I know everyone will love this delicious Southern treat Fried Hush Puppies. These homemade Hush Puppies made with cornmeal, perfectly crispy from outside, and fluffy from inside. They are quick and easy to make, slightly sweetened yet savory, I’m pretty sure these flavorful cornmeal balls will become your new favorite recipe!
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The bread batter is perfectly seasoned and slightly sweet. Buttermilk gives a little tanginess to hush puppies that you can sense in one bite. Made with a few pantry staples, you can whip these up whenever the craving strikes!
I would insist to treat yourself once and cook up a batch of these fried hush puppies, you’ll be so glad you did!
Ingredients for Fried Hush Puppies
- Ground Cornmeal: Yellow or white, both cornmeal will work for this recipe. I am using yellow corn meal here.
- All purpose flour: I will recommend using all purpose flour, It helps in binding all ingredients together and hold them while deep frying.
- Buttermilk: Buttermilk sets moisture and a little tang in hush puppies. If you don’t have it in handy, make your own buttermilk. Add a teaspoon of lemon juice or vinegar in 1 cup of milk. Let it sit for 5 minutes and a substitute for buttermilk is ready.
- Egg: Eggs is another ingredient helps in holding everything together.
- Sweet onion: I prefer to use sweet onion with their subtle flavors and mild sweetness.
- Oil for frying: I am using vegetable oil for deep frying. But you can use any other oil.
Tips For Success
- Make sure the oil is hot before adding the hush puppy batter. It should register at 365°F.
- Don’t over-mix the batter or the gluten can overdevelop which can cause dense and chewy hush puppies. The flour should be just combined.
- Each hush puppy should be made of around 2 tablespoons of batter. Don’t make them too big or they won’t cook evenly.
How to Store and Reheat
Refrigerator: Transfer any leftovers in an air tight container and store for 3-4 days in refrigerator.
Freezer: Homemade hush puppies taste best once they are out of deep frying. To freeze, lay the hush puppies out in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze until solid, about 1-2 hours. Transfer to an airtight container or Ziplock bag to store. Make sure thawing them overnight in refrigerator before reheating.
Reheat: For that crunch place them in oven at 400F for 10 minutes. Air fryer works great for these to reheat. I won’t suggest to warm them in microwave as they turned soft.
Serving Suggestions
These hush puppies are delicious served when with butter and honey as a tasty snack, or serve them up with your favorite Southern-style mains or fried fish as a side. Creamy Coleslaw, Fish Sticks, Beer Battered Fish, Pan Fried Tilapia and Black Eyed Peas are few to enjoy.
However you enjoy them, this recipe is a real crowd-pleaser!
5-Star Review
“I made this last night and it was the moistest chicken we’ve ever had. A bit of crispy and the flavor was wonderful. I didn’t have buttermilk and did add lemon juice to 1% milk. I am making it again today. Thank you for this recipe.” – Dawn
Homemade Hush Puppies Recipe
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- Deep Fryer OR
- Dutch Oven
- Deep Frying Thermometer
- Cookie Portion Scoop (optional)
Ingredients
- 1 cup ground cornmeal 156 grams
- ⅓ cup all-purpose flour 40 grams
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar 13 grams
- 1 teaspoon baking powder 4 grams
- ½ teaspoon baking soda 3 grams
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¾ cup buttermilk 170 grams, room temperature (see note)
- ¼ cup grated sweet onion
- 1 large egg 50 grams, room temperature and lightly beaten
- Peanut or vegetable oil for frying
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt.1 cup ground cornmeal, ⅓ cup all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ¾ cup buttermilk, ¼ cup grated sweet onion, 1 large egg
- In a separate bowl, add the buttermilk, onion, and egg, whisking well.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix until just combined.
- Allow to batter to rest for 10-15 minutes while you heat the oil of a deep fryer, or in a Dutch oven, to 365°F.Peanut or vegetable oil
- Use a medium cookie scoop to portion heaping tablespoons (approximately 2 tbsp) of batter.
- Drop the batter into the oil. Fry for 2-4 minutes, until golden.
- Use a slotted spoon to transfer the fried hush puppies to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Serve warm with butter.
Becky’s Tips
- Buttermilk: If you don’t have buttermilk, follow this simple homemade buttermilk recipe.
- Make sure the oil is hot before adding the hush puppy batter. It should register at 365°F.
- Don’t over-mix the batter or the gluten can overdevelop which can cause dense and chewy hush puppies. The flour should be just combined.
- Each hush puppy should be made of around 2 tablespoons of batter. Don’t make them too big or they won’t cook through evenly.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did you make this? Leave a comment!
How to Make Fried Hush Puppies Step by Step
Mix-in All Ingredients: To make this easy hush puppies recipe, all you have to do is to mix everything together and prepare the batter.
In a large bowl starting adding 1 cup ground cornmeal, ⅓ cup all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, and ½ teaspoon kosher salt. Combine them well.
In another bowl add ¾ cup buttermilk, ¼ cup grated sweet onion and 1 large egg. Whisk them well until no lumps.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix until just combined.
Allow the batter to sit for 10-15 minutes. White batter is resting heat the oil in a deep fryer or in Dutch oven, to 365°F.
Scoop into balls and fry: To make hush puppies balls, use a medium cookie scoop to portion heaping tablespoons (approximately 2 tbsp) of batter.
Drop them into the oil. Fry them for 2-4 minutes or until golden.
Use a slotted spoon to transfer the fried hush puppies to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
Serve warm with butter. A perfect comforting treat on cold days, just add some butter and gulp
