because they’re so good. Growing up in New Orleans, there are always fish fries or fish suppers.
The running accompaniment was hush puppies. These little balls of fried cornbread batter will hush whoever is asking for something to eat while preparing dinner.
Another great thing about making homemade hush puppies is the versatility you have with what you can add to them. To create magic, I’ve added everything from okra, corn, red bell pepper, and corn to the batter.
This recipe is sure to be a crowd-pleaser, so get ready to have people constantly ask, “when’s the next time you’re making those hush puppies?”
Why are they called Hush Puppies?
Hush Puppies are a type of fried cornbread popular in the Southern region of the United States. They got their name because hunters needed a way to hush barking dogs so they wouldn’t scare the animals away. The batter is made from cornmeal, flour, baking powder, salt, and deep-fried. Hush Puppies can be served with numerous dipping sauces such as remoulade, Cajun ranch, tartar sauce, ketchup, or honey mustard.
Key Ingredients
Before making these southern hush puppies, look at this list of ingredients to make sure you have everything you need for some divine fried hush puppies.
Buttermilk
This is a Southern recipe, so of course, buttermilk is used in the batter.
Melted Butter
Using melted unsalted butter gives a richer flavor instead of using oil.
Yellow Cornmeal
The flour will help bind all the ingredients, making the batter light and fluffy.
Baking Powder
The baking powder will give the hush puppies their light and airy texture.
Granulated Sugar
A little sweetness is needed for a classic southern-style hush puppy.
Onions
All hushpuppy recipes have grated onions.
How to make the best homemade hush puppies recipe?
Anytime you make hush puppies, you’ll follow this exact recipe step by step but don’t be afraid to get a little creative by adding a little treat inside the batter. Making hush puppy batter is easy because patiently waiting to fry them up is the hardest part.
Step 1: In a small bowl, add buttermilk and butter. In a large bowl, combine yellow cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, Cajun seasoning, onion, garlic, and thyme. Add the egg, then stir in the milk mixture slowly until blended; cover, and place in the fridge for 1 hour. The batter will get thicker as it rests.
Step 2: Fill a 12-inch cast-iron skillet halfway with oil and heat to 350°F. Use a cookie scoop or drop batter by tablespoons into the hot oil. Do not overcrowd the pan. Cook for 1 minute per side until golden brown. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate or sheet pan. Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce.
Place leftover hush puppies in an airtight container.
Pro Recipe Tips & Tricks
Here are the best practices, techniques, substitutes, and flavor builders you’ll need for my Southern hush puppies.
- Combining buttermilk and baking powder adds air to the hush puppies batter.
- Do not skip the step of resting the hush puppies batter. This allows the dry ingredients to absorb the liquid. This creates a batter that’ll hold its shape as it fries.
- I only fry foods in peanut oil. It can handle high heat for a long time and creates beautiful golden brown fried foods.
- Feel free to use canola oil instead of peanut oil.
- Use your favorite seasoning salt instead of Cajun seasoning.
- It takes half a medium onion to get 1/4 cup of grated onions.
- If you do not have a cheese grater, finely chop an onion.
- Do not substitute baking soda for baking powder.
- Want to make your hush puppies gluten-free? Use gluten-free flour instead of all-purpose flour.
- You can fry your hush puppies in a large skillet or Dutch oven.
- Double the recipe for a larger crowd.
FAQs
Here are the top questions readers have about making homemade hush puppies.
The difference between a hush puppy and cornbread is the cooking technique. Both are made with cornmeal, flour, buttermilk, eggs, and sugar. However, cornbread is baked in a baking pan, cast-iron skillet, or muffin pan. While hush puppies are scoped and fried in hot oil.
Hush puppies have the same great taste as cornbread but with mild savory notes from the onion, garlic, and seasonings.
You can leave cooked hush puppies out overnight in a storage bag or airtight container.
No, hush puppies must be fried to create their unique texture and shape.
No, hush puppies cannot be baked and have to be fried so the crunchy exterior can form. If you were to bake a hush puppies batter, you would have cornbread.
Yes! You can freeze hushpuppies in a freezer-storage bag for 3 months.
Absolutely! You can fry hush puppies ahead and then either deep fry them again for a minute to get hot or bake them in a hot oven for 8 minutes until hot.
The best dish to accompany hush puppies is fried seafood. Fried fish, shrimp, or oysters. You can create your own fried seafood platter, and don’t forget the hot sauce.
Hushpuppies are best when eaten immediately but will remain fresh in an airtight container for 3 days in the fridge.
Freeze hush puppies for up to 3 months in a freezer-safe container. Thaw for 24 hours before reheating.
Reheat hush puppies in a 350°F oven for 6-8 minutes or until hot. Reheating frozen hushpuppies may take close to 20-25 minutes.
More Southern Recipes
If you love southern food, here are some great recipes to add to your dinner table.
- New Orleans Baked Mac and Cheese
- Southern Sweet Potato Pie
- Fried Okra
- Cajun Fried Fish and Grits
- Sweet Southern Cornbread
- Biscuits and White Sausage Gravy
Latest Recipe Video:
Before You Begin
Before getting started, here are the steps I use to get organized.
Step 1: Get all the hush puppies ingredients on the counter.
Step 2: Measure everything out.
Step 3: Cut some music on, follow this recipe and get ready for the best hush puppies you’ve ever enjoyed.
I hope you enjoy my hush puppies recipe as much as my family and I do. Please leave a comment and star rating below if you make it. And be sure to tag me on Instagram or Twitter so I can see your creations!
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Southern Hush Puppies Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup buttermilk
- 2 tablespoons melted unsalted butter
- 1 cup yellow cornmeal
- ½ cup unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 ¼ teaspoons Savory Cajun Seasoning
- ¼ cup grated onion
- 1 garlic clove chopped fine
- ¼ teaspoon dry thyme
- 1 large egg slightly beaten
- oil for frying
Instructions
- In a small bowl, add buttermilk and butter. In a large bowl, combine cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, Cajun seasoning, onion, garlic, and thyme. Add the egg, then stir in the milk mixture slowly until blended; cover, and place in the fridge for 1 hour. The batter will get thicker as it rests.
- Fill a 12-inch cast-iron large skillet halfway with oil and heat to 350°F. Use a cookie scoop or drop batter by tablespoons into the hot oil. Do not overcrowd the pan. Cook for 1 minute per side until golden brown. Drain on a paper towel lined plate or sheet pan. Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
- The combination of buttermilk and baking powder adds air to the hushpuppy batter.
- Do not skip the step of resting the hush puppies batter. This allows the dry ingredients to absorb the liquid. This creates a batter that’ll hold its shape as it fries.
- I only fry foods in peanut oil. It can handle high heat for a long time and creates beautiful golden brown fried foods.
- Feel free to use canola oil instead of peanut oil.
- Use your favorite seasoning salt instead of Cajun seasoning.
- It takes half of a medium onion to get 1/4 cup of grated onions.
- If you do not have a cheese grater, finely chop an onion.
- Do not substitute baking soda for baking powder.
- Want to make your hush puppies gluten-free? Use gluten-free flour instead of all-purpose flour.
- You can fry your hush puppies in a large skillet or Dutch oven.
- Double the recipe for a larger crowd.
