Having a fish fry? Make some homemade crispy golden southern hushpuppies!
Lately I’ve been wanting to go to a real fish fry. You know that kind of fish fry with all your family outside, and people secretly trying to out-do each others fried catfish recipe. The kind of fish fry that you can sit at a table and eat crab, and shrimp all day and gossip while you drink ice cold southern sweet tea. Oh yes. I can’t wait for this weather to change up, because I truly intend on having several fish fries once the sun starts shining our way! I can see it now, plates full of deep fried catfish, bowls full of seafood boil, collard greens, and homemade southern hush puppies! Yes, you gotta have those crispy golden deep fried hush puppies if you’re having a fish fry- there’s no way around it!
Many people buy the boxed hush puppy batter, but to be completely honest with you, it’s not the same as homemade. I tried it before, and I wasn’t pleased – AT ALL. Boxed, and store bought hush puppies ( in my opinion of course) are either too bland, too salty, or just flat out YUCK. I just don’t care much for it. Maybe I just haven’t had the right brand. I don’t know. But what I do know it, making homemade southern hush puppies is a breeze! It’s really easy to whip up a couple batches, and takes very little time.
Watch me make my southern hushpuppies in this video tutorial
Southern Hush Puppies Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup yellow cornmeal
- 1 cup self rising flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 small onion finely diced
- 3-4 green onions finely diced
- 1 cup buttermilk OR 1 cup regular milk PLUS 2 tsp distilled vinegar
- 1 large egg
- 2 cup of oil for deep frying
Instructions
- Combine the cornmeal, self rising flour, sugar, salt, cayenne pepper, and garlic in a large bowl.
- Whisk until everything is lump free then toss in the diced onions.
- Add in the buttermilk ( or substitution), and egg.
- Mix the ingredients until well combined, but don't over mix.
- Pour the oil into a large pan, and heat the oil over medium heat.
- Once the oil is nice and hot, start spooning it the batter.
- Fry the hush puppies until the are nice a golden brown.
- Remove the hush puppies from the oil, and place them on a paper towel lined plate.
- Serve and enjoy!
You gotta have hush puppies with fish…no two ways about it! These look so good and so easy. Boxed just doesn’t compare. Sometimes I add a small amount of corn (leftover from the fridge), and always lots of onion. Thanks for sharing this recipe & video. I always enjoy your videos. Pinned. Have a great week. xoxo
Hi Mary! I never tried it with corn! I must do so asap!! Thanks for the idea. I hope that you have a lovely week! XOXO
I’m made some it taste good . But I count get them in circle . I did used the cookie doe spoon
Hmm.. I didn’t quite understand that. You can’t get them in circles? When they cook they should puff up like in the video. 🙂
Probably didn’t use self-rising flour…try again sweetie it’s so easy and they taste womderful!
Could you use all purpose if you don’t have self rising flour
For best results, stick to the recipe listed.
Your oil may not have been hot enough.
YES THESE ARE GREAT WITH A LITTLE CORN, BUT, DO NOT USE TOO MUCH OR THEY WILL BE CORN FRITTERS(:
Rosie does all self rising flour come with cornmeal in the bag?
No, self rising flour does not have cornmeal in it.
Rosie the reason I had I asked that question about the self rising flour was because I was watching another food video from another person and that person showed a bag of flour that had printed on the bag that it was half cornmeal.
Hi John. That may have been self rising cornmeal 🙂
Hi Rosie, I love your recipes! Is it a must to use self rising flour for this recipe or can all purpose flour also be used? Thanks!
You need self rising flour for this recipe. All purpose flour doesn’t have any rising agents
Can we add baking powder if we do not have a self rising flour> I am strictly organic and they just do not make a self rising flour
You sure can 🙂
About to make them, Ill let you know how they turn out
Im going to try this recipe sounds good maybe make them with chicken and fish
A friend of a friend made these at a fish fry and they are probably the best hush puppies ever! Can’t wait to make a batch myself. Wonder if you could use the recipe to make onion rings? Thanks for sharing!
Hi John! I’m glad that you liked the recipe. I actually never tried this recipe for onion rings.
I can’t wait to try this. My mouth is watering!
It’s soooo good! Let me know how it comes out for ya!
I found your blog whilst looking for an easy hush puppy recipe. Being from Memphis, you might think I would have my family’s recipe. God knows I loved them growing up. Then I moved to New England and they don’t have hush puppies. So I am going to try out your recipe tonight. I’ll let you know how it works out. Also, I’ll be frying butterflied shrimp, yum!
Hey Tony! Glad that you found my blog!
I just love your recipes! It’s been a long while since I’ve done any REAL cooking though. I wanted to ask you a question that’s always made me stop and wonder……….. why is it that some hush puppies are very heavy and some hush puppies are light and airy? I absolutely love the light and airy ones! How can I make them turn out this way? I’d appreciate any advice you can give me! Thank you so much Rosie!
Hi there! I think it depends on the ingredients. These hush puppies are on the light and fluffy side. 🙂
Can I make the batter ahead of time a couple hours and have the same great results of them being light and fluffy.
Hi Jenny! I’ve never done that, but you can give it a try.
Hello …Can I just begin to tell you …..THANK YOU SO MUCH for your light and airy HP…It was early Sunday and I knew already I wanted to do a fish fry (butter fish) had this amazing coleslaw (amazing) and baked beans (hot and spicy with a hint of molasses. grt. Yet I knew I did not want to have cornbread and crescents were the only thing left in the bread aisle in the kitchen. Then the light bulb went on and HUSH PUPPY’s blew up. Went on line and first had a recipe and it didn’t look right and then YOU …Ms. Rosie came up and can I just tell you Thank You…My sons and mom were over-joyed with your recipe with our Sunday dinner. All through the evening and even the next morning they were raving about those hush puppy’s. It made our dinner just wonderful. They were just as you acknowledged AIRY and Seasoned to perfection. Thank you once again. I have your recipe in my personal recipe book and will smile every time I make them. ….After thought….so I have left over batter ….what would you propose on how to make them. Should I set them out and let the batter become room temp or can I just take them out and warm the oil and go from there. Look forward to your response. Have a Beautiful Blessed Day!!
Jacqueline myers
I’m glad that you liked the recipe!! I’m trying to think of what to do with the leftover batter LOL!
Hi Rosie….I made the left over batter last night and I just did what probably should be done . I let it get room temperature and turned out FABULOUS. Once again thank you. We are expecting a NorEast’ on the first day of Spring. JM
If you don’t have self-rising flour you can substitute all purpose by adding baking powder and salt…. 1 cup ap flour + 1-1/2 tsp baking powder + 1/2 tsp salt = 1 cup self-rising
Hi Rosie – I’m a 78 yr old man and I’m trying your hush puppies for the first time. My only question, since I’m not real experienced, hot hot is hot oil suppoised to be. Thanks Red
Yes. It’s just hot oil.
You know the oil is ready for the hush puppies if you take a small piece of bread and throw it in there. IF it immediately starts to get golden and crusty it is ready for the Hush puppies. I do this with ALL frying.
I made this today and it was AWESOME!!!!! They tasted like the ones my grandma used to make. I didn’t put the onions directly in them though. Instead I cut the onion into rings and dipped some of them in the batter. The variation of onion rings was pretty awesome too. I had to add a little bit of water to do the onion rings. Needless to say I saved this recipe and it was a hit at my house. Even with the picky eaters.
Can you use white cornmeal?
Sure can.
Hi Rosie,
Ran across your DELICIOUS hushpuppy recipe tonight. My mother had prepared homemade vegetable soup. I thought hushpuppies would be a nice accompaniment. Read over several ho-hum sounding recipes. Then…I found yours!! It was an easy recipe to follow but WOW it was YUMMY. They were light, airy and not greasy…probably due to the peanut oil. Love peanut oil for frying. I have subscribed to your site because I can’t wait to try some other recipes. My dad, who just turned 91 years young yesterday, gave the hushpuppies a TWO THUMBS UP!!