Homemade Hush Puppies Recipe

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Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside – these homemade hush puppies are the perfect Southern side dish. Made with simple ingredients and fried to golden perfection, they’re a must-have with fried fish, barbecue, or a plate of shrimp. Best of all, they come together quickly, making them ideal for any meal that needs a little extra crunch and comfort.

Ever since the tender age of 2, my husband has enjoyed catching fish. Yes, the age of two.

My husband’s father was a farmer and had a catfish pond on the property. When my husband’s uncles would visit, they would take him down to the pond, and that is where his fishing passion began.

He has been fishing for four decades now. He has learned a trick or two, none of which I can share with you. My husband was kind enough to let me share a couple of pictures of his catch – a 7-pound, 14-ounce largemouth bass. For the record, he strongly believes in catch and release. This beauty was returned to the river after pictures were taken.

My husband also likes to catch crappie. However, since crappie “make for good eatin’,” he brings them home, cleans them, and I cook them. When we eat crappie, we also like to make hush puppies. My husband developed his own Hush Puppies recipe, and they are really delicious. He says the secret is to include diced green bell pepper in the batter.

Ingredients

For this easy Southern recipe, you need the following ingredients:

• ⅓ cup self-rising cornmeal
• ⅔ cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1 green bell peppe,r diced
• 1¼ cups buttermilk or water
• Oil for frying

How To Make Hushpuppies

1. Preheat a skillet of oil over medium-high heat for 4-5 minutes.
2. Combine the dry ingredients – cornmeal, flour, and salt.
3. Add buttermilk or water, stirring until the dry ingredients are moist.

1. Fold the onion and diced green bell pepper into the batter.

1. Deep-fry until golden brown. You will need to flip them over halfway through to ensure they are browned all over. Drain on paper towels and enjoy.

There are a couple of stories as to how Hush Puppies got their name, all with the same idea that the crispy little fritters were thrown to dogs to silence them from barking. I am glad that my puppies don’t bark when we make these because I really don’t want to have to share our hush puppies with them.

If you love Southern classics like these hush puppies, don’t stop here! Try my buttery Cornbread Recipe for One or Two, sweet and fragrant Cornbread with Rosemary, or spicy Jalapeño Cornbread. Each one adds a delicious, homemade touch to your next meal.

Hush Puppies

Fish and shrimp would not be right without some hot homemade hush puppies to eat with them. All you need are six ingredients to make a batch.

4.67 from 3 votes

Cook Mode

Print Pin Rate

Course: Side Dishes

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 1 batch

Calories: 744kcal

Author: Lynda – Southern Kissed

Ingredients

• ⅓ cup self-rising cornmeal
• ⅔ cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 small onion diced
• 1 green bell pepper diced
• 1¼ cups buttermilk or water
• Oil for frying

Instructions

• Preheat skillet of oil over medium-high heat for 4-5 minutes.
• Combine cornmeal, flour, and salt in a large bowl.
• Add buttermilk (or water) and stir until batter is mixed well.
• Fold in onion and bell pepper.
• Drop by spoonfuls into the skillet of hot oil. Fry until golden brown, flipping over to ensure that both sides are thoroughly cooked.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 744kcal | Carbohydrates: 121g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 3415mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 21g

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Last Bite

Ready to fry up a batch? Pin this recipe for later, share it with a friend who loves Southern cooking, or leave a comment below to tell me how yours turned out. There’s nothing better than homemade hush puppies—especially when they’re fresh from your kitchen!