How To Make Hush Puppies

Ingredients

• 6 c. peanut or canola oil
• 2 c. yellow cornmeal
• 1 c. all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. black pepper
• 2 eggs
• 1 c. buttermilk
• 2 tbsp. vegetable oil
• A thermometer
• A deep fryer
• 2 large mixing bowls
• A whisk
• 2 tablespoons
• Paper towels
• Nonstick cooking spray (optional)

Steps

1. Preheat oil - Pour oil into the deep fryer and heat to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. (40 sec. )
2. The oil is ready when a small bit of batter dropped in the oil sizzles and floats to the top. (45 sec. )
3. Mix dry ingredients - Mix the cornmeal with the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and pepper in a large mixing bowl. (50 sec. )
4. Combine other ingredients - Whisk together eggs, buttermilk, and vegetable oil in a separate bowl. (58 sec. )
5. Combine mixtures - Add the egg mixture to the dry ingredients, slowly, stirring until the batter is well blended. It should be stiff but free of lumps. (65 sec. )
6. If the batter is too dry, add more buttermilk. If it’s too thin, add cornmeal. (74 sec. )
7. Drop batter into the oil - Use two tablespoons to form a round lump of batter. Gently drop the batter into the oil. Cook in batches of six or seven. (80 sec. )
8. If the batter sticks to the spoons, spray them lightly with a non-stick cooking spray. (90 sec. )
9. Turn hushpuppies - Fry the hush puppies for about five minutes or until they are golden brown. Turn occasionally to brown them evenly. (94 sec. )
10. Remove from fryer and drain - Remove the golden brown hushpuppies from the oil and allow them to drain on paper towels. Serve them warm, and enjoy the silence while everyone digs in! (103 sec. )
11. Did you know? According to one story, the first hush puppy was made by a cook who was frying catfish with bits of cornmeal. To quiet a barking dog, she tossed it some, saying “Hush, puppy!” (112 sec. )