Southern Hush Puppy Recipe

An image of deep fried balls of cornmeal dough known as hush puppies in the South.

4.93 from 39 votes

Southern Hush Puppies are deceptively delicious bites of slightly sweetened cornmeal batter flavored with a little onion and fried until crisp on the outside and fluffy and light on the inside. They make a fantastic appetizer or side dish for almost any meal!

Prep Time10

Cook Time6

Total Time16

Course: Uncategorized

Cuisine: American

Servings: -8 servings

Calories: 189kcal

Author: Amy Nash

Ingredients

1 cup cornmeal (138g)
½ cup all-purpose flour, scooped & leveled (71g)
2 Tablespoons sugar (25g)
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 large egg, lightly beaten
¾ cup buttermilk (169g)
½ small onion, grated (about ¼ to ⅓ cup)
Peanut or vegetable oil, for frying

Instructions

Combine the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and cayenne pepper in a large mixing bowl.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg, and buttermilk. Add to the dry ingredients along with the grated onion and its juices, stirring until combined.
Heat 2 inches of oil over medium-high heat in a large cast iron skillet or dutch oven until it reaches 375°F on a digital thermometer. When hot, carefully use two spoons to drop tablespoonfuls of batter into the hot oil, using the back of one spoon to push the batter in one at a time. Work in batches so as not to overcrowd the pan. Fry for 2-3 minutes, turning partway through with a wire spatula, until the hush puppies are golden brown.
Remove the hush puppies from the oil and transfer to a wire rack set over a baking sheet lined with paper towels. Keep an eye on the oil temperature while frying so that it stays consistent, adjusting the heat up or down as necessary.

Notes

How to store: Leftover hush puppies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days or in the fridge for up to 1 week.
How to freeze: Arrange cooked hush puppies in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze for 1-2 hours, then transfer to a resealable airtight container for longer term storage up to 3 months.
Reheating: First, thaw if frozen. Then reheat in the air fryer or oven for best results. You can also use the microwave to reheat a few at a time. If you have an air fryer, hush puppies reheat really well by popping them in for 3-4 minutes to crisp up the outsides and taste almost as good as when they are fresh.
Control the oil temperature. Use a good digital thermometer to maintain the oil temp right around 365 degrees F, although anywhere between 350°F and 375°F will work. At lower temperatures, fried food absorbs more oil and takes longer to cook, while higher temperatures result in the outside burning before the inside is done.

Nutrition