Hush Puppies
Ingredients
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- 1/2 cup yellow onion – finely grated
- 1 cup yellow cornmeal
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp granulated sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp fine salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 3/4 cup buttermilk
- 1 large egg – beaten
- 48 ounces peanut oil
Instructions
1. Pour the peanut oil into a heavy pot to a depth of 1.5 inches and heat to 350°F over medium heat, monitoring with a thermometer.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk the buttermilk and beaten egg, then stir in the finely grated onion.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together the yellow cornmeal, all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, fine salt, and black pepper.
4. Pour the buttermilk mixture into the dry ingredients and fold just until combined; the batter will be thick. Let stand 10 minutes to hydrate while the oil finishes heating.
5. Using a tablespoon or small scoop, carefully drop rounded spoonfuls of batter into the 350°F oil, working in batches to avoid crowding. Fry 2.5–3.5 minutes, turning occasionally, until deep golden brown and cooked through; break one open to check that the center is moist but not wet.
6. Transfer hush puppies to a wire rack to drain. Return oil to 350°F between batches. Serve hot.
Hush puppies are small, deep-fried cornmeal dumplings with a crisp, golden crust and a tender, steamy interior. The flavor is savory with a gentle sweetness, lifted by fresh onion and a hint of pepper, making them addictive alongside fried fish or barbecue. They deliver the essential appeal of Southern cornmeal cookery: simple pantry ingredients transformed by hot oil into something irresistible.
Originating in the American South, hush puppies grew out of cornmeal fritter traditions served at fish fries and roadside stands. Their name is often linked to campfire tales of cooks tossing fried bits to quiet barking dogs, though the true etymology is murkier. Over the 20th century, they became a staple across the region, moving from fish shacks to family tables while retaining their role as a comforting, communal side.