One more recipe down from my public self-made promise to cook certain foods I ate during my trip.
Hush Puppies was my pet project this time around. I never in my life ate these before this trip to the South. I had then 4 times and it turns out my favorite ones were from the seafood restaurant Sanitary…which happens to post the recipe of their website. These hush puppies are super easy and quick to make. There is no flour in this recipe so you don’t get a cake-like hush puppy. I “spiked” mine with dehydrated garlic and chili flakes. You could add any seasoning you like: curry, onions, saffron, fresh herbs, etc.
FAMOUS TAR HEEL HUSH PUPPIES
1 lb fine corn meal
1 egg
1 Teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoons Sugar
Pinch baking soda
1 cup buttermilk
Stir, adding water, to thick consistency.
Drop by the spoonful in deep fat heated to 375 F degrees.
Deep fry until golden. Drain on a paper towel.
Recipe serves six (or 10 normal people)
Don’t have buttermilk? Substitute with 1 cup of milk and 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice.
Great so now you know how to make them…but where did the name come from?
Hushpuppies are a food with strong ties to the American South, although they are available in many areas of America on the menus of deep fried fish restaurants. The name “hushpuppies” is often attributed to hunters, fishermen or other cooks who would fry some basic cornmeal mixture and feed it to their dogs to “hush the puppies” during cook-outs or fish-frys. Also, runaway slaves would feed them to the guard dogs of their owners in order to “hush the puppies.”
Other hush puppy legends date to the Civil War. Southern soldiers would sit beside a campfire, preparing meals. When Union soldiers came near, they would toss some small pieces of fried cornbread to their barking dogs with the command “Hush, puppies”.
Huh. I always think of hush puppies as those sweet, pancake batter poppers, rather than the (probably more traditional) cornbready sides.
Wiki C&Per!
Sorry Ken to crush your hush puppies dreams…Wiki RULES and is free info!
I never knew where the name came from–that’s so interesting! I’d love these dipped in some maple syrup, for sure. Starving here!
Evelyne…I agree with your last reader…yes on the maple syrup with your treats.
Now, concerning the origins of the name…how interesting and disturbing at the same time. It’s so sad to be reminded that slavery actually existed.
Back to those treats…I wonder how well they would do in the oven?
I may just have to experiment on that one ;o)
Have a fabulous week,
Claudia
Hmmm, no idea Claudia how they would be in the oven. OK but not the same. Let me know if you try!
Born and grew up in the South. I have never heard of Hush Puppies baked in the oven. They are traditionally dropped into a hot oil and it only takes a short time for them to cook through. They are usually served with Fish and other Sea Food dishes. Of course Cole Slaw is another traditional side dish available with the meal.
Ah, so THAT’s what hushpuppies are! (I always think of the shoes first)
Thanks for the story behind the name, I love these little tidbits. These sound tasty!
i’ve always been a hush puppy fan. well any type of fried bread for that matter! thanks for the recipe!
Hush puppies remind me of eating at restaurants in Myrtle Beach as a kid. They were always on the menu. Yours look delicious!
I like how this serves 6, or 10 normal people. I think I know which category I fall into..
Ah, Conor, I will guess the first one…for 6
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I absolutely did not know the origins if the name, though I’ve had them since I was a little kid. Oh yes, things in the American South tend to always be more complicated than they first appear, that’s for sure.
I really like puppies. I just got 1 a week ago and it has not been trained yet and has bitten me a handful of times but its practically nothing to be concerned about, i can train it perfectly. I hope
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