Hush puppies are about the fastest cornbread you can make on the spur of the moment. For that reason, I use it a lot when we're having something like greens or baked beans.
They are so easy. By the time your corn oil is heated, you can have the batter all stirred up and ready to start dropping them in. They cook very fast too, if you don't make them too big.
Combine cornmeal and chopped onion; add milk and egg, stirring well. Carefully drop batter by tablespoon into deep enough oil that is hot (370 degrees F) and cook only a few at the time, turning once. Fry until hush puppies are golden brown. It only takes about 3-5 minutes. Drain them well on paper. Makes about 2 dozen depending on size.
Recipe may be doubled or tripled very well.
Julie's Note: I've seen cooks use tomato juice in place of milk in this same recipe, and I liked it very much especially if a tiny dash of a good hot sauce was added as well. They are really best when served with fried fish. I like the hush puppies best when milk is used if they are being served with anything other than a good fried fish. If you drain them really well, they are delicious when at room temperature, too.
Source: My cousin Patricia lived in Ft. Myers and we'd go to visit. Her husband would have caught wonderful fresh fish, and Pat would make hush puppies even if we were camping. They're so easy and go just as good with Swamp Cabbage as they do with fish.
My Mother's recipe called for milk. I'd never eaten them made with tomato juice until we were camping out on Sanibel Island, before the first house was ever built there.
By Julia from Boca Raton, FL
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In a deep fryer or heavy, deep skillet, heat 2 to 3 inches of oil over medium heat to 375 degrees F. In a mixing bowl, combine cornmeal mix, flour, and onion.
Combine the flour, corn meal, sugar and salt together. Add the egg, onions, and 1/2 cup of the buttermilk to the flour/cornmeal mixture. Gradually add in remaining buttermilk until batter is well mixed but not runny.
Combine all dry ingredients; add remaining ingredients and stir only till well blended. Place about 1 Tablespoon of batter into each part of well greased mini muffin pans. Bake at 425 degrees for 15-20 minutes or till done.
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Best Hush Puppies ever! Very good! Drop a tablespoon at a time into hot cooking oil.
Heat 2 inches peanut oil, cook oil or shortening in a heavy saucepan or deep-fat fryer to 375 degrees F. Meanwhile, combine eggs, sugar, and onions in a blender or food processor.
Pour peanut oil into a deep fryer. Heat to 375 degrees F. Combine cornmeal, flour, baking powder, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and sugar in medium size bowl.
Mix and set aside while fish are frying. Mix again and then fry in the hot fish grease, drop by teaspoonfuls. Fry until golden brown.
Sift together dry ingredients. Add remaining and stir until moist. Drop batter by teaspoon into deep fryer, 360 degrees, frying only a few at a time.
