These Southern Hush Puppies with jalapeno are crispy on the outside with a tender, moist interior and a must for any kind of fried fish.
Prep Time 5 minutesminutes
Cook Time 9 minutesminutes
Total Time 14 minutesminutes
Servings 12servings
Ingredients
4cupspeanut oil(estimate only - see notes)
1 ½cupsall-purpose flour
¾cupcornmeal
2teaspoonsbaking powder
1 ½teaspoonsbaking soda
1teaspoonsalt
1teaspoonground black pepper
1jalapeno pepperdeveined and seeds removed, finely diced
2eggs
1cupbuttermilk
Instructions
Place a deep skillet or Dutch oven on medium high heat and add the oil to a depth of about one inch. Heat until the oil reaches 350 to 375 degrees (or a tiny amount of the batter dropped into the hot oil immediately sizzles on contact).
While the oil is heating, add the dry ingredients (flour, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda, salt and pepper) to a large mixing bowl. Mix well with a whisk.
Stir in the diced jalapeno pepper.
Add the eggs to the buttermilk and mix well to combine.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry mixture and stir together.Note: Stir just until the dry ingredients are moistened and be careful not to overmix the batter. The batter will be slightly lumpy.
When the oil has reached frying temperature, drop the hush puppies in one at a time. Once the oil has come to temperature using a small cookie scoop drop balls of the batter into the hot oil, carefully. Don’t overcrowd, you’ll be working in batches.
Fry for about 3 minutes, turning half way, until they are a nice golden brown all over.
Carefully remove from the oil using a metal slotted spoon or metal spider and drain on paper towel lined baking sheet. Place the hush puppies in a warm oven while you work on the next batch.
Repeat until all the batter is used.
Notes
For frying the hush puppies, you'll need either a deep cast iron frying pan or a Dutch oven and enough oil to fill the pan to about a 1-inch depth. I specified four cups in the recipe as an estimate. Use the amount you need for your pan. I always recommend peanut oil for frying because of its high smoking point. You can also use canola or vegetable oil if you like.
You'll need plain cornmeal, not cornmeal mix or self-rising cornmeal.
The jalapeno is completely optional. If you don’t care for spiciness in your hush puppies, just leave it out. If you're using it, be sure to seed and devein.