Golden Crispy Cornmeal Hushpuppies (Printable)

Golden crispy cornmeal dough balls with tender savory interior—perfect classic Southern side.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 1 cup yellow cornmeal, medium grind
02 - ½ cup all-purpose flour
03 - 1½ tsp baking powder
04 - ½ tsp baking soda
05 - 1 tsp sugar
06 - 1 tsp salt
07 - ¼ tsp ground black pepper
08 - ¼ tsp cayenne pepper

→ Wet Ingredients

09 - ¾ cup buttermilk
10 - 1 large egg

→ Aromatics

11 - ½ cup finely diced yellow onion
12 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh chives

→ For Frying

13 - Vegetable oil for deep-frying (about 6–8 cups)

# How-To Steps:

01 - Whisk together cornmeal, flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, salt, black pepper, and cayenne in a large bowl until thoroughly blended.
02 - Whisk buttermilk and egg in a separate bowl until fully combined and smooth.
03 - Pour wet ingredients into dry mixture and stir gently until just combined. Avoid overmixing to prevent tough texture.
04 - Fold in diced onion and chives. Let batter rest for 5 minutes to allow cornmeal to hydrate.
05 - Heat vegetable oil in deep fryer or heavy-bottomed pot to 350°F. Maintain temperature throughout frying.
06 - Drop heaping tablespoonfuls of batter into hot oil using two spoons or small scoop. Fry in batches without overcrowding the pot.
07 - Fry for 2–3 minutes, turning occasionally, until hushpuppies are deep golden brown and crispy on all sides.
08 - Remove with slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Serve immediately while hot and crispy.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • These come together in under 30 minutes and use pantry staples you probably already have
  • The cornmeal-to-flour ratio creates the perfect texture: substantial but never heavy or doughy
  • Fried food that feels like a celebration but works just as well for Tuesday dinner
02 -
  • Letting the batter rest for those 5 minutes prevents the hushpuppies from falling apart in the oil
  • If your first batch comes out dark too fast, your oil is too hot—adjust the heat down slightly
  • Crowding the pot drops the oil temperature dramatically, leading to greasy, soggy hushpuppies
03 -
  • Use a small cookie scoop for uniform size and even cooking
  • Keep the fried hushpuppies warm in a 200°F oven while you finish the batch
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