Traditional Southern Hush Puppies

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 16

Total Time: 31

Servings: people

Calories: 253kcal

Author: Kris Longwell

These hush puppies are a Southern classic. Serve them with classic fish and chips with homemade tartar sauce, and maybe a few good dashes of malt vinegar...and are the super tasty!

Print Recipe

Equipment

Deep fryer, or large sturdy pot (i.e., Dutch oven)

Ingredients

Peanut oil or vegetable, for frying
1½ cup self-rising flour
½ cup cornmeal yellow ground, m
¼ cup sugar
1 teaspoon Kosher salt
½ cup onion finely chopped
1 cup buttermilk
1 egg lightly beaten
3 dashes hot sauce
¼ cup beer
Tartar sauce for serving
lemon wedges for garnish

Instructions

Heat the oil to 350°F in a large sturdy skillet (filled about halfway) or a deep-fry.
Peanut oil
Mix the flour, cornmeal, sugar, and salt in a medium bowl.
1½ cup self-rising flour, ½ cup cornmeal, ¼ cup sugar, 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
Mix in the onions.
½ cup onion
In a separate bowl, combine the buttermilk, egg and hot sauce.
1 cup buttermilk, 1 egg, 3 dashes hot sauce
Add the dry ingredients with the wet, and mix with a large wooden spoon. Don’t over mix! Its okay for there still to be some lumps.
Mix enough beer until batter just comes together, about ¼ cup of beer.
¼ cup beer
Use a spoon to scoop a small mound of batter, just large enough to cover the spoon.
Drop the dough into the hot oil. Continue with more, but don't overcrowd. You will most likely fry in batch.
Fry until golden brown on the outside…about 7 to 8 minutes (varies depending on the size of the puppies!). Use a metal slotted spoon, or spider, to remove the hush puppies to a plate lined with paper towels.
Repeat process with remaining batter.
Serve warm with lemon wedges and tartar sauce.
Tartar sauce, lemon wedges

Video

Notes

NOTE: Watch the video in the recipe card for visual guidance.

Coarse (medium ground) yellow cornmeal is best, however, fine ground will work, too.

A deep fryer helps keep the oil temperature constant (350°F), but a large sturdy pot (i.e., Dutch oven) will work, too, with a candy thermometer. You will need to adjust the heat on the stove once the batter goes into the oil, and then before the next batch goes in.

Peanut oil works best, but vegetable oil or shortening will work, too. Do NOT use olive oil.

Hush puppies are best served soon after frying.

Nutrition