Description
Crispy Southern hush puppies bring cornmeal magic straight from classic Southern kitchens. Golden brown morsels packed with savory flavor invite you to savor a true regional delicacy that connects generations of home cooks.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 large egg
- 4 tablespoons (60 grams) cold butter, cut into small cubes
Dry Ingredients:
- ¾ cup (90 grams) flour
- ¾ cup (90 grams) cornmeal
- 1 tablespoon (15 grams) sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- 2 teaspoons salt
Spices and Seasonings:
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Additional:
- Oil for frying
- Tartar sauce for serving
Instructions
- Prepare a large skillet by filling it with 2 inches (5 centimeters) of oil and heating to 365°F (185°C).
- In a medium mixing bowl, thoroughly whisk together all dry ingredients including flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and ground black pepper until evenly distributed.
- Create a well in the center of the dry mixture and crack the whole egg into it, then pour in the buttermilk.
- Gently fold the wet and dry ingredients together using a spatula, mixing until just combined with minimal stirring to prevent tough hush puppies.
- Incorporate the cold cubed butter into the batter, ensuring it is evenly distributed throughout the mixture.
- Using two small spoons, carefully drop rounded spoonfuls of batter into the hot oil, working in small batches to maintain oil temperature.
- Fry the hush puppies for 2-3 minutes, rotating them occasionally to achieve an even golden-brown color on all sides.
- Extract the hush puppies from the oil using a metal strainer or slotted spoon, allowing excess oil to drip off.
- Transfer the fried hush puppies to a paper towel-lined plate to absorb additional oil and help maintain their crispy exterior.
- Serve immediately while warm, accompanied by tangy tartar sauce for dipping.
Notes
- Achieve the perfect golden-brown color by maintaining oil temperature at 365°F, which ensures crispy exterior and fully cooked interior.
- Use buttermilk for tangy flavor and tender texture, creating a light and fluffy hush puppy that melts in your mouth.
- Mix dry ingredients thoroughly before adding wet ingredients to prevent clumping and ensure even distribution of spices.
- Drop batter carefully into hot oil to avoid splashing and maintain consistent size for uniform cooking.
- Drain on paper towels immediately after frying to remove excess oil and preserve crispiness.
- Serve warm with tartar sauce or your favorite dipping sauce for maximum enjoyment of these Southern comfort classics.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 290 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg