Hush Puppies

Ingredients:

1 cup yellow cornmeal
½ cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
½ cup green onion, finely chopped
½ cup corn niblets, well-drained
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 large eggs
½ cup buttermilk

Directions:

1. Prepare the Dry Ingredients:

In a large bowl, combine the cornmeal, flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cayenne pepper, and garlic powder. Stir until everything is well mixed.

2. Add Vegetables & Oil:

Add the finely chopped green onions and the drained corn niblets to the dry mixture.
Stir in the vegetable oil until everything is evenly combined.

3. Combine the Wet Ingredients:

In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs and buttermilk together until smooth.

4. Mix Wet & Dry Ingredients:

Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and stir until fully incorporated. The batter should be thick, but not too dry.

5. Heat the Oil:

Heat a pot of vegetable oil to 325°F (165°C) for frying. If you have a deep-fryer, this works great for even frying. If not, a pot or large skillet works fine—just make sure there’s enough oil to submerge the hush puppies.

6. Fry the Hush Puppies:

Using a spoon or small ice cream scoop, drop spoonfuls of the batter into the hot oil. Fry in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan.
Fry until golden brown and crispy, about 2-3 minutes per side.
Use a slotted spoon to remove the hush puppies and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to drain any excess oil.

Optional (For Perfect Shapes):

If you prefer a more uniform shape, you can load the batter into a jerky gun and squeeze out 3-4 inch sticks directly into the hot oil.

7. Serve & Enjoy:

Serve your hush puppies hot with your favorite dipping sauce or alongside seafood, fried chicken, or BBQ dishes.

Tips:

? Crispy Texture: To get extra crispy hush puppies, make sure your oil is hot enough before frying. You can test it by dropping a small bit of batter into the oil—if it sizzles immediately, it's ready.
? Add More Spice: Adjust the cayenne pepper to your preferred spice level or add a pinch of paprika for extra smokiness.
? Dipping Sauce Idea: Serve with tartar sauce, cocktail sauce, or a spicy mayo for extra flavor.