Hushpuppies

About This Recipe

Hushpuppies are golden, deep-fried cornmeal fritters with a crunchy crust and a soft, savory inside, a Southern classic served alongside fried fish and seafood boils. Made from a simple batter of cornmeal, flour, buttermilk, and onion, they're scooped into hot oil where they puff and crisp into irresistible nuggets. The slight sweetness of cornmeal plays against the sharp bite of onion, and a hint of sugar balances it all. Quick to mix and fry, hushpuppies are the kind of humble, crave-worthy side that disappears from the basket. Serve them piping hot with remoulade, honey butter, or just a sprinkle of salt.

Ingredients

Serves 6

• 1.5 cupsyellow cornmeal
• 0.5 cupall-purpose flour
• 2 tspbaking powder
• 1 tspsalt
• 1 tbspsugar
• 1 largeegg
• 0.75 cupbuttermilk
• 0.5 cupfinely diced onion
• 0.25 tspcayenne pepper
• 4 cupsvegetable oil, for frying

Instructions

1. 1

   Mix the dry ingredients

   Whisk together the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, and cayenne in a bowl.

2. 2

   Add the wet ingredients

   Stir in the egg, buttermilk, and diced onion until just combined into a thick batter. Let it rest 5 minutes.

   Resting lets the cornmeal hydrate for a better texture.

3. 3

   Heat the oil

   Heat the oil in a deep pot to 350-360F.

   Use a thermometer; too cool and they'll be greasy, too hot and they'll burn outside.

4. 4

   Scoop the batter

   Using a small scoop or two spoons, drop rounded tablespoons of batter into the hot oil, a few at a time.

   Don't overcrowd the pot or the temperature will drop.

5. 5

   Fry until golden

   Fry, turning as needed, until deep golden brown all over, about 3-4 minutes.

6. 6

   Drain

   Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels, seasoning with salt while hot.

7. 7

   Serve

   Serve immediately while crisp and hot with your favorite dipping sauce.

Variations

• •

  Add corn kernels or diced jalapeño.

• •

  Stir in shredded cheddar.

• •

  Add a little crab or shrimp for seafood hushpuppies.

• •

  Spice them up with extra cayenne or Cajun seasoning.

Storage

Best eaten fresh; reheat leftovers in a hot oven or air fryer to crisp them back up, never the microwave.

Frequently Asked Questions